PinkPatchwork Quilt Kit

Instructions

The following items were included with this kit:

34 bright pink 4" squares

33 light pink 4" squares

33 purple 4" squares

1. bright pink 4" strips for the border

1. Begin by arranging the squares in the pattern as shown below. As you are arranging the squares, take note of a some general patchwork rules:

1. do not put squares of the same fabric too close together
2. do not put fabrics of the same design next to each other – for example plaid next to another plaid or small floral print next to another small floral print. It is better to vary the design of neighboring fabrics.
3. do not put fabrics of the same intensity next to each other – for example a bright fairly plain pink wouldn’t look great next to a bright fairly plain purple. Choose instead a less bright purple or a less plain purple.

1. After you have your fabric laid out in a pattern that you like, you are ready to sew. Begin by sewing the squares into 10 strips. I find it helpful to mark the beginning of each row with tape or a pin. As you sew, try to get all of your seams as close to ¼" as possible. The more accurate your seams are, the better your quilt will go together.

To piece quickly, do not cut your threads after sewing each set of squares together. Instead, get your next pair of squares and keep sewing. Then you can cut your pieced squares apart after you have sewn several. For example, sew squares 1 and 2 together then squares 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10. Then go back and sew 1-2 to 3-4 and 5-6 to 7-8 and then 1-2-3-4 to 5-6-7-8 and finally 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 to 9-10. You can do one row at a time like this, or two rows or all of the rows at once depending on how easy it is for you to keep track of all your pieces.

Usually somewhere in the midst of this step I second guess myself, and I think that the quilt is looking terrible. This may happen to you as well. If so, just keep sewing. Do not judge the quilt as "terrible" until it is finished. Every single time this has happened to me, I have loved the finished product.

2. Now you have 10 strips of squares to sew together. Match up the seams as you go putting all of the seam allowances of a strip going the same direction. If one set of squares isn’t coming together well, go down and match up the next set of seams. Sometimes all of the seams won’t match up, but if at least every other one matches up then you won’t be far off by the time you get to the end of the row.

When this step is finished, you can carefully press your top which should measure 35.5" x 35.5".

3. Now it is time to sew the borders. Borders can be a problem area for quilts. It is easy to wavy borders or tight borders. Here are the steps to correctly applying a border:

1. Measure the your quilt on each side and in the center. (This quilt should meaure 35.5".) Find the average or use the middle number.
2. Cut two borders the size of that middle number. Pin the border to each side. I don’t like to pin, but it is important to pin borders at least at the top, bottom, and middle.
3. Carefully sew the two side borders.
4. Press these two borders.
5. Now repeat steps one through four for the top and bottom border which for this quilt should measure 42.5"

1. Step back and take a look at what you have done. Congratulations!
2. Now to finish the quilt: You will need 1 ¼ yards for the backing material, a 45" x45" piece of batting and 1/3 yard for the binding.

• Hand quilt your top
• Hand tie your top
• Machine quilt your top – use a walking foot or a free motion presser foot to make this possible
• Take your top to a machine quilter like