Let It Shine QAL Week 4
Let It Shine Quilt Along - Week 4
Assemble Quilt Top
You’ve done it! We made it to the final week of the Let It Shine Quilt Along! Last week we had the exciting part of piecing all the blocks - don’t you just love how they all look? This week we get the satisfaction of piecing the top together!
If you are making the large star crib version, last week was your final week since that version is essentially an oversized version of 1 quilt block. So if that’s you - congrats! You beat us to the finish line 😉
Before we begin, here are some helpful links:
- Let It Shine Pattern
- Let It Shine Quilt Along Details
- Week 1 Video and Blog Post
- Week 2 Video and Blog Post
- Week 3 Video and Blog Post
Week 4 - Final Week
Prep Your Work Space
Before sewing this week, make sure your sewing space has room for your long rows. I like to make sure the left side of my sewing table is clear of EVERYTHING. I have knocked over many pins and sewing notions. Learn from my mistakes!
I also move my sewing machine to the right of my table to give myself more room on the left side.
Also, you may want to pull your table away from the wall and add another table behind it. This way, the weight of the long rows getting sewn together doesn’t pull down your quilt to the back.
Block Layout
This is the time to lay out your blocks and figure out your design layout. Take the time to fine tune how you want the quilt top to look. I often take a black and white photo so that I can tell if I have the dark, medium, and light fabrics evenly dispersed. I also like to do this when I make an ombre quilt so that I can make sure I have fabrics in order from dark to light. When I’m satisfied with the layout, I take a final color photo. This way, I can refer to the layout if my blocks get messed up, if I need to pick everything up for the day, or my kids run in and accidentally mess up the layout.
Pressing
When assembling a row, I press my seams to the side and alternate each row. This way, I can nest seams when I’m sewing the rows together. When pressing full rows after you sew rows together, you can press those long seams open if you please.
Sewing Rows
When sewing rows, I like to nest my seams and place a pin right where I’m nesting my seam. Then I place a pin to hold the beginning of the row. Lastly, I find the middle of the block between those 2 pins and place another pin. I then fill in spaces if I’d like more pins to hold placement. When sewing, backstitch at the beginning and ending of rows so that your seams are secure.
Finishing
This step is optional, but I like to add a stay stitch that’s ⅛” from the edge around the full perimeter of the quilt. Longarmers may prefer this so that your end seams are more secure when they’re loading your quilt top onto the quilting frame.
Week 4 Prize
The sponsor for this week’s prize is Novodon the Sheep. They have generously donated their 5ft wool pressing mat to one of you!
To enter:
- Only public Instagram accounts are eligible for entry.
- Take a photo of your progress this week, and share it on IG.
- Tag me @fieldstone.fabric and use hashtags #letitshinequilt #letishineqal
- The winner will be shared in my weekly newsletter next week.
Last week’s prize was a mini iron from Oliso. This iron is so awesome to keep next to your sewing table on a small pressing mat. It makes pressing small pieces more time efficient! Thank you for your sponsorship! This week’s winner is @maurermarcella.
Send me a DM on socials and I’ll get you the details.
This Quilt Along has been so enjoyable! I’m so glad we could make this lovely fun quilt top together these past few weeks! If you’re still working on your quilt, I’d love to see your final project! Please send me an email or tag me on Instagram. Hearing from you all makes this so rewarding and enjoyable.
Links:
Let It Shine Quilt Along Week 1