Journey of a Quilt

The journey continues! Today, we are finishing up the patchwork for our panel quilt. If you’ve been following along, you know the "quilt math" can sometimes feel as clear as mud—but don’t worry, we’re making it work!

Matching Your Rows

To finish the top of the panel, we are creating two rows of 13 squares to match the bottom [00:44]. The trickiest part is always deciding on fabric placement! I like to lay my rows out first to ensure I’m not duplicating fabrics right next to each other [01:17].

Top Tips:

  • Use Clips: Mark the "top" and "end" of your rows with clips so you don't get turned around while sewing [01:23].

  • The "Pinch & Pleat": When joining your rows, match up your first seam and "pinch or pull" as you go to make sure all subsequent seams line up perfectly [04:09].

  • Backstitching is Key: My grandma always said to backstitch when you start and stop, and she was right! It creates a "Z" in your fabric so your thread doesn't pull out [05:47].

Preparing for the Long-Armer

Once your top is sewn and ironed flat, it's time to measure for your backing. Missouri Star recommends adding 4 inches all the way around, but I like to add 8 inches just to be absolutely sure they have enough room to work their magic [06:24]!

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