Making and Adding the Block Setting (Border)

 

First of all, some discussion regarding quilt dimensions, so you know how I ended up with the sizes I will be recommending.

We will be making a "setting" for each block. This serves two purposes. It makes the block larger, so that we can get a reasonable sized quilt out of the 12 blocks we are doing, and it allows the newbies to quilting to feel confident that they can end up with 12 blocks that are all identical in size. We do this by measuring the finished block as made above, then adjusting our setting width to insure that we end up with a perfect 15" square block.

Before 137 people post me with a "What happened? It was supposed to be a 14 1/2 block." … Yes, I changed the dimension. Being Captain gives me that privilege  What happened was that when I looked at the blocks and tried some setting or sashing dimensions on them, it became apparent that they wanted the borders to be a bit larger. I toyed with going for a full 2" after piecing border, but then realized that by cutting 2" strips for the border, we would end up with 15" blocks in the finished size. This makes it very easy to calculate what finished size quilt you want, and how many blocks will be needed. Hence, I went ahead and did it that way. I will have to go back and review directions above and change them accordingly.

Here are some potential optimum quilt sizes for various beds, based on a 10" drop on both sides and the foot:

Single bed - 58x82

Double bed - 74x85

Queen bed - 80x90

King bed - 92x94

Using our 15" block size, for a single bed, 12 blocks in a 3 x 4 setting will give you 45" x 60". Border up to the desired dimension. 8" borders on the sides, 10" borders on the top and bottom should work fine. If you don't want to have borders, and they are not necessary, you could use 20 blocks in a 4 x 5 setting, producing a quilt 60" x 75"… close enough. A small border could be used, say 4" all around, and would be real nice, with a bit more drop at the sides.

For a double bed, the 4 x 5 setting, 20 blocks, would produce a size of 60" x 75". Add 8" borders at the sides and you would have 76". Add a bit less top and bottom, say 5", and you would be right at 85" for the length.

For queen size, 5 blocks by 6 blocks will produce 75" x 90", very close to optimum Add side borders of 5" and narrower borders of 4" at top and bottom and it will work out fine.

For king size, which is virtually square, go to 6 blocks x 6 blocks, or 90" x 90". Add a 4" border all around and it will be perfect.

Bear in mind that the dimensions originally given were for quilts that covered the bed. If you tuck the quilt under the pillows, you will want a bit more length, which can be accommodated in the bordering process.

I will be putting up at least two blocks every month. Every other month, I will put up a third block. This means that for the ambitious types, there will be 36 blocks available by the end of the year, for your kind size quilt.

Now that I have you backgrounded (for which read thoroughly confused…), let's get to the job of adding a border, or setting, around each of our blocks. This is a simple process, really.

 

Here is what the block should look like with it's "setting" or "border" on:

Here is the Annie's Choice Block, with its setting, or border, added.

And here is Battleground, with its setting added.

 

Cut four strips of background material, 2" x 12 1/2". (Note, measure your blocks. If you are coming out consistently over or under-sized, use your dimension. Also, if you want, you can cut these strips wider, say 1 1/2", then use the extra to trim down more exactly ).

Study the block you are bordering. Select the dominant color, and cut four 2" (or larger if you are cutting oversize) square blocks of that color.

Sew a 2" strip to each of two sides of the block. Iron the seams outwards from the block. I would strongly recommend that you pin carefully at the seam crossings. Some will favor the direction of the sewing machine feed, others will be against it. It is easy for the sewing machine to "unfold" the seam from the way you pressed it, resulting in a "twisted seam" on the back of the block. One more niggly little thing for the White Glove Police to pick up on at the quilt show.

Sew a 2" square on each end of the other two strips. Iron the seams inward from the squares.

Now, carefully pin one of the strips with the 2" color blocks on the ends to one of the remaining sides of the block and stitch it on. Repeat on the other side of the block.

With a little bit of luck, your block should now look like the ones above, and be right close to 15" square.

Here is a somewhat reduced view of what the finished quilt (mine, in 1930's repro, anyway) might look like:

 

 

Those of you who wish to can simply join the blocks and quilt in the normal manner. Those who want to do the quilt as you go method will be quilting each block. I hope to do the instructions on that this weekend. The quilt as you go version will be quilted to the full block size, 15". The blocks will be set against each other, and joined with an overlaying binding. You can do the binding in white, like the background, or inn a strong color, which is what I prefer. Mine is going to be a medium or dark blue. Black is also very effective. Captain Dick