Surprise Quilting

October means it’s time to get quilting our Surprise quilt-along. Have you started on yours? I tossed around several ideas but ended up settling on edge-to-edge quilting since this quilt will be used for couch snuggling during the holidays. Edge-to-edge quilting gives nice even texture and plenty of secure quilting for quilts that will be used and washed. It’s also a good choice when the fabrics are busy and there is not a lot of spaces where the quilting will really show.

Edge to Edge quilting

I chose a pretty pattern from Anne Bright that has been in my design stash for years. It is called Christmas Paisley.

Here is what it looks like repeated as an E2E (edge-to-edge).

It can be quilted as a straight repeat like you see above, but I decided to mix it up a bit and use the Wrap feature in Pro-Stitcher to offset the rows slightly.

I like this look so that the motifs are not right on top of one another.  Which way do you like better?

Lesson learned

Before I got started loading the quilt on my frame I thought I might jazz up the backing a bit. I had a bunch of scraps left from piecing the blocks for the quilt top.

I thought I could make some extra blocks and incorporate them in the backing. Then I had a brilliant idea! I would make half-sized blocks for the backing. They would look so cute! I was thinking a little row of small blocks across the back.

I got out the cutting instructions for the blocks and did the math to make the pieces 1/2 the size for each block.

Bow

(2) 1 1/2″ squares,  (4) 3/4″ x 2 1/4″,  (1) 3/4″ square

Box

(4) 1 3/8″ x 2 1/4″,  (4) 1 1/8″ x 1 3/8″,  (2) 1 1/2″ squares

Trim HST to 1 1/8″ square

Boy! these pieces looked tiny! I even wondered, looking at them, how they were going to make a 4.5 inch block? But I carried on and sewed them together.

After I sewed the first few together, I realized my error.

You can’t make a half-sized block by just cutting all the pieces half the size. Because the seam allowance is always 1/4 inch.  You have to determine the FINISHED size of each piece and add the 1/2″ seam allowance to the measurement. Duh.

But the block did turn out nice once I trimmed it to 3 5/8″ square. It IS adorably cute. And it is the ONLY one I made.

Here it is next to a full-size block.

It was a fun experiment and I learned something. Like my Dad always said, “It’s a good day when you learn something.” And my backing is just one fabric (haha).

Pam and Ginny and Patt

Here’s an update on my friends’ progress:

Pam finished hers. She quilted an edge-to-edge design from Pro-Stitcher Patterns called Puffs and Curls.

Ginny has started quilting hers.

And Patt is still piecing. She only needs to add the sashing and she will be ready for quilting too.

I finished the quilting. But I still want to add the binding before I take it off the frame.

For more Surprise quilting tips and ideas be sure to tune in to HQ Watch and Learn on Tuesday, October 24, noon Mountain time. Kim, Kristina and Denise will be sharing their projects and ideas for how they will be quilting them. After October 24 you can watch on-demand on our Facebook page or on our YouTube channel.

Share your Surprise quilting on social media with the #handiquilterqal

Quilt Every Day!

by Mary Beth Krapil