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21: Kathy's First Stitch Story + Sashing Your Way to Matching Blocks · The First Stitch: Every Quilter Has a Story

• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: Hello, and welcome to the First Stitch Podcast, where we tell the stories of how everyday quilters just like you got started quilting.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: Plus, talk about some other fun quilty things along the way.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: This is your host, Lisa Donnelly from Wild Plum Lane.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get started.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_01: Today's first stitch story comes from Kathy.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_01: Here she is, in her own words.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_01: I married my husband a year after he started his 30-year naval career.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_01: I'm a Midwest girl, born and raised, and I feel like I've always known how to sew.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_01: By the time I went to junior high and took a required home at class, I already knew how to put a garment together.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_01: I took my first quilting class in Newport, Rhode Island, and really enjoyed it.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_01: I then had my first fence rail quilt.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_01: After moving to California and feeling quite isolated, I decided to piece a quilt top on my own.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_01: We needed something for our king-size bed.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_01: I had a huge box of old fabrics that my mother had used to sew dresses and tops for my sister and me while growing up.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_01: There were fabrics that she had made smock tops out of when we were in high school in the 70s that I then wore again when I was pregnant.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_01: I made my first trip around the world quilt and managed it on my own.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_01: My grandmother was a quilter and was a member of a quilting group at her church that would take in quilt tops and hand quilt them.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_01: Today I find quilting much more enjoyable than garment sewing.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_01: If a quilt doesn't turn out the correct size, it's no big deal.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_01: My major difficulty is getting a constant quarter inch seam.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_01: I've tried a quarter inch foot, a quarter inch seam tape, and a magnetic device that attaches to the metal sole plate, a quarter inch from the needle.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_01: I'm currently putting together blocks that are not quite the same size.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_01: I find this very frustrating, so any tips and tricks from you would be most appreciated.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_01: I joined a mystery quilt along a couple years ago, and none of the blocks are the same size.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_01: Putting it together was a nightmare, and I eventually gave up before finishing it.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_01: I'd love to get it finished.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_01: I tied all my quilts for the longest time.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_01: Then someone told me it isn't a quilt if it isn't quilted.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_01: I was watching a Nancy Zimmerman show the other day, and she showed a quilt that was tied saying, This quilt has been tied.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_01: If she recognizes a tied quilt as a quilt, then I can too.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_01: A few years ago, I took a longarm quilting class and have been renting the longarm machine to finish my quilts.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: So much easier than crawling around on the floor to tie my quilts.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much for sharing your story, Kathy.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_01: I love that quilting and sewing runs through the generations in your family, from your grandmother's quilting group to your mom's old dress fabrics.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_01: And I have a feeling that a lot of you listening can relate to that mystery quilt-along nightmare, Kathy mentioned.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_01: That's exactly what today's whip finishing tip is all about.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_01: My friends, Kathy is not alone in having blocks that don't quite match up.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_01: It's one of the most common reasons I hear that a quilt top stalls out completely.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_01: So today I want to walk you through a simple fix.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_01: Before I get to it, I have to tell you my personal story because I've been exactly where Kathy is.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_01: A few years ago, I started a block of the month project, and true to work in progress form, I didn't finish it until five or six years later.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_01: By the time I sat down to finish those last few blocks, I had so much more quilting experience under my belt, which meant that my early blocks and my late blocks didn't match up at all.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_01: My seam allowances had gotten more consistent over the years, so my new blocks were noticeably smaller than the blocks I'd made way back at the beginning.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_01: I had to use the exact technique I'm about to share with you to bring them all back into line, and it worked like a charm.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_01: Here's how to do it.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_01: Number one, find your largest block.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_01: Lay all your blocks out and figure out which one is the biggest, unfinished seam allowance included.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_01: Cut one and a half inch strips and sew them to the side of your large block.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_01: Measure again, and that measurement becomes your target.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: Number two, add sashing to your smaller blocks.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_01: Cut sashing strips wider than you think you'll need and sew them to the sides of any block that's smaller than your target block.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_01: You can use one consistent sashing fabric for a cohesive look, or mix and match colors pulled from your leftover block fabrics if you're going scrappy.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_01: Number three, square everything up.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_01: Once every block, sashing included, is at least as big as your target size, use a square ruler to trim each block down to the exact same finished size, squiring up the corners as you go.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_01: Number four, piece with confidence.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_01: Now that every block matches, you can piece your quilt top together without any of that fudging, easing, or frustration that Kathy mentioned.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_01: Next, I have a couple quick alternatives if sashing isn't your style.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_01: You can also trim all your blocks down to match your smallest block.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_01: That's the simplest option, though you'll lose a little bit of size overall and possibly some points, depending on your block design.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_01: If the size difference is really small, sometimes just easing the blocks together with a few extra pins as you sew can get you there.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_01: But for blocks that are noticeably different sizes, like Kathy's mystery quilt sew along blocks, and my own block of the month quilt, sashing is going to give you the most reliable, professional looking finish.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_01: And Kathy, if you're listening, that mystery quilt along top does not have to stay a work in progress forever.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_01: Grab that square ruler, add a little sashing, and I bet you'll have it back together in an afternoon.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_01: Since squaring up is the whole name of the game today, I want to point you toward the tool I reach for every single time.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_01: It's the Creative Grids 12.5 inch square up ruler.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_01: And I also have the 10.5 inch for good measure.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_01: What I love about these rulers is the non-slip grip so it stays exactly where you put it instead of shifting around while you're trimming.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_01: And that matters when you're trying to get a precise, consistent size across a whole stack of blocks like Kathy's.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_01: It's got super easy to read black and white markings in one-inch grids, a 45 degree line for trimming half square triangles, and a turnaround feature that makes it super simple to add or trim a quarter or half inch seam allowance.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_01: It's a tool that earns its spot in your sewing space, and it'll make quick work of squaring up whatever work in progress you tackle next.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_01: You'll find the link to grab your own down in the show notes.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: And with that, we'll wrap up this episode of the First Stitch Podcast.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: If you enjoyed listening, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd hit the subscribe button in your favorite podcast player, write a review on Apple Podcasts, or tell your best quiltie friends so they can listen to you.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: By the way, do you have a story to share?
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: Every quilter has a beginning to their story, and we'd love to hear yours.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: Plus, over the years you might have picked up tips or tricks you could share with others.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_00: It might inspire another quilter, so we want to hear about it.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_00: Share your personal quilting journey, your best project finishing tip, or your first stitch moment.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_00: Your story might be read on an upcoming episode of the First Stitch.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: You can submit your story today by sending an email to First Stitch Podcast, all one word.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_00: That's first stitch podcast at wildplumlane.com, or use our quick submission form down in the show notes.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_00: I can't wait to talk with you again soon.