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Reversible Quilting: A Process Post

***If you're looking for pretty pictures, skip this post which is a tutorial***




This is pretty, right?  But here's the problem...



 None of these blocks are connected to one another.  They are lovely - both machine and hand-quilted.  But nothing is attached.



You can see what the backing of the blocks looks like in this picture.

This method is from Sharon Pederson's Reversible Quilts: Two at a Time.  And she has a follow-up book More Reversible Quilts.  I must stress that this method isn't easier or harder than approaching a quilt in a traditional method.  It's an alternative that I have found works for me.  Having a walking foot is essential!


Here's my little cheat sheet reminder of what I need for this process.
  • 2" strips for the front connection
  • 1.25" strips for the back connection
Prepare the front strips by ironing them in half, as if you were preparing binding.

Cut strips the length of your block.  In my case, I cut strips 15.5" long.





The white strips are 1.25".  Those are for my back.  The print strips are 2" and some are ironed in half.

Note:  the measurement of the width of these strips is slightly different from what Sharon suggests in her book.  My sewing is not as accurate as hers, and I find I needed my strips a bit wider that what she suggests.





Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.



Lining up the raw edges, pin the folded strip onto the front of your block. 
Flip the block over and clip the narrow backing strip to the same edge you pinned the front bit.

Check your clipping on the front side as well, making sure you have caught all layers.

You can use pins here.  I have found the clips make this slighter easier and more accurate. 
Now sew a 1.4" seam through all the layers:

  • folded top strip
  • block 
  • single back strip
Remove the pins and clips as you go.  
Ironing the back strip out helps with the next step although it's not absolutely necessary.  Because I batted these blocks with wool, they are kind of spongy.  The ironing tamps that down for a bit. 
With the back sides together and the block you've been working on on the top, pin/clip  the single strip to the body of the next block.  You're not going through as many layers, but you have less room to do it in. 

Be patient - the magic is about to happen...

And sew along that seam - see below...
























Open up your blocks and go to the ironing board. 

First, tug gently and make sure the edges of both blocks abut (my favorite vocab word with freshmen - "Hey, she said butt!).  Press the edges down. 

Now press the folded flap over this seam.  And pin this flap in place, covering up all the raw edges. 

















Topstitch this flap down as close to the fold as possible.  

Admire your handiwork. 

Take a deep breath.

Repeat until your rows are connected.
























You will find rolling your quilt handy at certain points.















Here all my rows are connected horizontally.  Now?  Use this same method to join row to row. 

Cut strips the width of your rows.  For this one, it was 62". 

Just use lots of pins and clips.






















It's the same process.


































Your rolls become longer...
































Sometimes I employ the "double-roll" method, especially when joining the last two big pieces of the quilt into one.

Some tips/advice: 

  • Practice this technique on small bits, making your own "cheat sheet" before you tackle a real project.
  • Work with a thread color that will disappear into the backing.  Sometimes my stitching was right on the connecting strip.  But sometimes it was on the backing.  
  • When you think this method is too hard, stop and remember what it's like to quilt a big quilt on your domestic machine.  This method?  Not easier or harder - just an alternative that has worked for me!

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