A Prairie Gathering Quilt of the Quarter ~ Month Twelve

I can hardly believe that a year has almost passed since we began this journey together!  My, how the time has flown by.  You have done an amazing job with this quilt, and are about to complete this piecing masterpiece!

Your first task this month is to assemble the two types of Friendship Stars.  There's not much to offer in the way of suggestions here that we haven't already covered.  I'll just say this one last time....measure to be absolutely sure they are the correct size.  I love Friendship Stars as they give a bit of movement to the quilt.  Hope you like them, too!

 The Signature block is the last block to make!  Happy dance!!  It's very simple construction may have you letting your guard down, but even easy blocks can go wrong in just a few stitches.
Once you piece the strip together, be sure to do that "M" word before continuing.  Once you're sure the block is good to go, you'll be sewing four Connector Corners onto the block.

Such a little innocent square can really be a problem if not tended to properly.  Follow these four steps to achieving perfect Connector Corners (CC).  

• Draw the diagonal pencil line perfectly from point to point.
• Place the CC squarely on the base.
• Sew just a thread or two (scant) inside the seam allowance.
• Press, then trim.  Press to check the accuracy of the folded triangle.  Once you're happy with it, then trim the bottom two fabrics.  If it's not perfect, un-sew and re-do.  It's just a little seam, and worth the effort!

Now, for the fun part!  

Arrange the Friendship Star blocks and Signature blocks for final assembly.  Consult your pattern as the top and bottom borders are slightly different.

You're home free now!  Add the final red border and pat yourself on the back!!  You did it!!
Your piecing masterpiece is complete, and what a quilt it is.  Wonderful job and I'm so happy we took this journey together.  

I sincerely hope you enjoyed the historic stories included in the program, and that you learned a lot while piecing the quilt, too. 

I'm already working on several new Block of the Month programs for Marcus Fabrics.  Each is quite different from this one, with new and exciting adventures for your piecing pleasure.  I'll announce them right here on my blog when it's time, so please come back and visit often.

Thank you all for participating in A Prairie Gathering.  I'm so very happy you did!