Hello Fellow Followers,
I want to share with you, all a wonderful technique called Quilt blocking.
This is a technique, that a lot of quilters probably have used. I find that a majority of quilters, are not very fond of its process. For a good reason “It’s a Risky Business” I have only blocked, about a handful of quilts. Which left me not as happy with the end results, as I should have been.
Long story short, I seen a post last fall on Instagram by Jamie Swanson, she’s a wonderful modern pattern designer, quilter, blogger and a mom who I really admire.
She had a post about a quilt, she had just finished quilting and was going to bind. When she noticed, after quilting the quilt it was not square. So she posted a video, on her IG page about how she accomplished Quilt blocking. This technique, has changed my mind on this tedious task. I will show you the process, in which I learned from Jamie, that makes each and every one of your quilts picture perfect, with blocking.
I’m going to start off by giving you a list of items needed for blocking a quilt.
1. Quilt top that’s been top quilted.
2. Children’s interlocking preschool rubber mats. (These can be found at any large box store or on Amazon online)
3. Washing machine or a large bath tub.
4. Best Press liquid Starch.
5. Flat head pins “Lots of them”
6. Laser level or a long measuring stick.
First off trim your quilt up, leaving at least 3 inches of fabric and batting along each side.
Once you have finished that see, if your washing machine has a “Rinse and Drain” feature! if not then you may want to use a clean bath tub instead.
Make sure to “Not” use any laundry detergent in this process. I do use “Color Catchers” by Shout at least 3 of them for this process possibly more if you have dark colors with light.
Put your quilt, along with color catchers in the washing machine make sure it’s set to “Rinse and Spin” and water temp, is set to cold. This is so your whole quilt is wet but not dripping wet, it’s just nicely damp, so you can easily manipulate your quilt. Since dense quilting, can sometimes cause a quilt to waffle or shrink up in size.
*If you are using the bath tub, method you will use the same technique. Except you will hand wring out the quilt and proceed with the next steps.
Ok here is the fun part, assemble your foam mats, setting an area about 10 inches wider and longer then your quilt. Carefully stretching your quilt flat on the foam mats. When you have your quilt, all nicely laid out.
You will then, start to stretch and manipulate your quilt, I suggest marking registration lines or points, on the foam mats. This will help you keep your quilt square once your quilt, is manipulated to your desired registration line’s carefully straight pin, to your foam mats pulling the fabric tight as you pin around the “Entire” quilt.
Once it’s pinned and stretched, I use “Mary Ellen’s” Best Press spray starch. I spray a nice spritzing, across the entire quilt! After that it’s a waiting game! I highly suggest, doing this process, in a warm area so your quilt can dry, on the foam mats. The longer you allow your quilt to dry the better the result will be.
Once your quilt, is fully dry remove it from the foam mats and trim as desired.
Congratulations, you have just blocked, a quilt it’s a wonderful technique for all your show quilts or if you want a nice square quilt.
I hope this may help someone, I appreciate Jamie Swanson, for first sharing this wonderful technique, I’m truly grateful for it.
This is a Dream Big panel by Hoffman Fabric’s.
I used a variety of quilting techniques, to finish this exquisite piece. I did not bind this panel, but opted to face the quilt. Which is a technique, used for art quilts and some show quilts.
Until next time, I hope you enjoy the pictures and “Have a Sew Happy Day”
Jenn.
