15 March 2015

Elephant Parade - Week 7 - Sashing, Borders & Backing

Welcome to week 7 of the Elephant Parade!  I have been showing a block each week and would like to encourage you to quilt along.  You can try out as many or as few blocks as you like.  Make a quilt or make a mini.  Make a cushion.  Make whatever your imagination leads you to make!

It has been such an immense pleasure to see everyone's progress each week.  And to see how many of you have been changing things up to make this quilt your own.  Some have been using prints instead of solids.  Some have been adding different animals to their parade.  Some have changed the arrangement and layout of their blocks.  AND each one of these creations has made me SMILE!!!

It's so nice to see how much fun you are all having on this Elephant Parade!!!


The original post about the inspiration for this baby quilt design can be found here.  I have also added a Elephant Parade quilt along page that includes all the information you will need and a weekly schedule.  As each post is published the live links will be added to the schedule.  The Elephant Parade page tab is found just below the blog header.



Happily, Northcott Fabrics is as excited to see this come to life as I am, and will be sponsoring this project.  Follow along and watch as these bright solids from their ColorWorks Premium Solids quilting cottons collection become shaped into these adorable animals!

It is not necessary to purchase the pattern in order to participate.  But if you are wanting to make the complete quilt, as pictured above, and would prefer the convenience of using a printable pdf pattern,  Elephant Parade is available for purchase and includes complete cutting instructions and a detailed guide to finishing the entire quilt.  The pattern is available in my pattern store here.




Sashing and Borders Assembly Instructions


From the off white, cut (9) strips @ 3” for row sashing and borders and (5) strips @ 1.5” for block sashing.

Crosscut the 1.5” strips into (19) 1.5” x 8.5” sashing strips
Sew the 19 sashing strips onto the sides of the blocks as follows:





Using the quilt picture at the top of this post as a guide, sew the blocks into the rows.  These rows should measure 43.5” wide.

If your off white sashing and border fabric is wide enough, you will not need to piece the sashing.
Sew (6) of the 3” sashing and border strips onto the bottom of each row and onto the top of Row 1.
Using the cover page as a guide, sew the rows together.  These rows should measure 55.5” tall.
Crosscut (1) of the remaining sashing and border strips in half.  Sew each half onto the end of the other (2) remaining sashing and border strips, to make (2) long side border strips.
Sew the side borders on to complete your quilt top.

If your off white sashing and border fabric is not wide enough, you will need to piece the sashing.
Sew (7) of the 3” sashing strips together.  Crosscut this long sashing strip into (6) 43.5” lengths.
Sew these (6) sashing strips onto the bottom of each row and onto the top of Row 1.
Using the cover page as a guide, sew the rows together.  These rows should measure 55.5” tall.
Cut the remainder of that long sashing strip in half.  Sew each half onto the end of the other (2) remaining sashing and border strips, to make (2) long side border strips.
Sew the side borders on and trim to height to complete your quilt top.



Backing

To prepare for quilting, you will need:
Backing to cover 54” x 62”
Batting to cover 54” x 62”




For my backing, I used 4 yards of Elephants in Grey by Ed Emberley from the Happy Drawing collection for Cloud 9 Fabrics.  Because this quilt is wider than the standard width of fabric, I knew there would have to be a seam line.  I did not want that seam line to be apparent and knew that making a matched seam using another cut of the Elephants fabric would be nearly impossible to accomplish.  For that reason, I decided to add this narrow band of Turquoise where the two pieces of Elephants print would meet.


This is the layout and the measurements that I for my pieced backing.  But you are certainly encouraged to use your imagination and whatever you have in your stash to make your backing.  This is just a guide.



We're getting closer!  Next week's post will give suggestions for quilting and binding.  And the next week after that....  It's linky party time!!!  I am so excited!





Join the Elephant Parade!


Sew Fresh Quilts


A quilt along button has been added to the right sidebar.  If you are interested in quilting along, please add the button to your blog and help to spread the word.  It's never to late to join in and quilt along!

Please feel free to share via social media!  And add the hashtag #elephantparadeqal

I have also added a new page tab Elephant Parade under the blog header.  Here you will find all the details of the quilt along and a schedule.  Links will be added to this schedule as each post is published.


Keep On Quilting On!




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8 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi dear Lorna,
Thank you for this fun quilt along!
I will put together my next week.
Have a wonderful sunday
Hugs, Deborah

Turid said...

Thank you so much, Lorna. You're the BEST!

Needled Mom said...

I, too, have so loved seeing all of the elephants. The pattern was sooo cute to begin with and the additions are adorable.

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

This has been so much fun! I am really looking forward to seeing how everyone completes their projects!

Teacosy said...

Hi, thanks for the quiltalong its been a pleasure Taking Part. One questions i do have, could it be that the rows should measure 45,5" instead of 43,5"? Or is It me getting Mixed up.
Viele Grüße Sylvia

Lorna McMahon said...

No. The completed rows should measure 43.5" wide. Hope it is all working out for you!

Nita said...

Argh, i don't have enough fabric! I can do the block sashing but will have to order more for the rest. Oh well, took a gamble and lost. No biggie. I'll just finish later than everybody else.

Nita said...

...or maybe I can use somethibg different for the row sashing and borders...suggestions?

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