Feel like getting creative? Got a stash of fabric and some left over pieces of batting? Let’s face it, if you’re a quilter, who hasn’t! Well it’s time to get those bits and pieces out of the cupboard and turn them into a fun, reversible quilt as you go scrap quilt and we have the perfect pattern, The Humming Bird Quilt and the best news is that it’s new to our instant PDF pattern range so no need to wait, you can download it and get started straight away.
So, this is the front view........
This is the back view, as you can see, it's great for using up your stash!
So here’s a brief outline on how to make this quilt, the pattern has all of the measurements, amounts and step by step photos so you can’t go wrong!
Firstly, go to your stash and choose a combination of lightish and darkish fabrics that look good together , cut them into 2 1/2” strips. (You can also use 2 Jelly Rolls).
Next, cut up pieces for the backing, these pieces can be squares or rectangles and will be joined together to make the backing squares.
Layer together a batting square on top of a backing square making sure that the batting is 1/2” smaller all around the edge, this is to reduce the bulk in the joining seam.
I like to use a bamboo or bamboo and cotton blend batting as it grips the backing fabric and stays in place but you can use any batting of your choice, you may have to hold it in place with basting spray.
The pattern will show you how to mark up your batting and backing squares so that you can stitch and flip the darkish strips through the centre diagonal of the square.
Next, stitch and flip the lightish strips out to either corner. Make 16 blocks like this.
Flip the squares over to the wrong side and trim the excess fabric of the strips level with the backing fabric.
Here's how you join the quilt squares together...........
This is my fully machine sewn method for joining the squares ( I came up with this nifty idea back in 2005 and have published many quilt patterns and a book using this easy technique)
First step is to cut 2’ strips, the pattern will tell you how many, then prepare them with a 1” bias maker. This is what I call the trams, they go between the squares.
Iron fusible web tape onto the wrong side of the trams, I like to use pre-cut Heat n Bond lite on a roll.
Position the quilt squares following the layout in the picture.
To join, take 2 squares and place them back to back. Sew the seam with a 3/8” seam allowance (Same as 1 cm) this seam is slightly smaller than the 1/2” gap of batting so you won't be sewing through the batting.
Press the seam open on the top. At this stage the back is nice and neat and the raw seam is pressed open on the top, ready to be covered by the tram.
To make sure that the tram will be positioned perfectly straight and centred, mark a line that is 1/2” away from the centre of the seam.
Now peel away the paper backing from the tram and iron it over the raw seam aligning one side of the tram with the marked line.
Also start and finish the tram 1/2” away from the top and bottom edges to reduce the bulk in the across ways seams.
The tram will now be fused in position ready for you to stitch down either side, sewing close to the edge with a matching coloured thread. There is no tram on the back and the stitching lines that attach the tram just look like quilting lines on the back of the quilt that are sewn 1/2" away from the seam.
You then just continue joining the squares together like this.
Well that's how easy it is! So now you know when you see my quilt as you go quilts that have trams, this is how I do it.
Happy sewing!
Monica ox