Monday, May 20, 2013

Quilted Mat Sew Along - Tutorial 1 - Sewing The Squares

Welcome to the first part of the sew along! If you are here for the first time you might want to check out the introduction post that will tell you all you need to know about this project. The best part about this quilted mat is that it is quick. You will only need about 30 minutes at your sewing machine and ironing board for this first part.


 For Part 1 you need:
  • Twelve 5" squares
  • Pins
  • Iron & ironing board
  • Sewing machine & thread

First, lay out your squares and 'audition' them. Decide upon the placement of your squares and once you have them laid out the way you want them, take a quick photo on your phone or camera. That way you can refer back to it later if you forget or your squares get jumbled up.

I ended up choosing alternating blue and pink squares from a Cuzco charm pack by Kate Spain for Moda.


Working with the bottom row of squares first, place them right sides together and stitch the squares using a 1/4" seam.


Continue until you have stitched the row together. Repeat with the other two rows.


Press the seams open.


Lay row 2 over the top of row 1 so that right sides are together and seams are aligned. Double check that your placement is correct by flipping row 2 up and imagining what it will look like when it is sewn together. This is especially important if you are using directional fabric. Nothing more annoying that not checking then having to seam rip!

Pin either side of seams, carefully ensuring that seams are aligning.


Stitch together using a 1/4" seam.

Repeat the process of pinning and aligning seams with rows 2 & 3. Again, check and make sure your squares are in the correct order.


You are done! Your little quilt top will look like this:


To make it nice and flat, flip it over and press all the seams open. Trim off any excess threads.


Finished! Don't stress if your corners and seams don't match up perfectly. I am yet to make a project where every seam is perfect, but I'm getting better with practice.

Now show me some pics! I'd love to see your progress. Share on Instagram using the hashtag #matsewalong, post it on my facebook page or upload a pic in the Sew Delicious flickr group. I'm excited to see all the different fabric choices you've made!

Next up on Wednesday will be the basting and quilting tutorial. See you then! Any questions? Get in touch!

If you are sewing along, you can grab this button!

Sew Delicious Sew Along


10 comments:

  1. Cant wait to get to my machine later today ;)

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  2. Have to wait until I get home from work. :(

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  3. I got a bundle of Fig Tree fabrics just in time for this! Will hopefully get it done this evening :)

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  4. im so in! just need my fabric to arrive.

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  5. I've made my top! Will be blogging it tonight. I think I am going to make a few this week actually as I need a mat for my computer as well as my sewing machine.

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  6. Can I ask for some help? Can anyone please look at my squares and tell me if any of them need swapping / are the colours balanced? Just put up a picture on my FB page, you can comment there. I am going to sew them tonight.
    https://www.facebook.com/DownGrapevineLane

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  7. Hi Ros! I missed the intro to your sew along but am glad I picked up on your post today. It just so happens that I have 12 squares left over from a quilt that I've been working on and when I read that was all I would need for this mat I thought that it was meant to be! I'm sewing them up now and will post it somewhere soon :) Look forward to Wed.

    Sophie xo

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    1. P.S. Ros I hope you don't mind but I posted a link to your sew along on my FB page :)

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  8. Just made the top and blogged about it. All ready for tomorrow now :)

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  9. My mat top is all done and on the blog.

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