Step #1.   Cutting Instructions:     Full Size Quilt
 

.     .Dark             .	first medium/dark	second medium/dark
.    .color #1	.color #2	.color #3
cut 4 1/ 2 -  21/4"x44"strips	cut 4 1/2 - 21/2"x44"strips	cut 9 -  21/4"x44"strips
.	.	cut 14 -  1 7/8" strips

 

       Cutting Instructions:     Twin Size Quilt
 
 

.     .Dark            .	first medium/dark	second medium/dark
.    color #1	.     color #2	.   color #3
cut 4  2 1/4"x44" strips	cut 4  2 1/2" x 44" strips	cut 7  2 1/4" x 44" strips
.	.	cut 11  1 7/8"x44" strips

*extra note of encouragement!  I decided to make this quilt right along side of you this time. I have already make one but because I want to be closer to any problems that you may encounter I thought that following week by week would be a good idea and besides I will have another very pretty quilt!
 
 

 Step # 2. Cutting the 2 1/4" strips:

It is my opinion that when ever possible strip piecing should be done. Not only will it save time but the accuracy rate for seams and cutting is much better than template cuts.  Fortunately all the cutting for this quilt can be cut from strips evenly and with no real difficulty. Production line sewing is encouraged because you will quickly discover there are many small pieces to complete this project.

All of the 2 1/4" strips are cut the same way. Cut as many strips at a time as you are comfortable cutting. This is definitely a job for a sharp rotary cutter -:).

1.  Line up 4 -  2 1/4" strips (as many as you are comfortable with for these instructions I will work with piles of 4 strips).  Cut off the selvage edge in a straight cut.

2. Measure in 1" from the straight cut off selvage edge and mark with a pencil.

3.  We will be making triangles across the strips of fabric. The base of each triangle will be 1 3/4". Mark your fabric with a pencil mark across your strips.   Cut triangles along pencil lines. (see diagram #1 below)

                   diagram #1

                                                                                                                      color #1            color #2             color #3 

1. Line up the 5 1/2 twin size or the 7 full size one on top of the other. It is important that all strips for this step are with the fabric facing the right side of the fabric.

2. Cut evenly off the selvage edge.

3. From the bottom right side of the strips make a pencil mark 5/8" inward.
4. Draw a line from the upper edge of the strip in to the pencil mark you just made.
5. Cut away this wedge.
6.  Lay your ruler along the cut away side of the fabric (on the new diagonal cut line).  Cut the fabric every 1 1 /2" to the end of your strips.

7.  Repeat this process  on the remaining 5 1/2 strips or 7 strips reversing the process.  On these remaining strips make your first 5/8" mark at the top of the strip instead of the bottom.  This will make your pieces go in the opposite
direction. (see diagram #2 below).

                         diagram #2

                                                                                                                       color #1            color #2             color #3 

Step #4.  Assembly:
special note:  It is important to press each piece as you sew them before going  on to the next pieces.  Cut the units apart for pressing before going on to sew the next piece into place.  Pressing will make all the difference!

1. Make piles of your pieces. Lining them up as shown and described. You will need 72 piles for the twin and 94 piles for the full quilts.  (see diagram #3 below).

............. 
                 diagram #3                                                                                                        diagram #4
2.  Assembly line sew pieces together pieces one to two and then two to three and so on for all six pieces. You will have these units completed.  The color assignment in this diagram is from left to right: colors #3, #1, #3, #3, #2, #3.
  Because you will be working with diagonal cuts you will need to insure the 'wings' of your triangles exceed the edges of the other diagonal cuts to create the straight line of each section.  It is helpful for many to use straight pins to line up the pieces in the proper alignment before stitching.
3.  Using the opposite cuts for the remaining 72 or 94 units align them up as shown in the diagram #4 above.  The color assignment for this row is: color #3, #2, #3, #3, #1, #3.  Assembly line sew each piece into units.  Press as you go.

4. The finished sewn strips should be 1 7/8".  After pressing your strips line up your strips and trim off any wings or extra threads.  We will not be concerned about the outside dimensions at this time.

I hope you have been able to follow the instructions given so far without to much difficulty.  If you are having a problem feel free to e-mail me at:  juliasb@comcast.net  .

Installment #2 will be available on April 20, 1998.  Have fun completing the step above.