Prairie Gathering Quilt of the Quarter ~ Month Eight

Hello Prairie Gatherers!  

How did you fair with piecing your Flying Geese borders?  I'm hoping you have been measuring each step of the way, and that your Flying Geese borders fit snugly and perfectly. I'm sure hoping the pieced border hints I gave not only helped you with this border, but will help with all pieced borders to come....in this quilt and many more!

Here's what your quilt top should look like.  It's really a nice table topper at this point, but we're piecing onward!

We're about to add another border!  So exciting!!!  The Checkerboard border is what's coming next.  

After piecing the remaining red/red print Two-Patch units, we will begin to sew them into pairs or Four-Patches.  Be sure each Four-Patch measures 2.5 x 2.5 inches unfinished.  If not, unsew and do-over.  Those seams aren't that big, so it won't take long, and you'll be so glad you did.

Then proceed in sewing two Four-Patch units together.  They should measure 2.5 x 4.5 inches.  If not, you know exactly what seam to look at.  

Continue adding Four-Patch units, always checking the measurements as you sew along.

This isolates any problem seams so if there is a measurement discrepancy, you know exactly what seam to correct.  Follow your pattern directions, adding a single Two-Patch at the end to complete your border to the correct size.

Then you can sew your Checkerboard borders to the quilt center.  Now that feels like real progress!! 

Your next task this month is to add triangles to your Four-Patch units.  To make this a little easier, I suggest carefully folding your triangle in half and finger-press a crease marking the half way point.  With right sides together, match the crease with the center seam of the Four-Patch.  That way, your triangle is sure to be centered.  They should all measure 3.5 inches.

Lastly, you'll be making a few Odds & Ends units for upcoming blocks.  What can I say...easy, breezy.  Just another type of Four-Patch.  Be sure this unit measure 2.5 inches.  One of the things I check for is to make sure there isn't a shortage in a corner.  Ya know, one of those corners in the unit just doesn't quite make it to the edge.  Hhmmm.  Why does that happen?  Well, you may not have matched the raw edges squarely and evenly.  Perhaps your seam was a little too big when you began.  No matter, if the unit isn't quite square and perfect..do take a few moments to unsew and make it right.

Geez....all this talk about sewing makes me want to sew something.  I think I can search my sewing room and find something to work on!

Enjoy the journey.....take your time, and slow stitch your patchwork.  More fun next month!