Part 8: Assembling your quilt top

Part 8 - Assembling Your Quilt Top

Move your panels around and start assembling your quilt composition.

Join Your Panels

1. Stitch two panels together on your sewing machine with a 1 cm (7/16 in) seam allowance.
2. Place your panels right side together, aligning the edges.
3. Grab your iron and press the seams open. This is so that when you come to hand stitching, the seams aren't too bulky to push your needle through. Then reverse the fabric, pressing the other side.
4. Repeat the previous steps until you have sewn all the panels together.

Create Larger Quilt From Your Panels

1. You can stitch large panels onto one another. This will allow your quilt to grow into a larger quilt.
2. A great idea is to share the work with your friends and family and start making a panel each. Bring your various panels together and start sewing something special.

Use the Building Blocks Steps to Complete Your Quilt

1. Prepare your quilt backing. It should be 5-10 cm (2-3 15/16 in) larger than your quilt top.
2. Lay the right side of the backing fabric on your work surface. Check to make sure the backing fabric is larger than your quilt top.
3. Use masking tape to secure the backing at regular intervals. Smooth the fabric down.

Tip: if you are constructing a larger quilt, you might want to put the backing fabric on the floor. If you are managing large pieces of fabric you can roll each of your layers onto a large cardboard roll and unroll them together.

1. Using your quilt top as your template, cut your batting (or wadding) at least 5 cm (2 in) wider than your quilt top.
2. Centre the piece of batting (or wadding) on top of the backing fabric.
3. Trim your quilt top and lay it on top of your batting.