Star Sampler - Finishing

Sewing Quilt Top Together:

Cut 24 – 12 ½ x 2 ½” dark blue strips
Cut 16 - 2 ½” gold squares

Decide where you want each star block to be in your layout.

Sew one 12 ½” dark blue strip to the right side of each block Press towards the dark blue strip

Sew one 12 ½” dark blue strip the left side of the first block in each row. Press towards the dark blue strip.

Sew each row of star blocks together. Press seams towards dark blue strip.

Sew 3 – 12 ½” dark blue strips together with a 2 ½” gold square in between each strip. Press towards dark blue strip.

Sew a 2 ½” gold square at both ends of each dark blue row that you sewed above. Press towards the dark blue strip.

You should have rows like this:

Sew the above rows together. Press seams away from the star blocks.

Adding Borders:

Here is a really good article on borders.

Measure the length of your quilt top at the left edge, right edge and middle. Using the smallest measurement and cutting your border strips to this size will help keep your quilt square.

Cut 2 – 5 ½” wide border strips the smallest length you measured above. You may have to cut 2 strips and sew them together (end to end) if your border fabric is not wide enough to cut across the grain (parallel to the salvage).

Sew the side border strips onto your quilt top. Find the middle of the quilt top and the middle of your border strip. Match these two points and pin. Pin the ends of the border strip even with the edges of the quilt top. 
TIP: If there is one side that has a lot of extra fabric that needs to be eased in, place this side next to the feed dogs. By "feeding the feed dogs" it will help ease in the extra fabric.
Press towards the border.

Measure the width of your quilt top at the top, bottom and middle.

Cut 2 – 5 ½” wide border strips the smallest length you measured. You may have to cut 2 strips and sew them together if your border fabric is not wide enough to cut across the grain (parallel to the salvage).

Sew the top and bottom border strips onto your quilt top using the same method as the top and bottom. Press towards the border.

Your quilt top is now complete. Here is mine.

Pinning The Quilt Top, Batting, and Backing Together:  

Cut your backing in half so you have two pieces of fabric that are approximately 40” x 63”

Take one of the pieces and cut it in half lengthwise so you have two pieces 20” x 63”

Save one of these pieces for another use.

Cut the salvage off one side of the larger piece.

Sew the cut sides (63” sides) of the large and one small piece together so you have a backing that is approximately 60” x 63”

Place the backing on the floor wrong side up (right side facing the floor).

Tape the edges to the floor with wide masking tape starting at the center of each side and working outwards towards the corners. Make the backing taught but not too tight.

Place the batting on top of your backing. Smooth out any lumps or bumps.

Place your quilt top, right side facing up, on top of the batting.

Using safety pins, pin the three layers together. Start at the middle of the quilt and pin to divide the quilt into quarters. Then pin each quarter section starting at the middle and working out towards the edge. Place pins about 5" apart.

You are now ready to quilt.

Quilting:

Some quilting tips

Here are a couple of options for quilting your quilt. Click on the image to view a larger picture.

Squares on point in each star                          X through each star

All over squiggle

Binding:

Some binding tips can be found here.

Cut 6 - 2 1/2" wide strips from your binding fabric.

Placing ends of two strips, perpendicular to each other, stitch at a 45degree angle. Trim the seam to 1/4". Repeat for the rest of the strips so you have one continuous long strip.

Cut one end of you strip at a 45degree angle. Press this edge under 1/4".

Fold your strip in half and press the entire length of the strip.