DIP INTO YOUR THREAD COLLECTION TO HAND QUILT THE SHADES OF THE RAINBOW
CUTTING OUT
1 From the background fabric cut:
■ Sixteen (16) 50½in x 2½in strips.
■ Seventeen (17) 10½in x 2½in strips.
2 From the binding fabric cut:
■ Seven (7) 2½in x WOF strips.
PIECING THE QUILT TOP
3 Place one print strip RST with a background 10½in x 2½in strip. Sew together along one short end and press towards the print fabric. Repeat with all seventeen strips.
4 Using the Layout Diagram or photography as a guide, position the strips in colour order, orienting them so the white strips are on alternate ends. Join a background 50½in x 2½in strip to the bottom of each joined strip (except the bottom strip). Press seams toward the print fabric strips.
5 Sew the strip sets together in groups of four. Join the sets together to create two halves of the quilt top, then sew the two halves together to complete the quilt top.
QUILTING AND FINISHING
6 Cut the backing fabric in half across the width. Remove the selvedges and sew the two pieces together using a ½in seam. Press the seam open.
7 Press the quilt top and backing well. Make a quilt sandwich by placing the backing
fabric right side down, the batting on top, then place the quilt top centrally and right side up. Baste the layers together using your preferred method.
8 Quilt as desired. Sarah hand quilted straight lines in the centre of each stripe, using a 12wt Aurifil thread. Trim off the excess batting and backing fabric and square up the quilt.
9 Sew the binding strips together end-toend using diagonal seams. Press the seams open and trim the dog ears. Fold the binding strip in half lengthways, wrong sides together, and press.
10 Sew the binding to the right side of the quilt, creating a neat mitre at each corner. Fold the binding over to the back of the quilt and hand stitch in place to finish.