18 Apr Merry Weather Quilt
I partnered with PFAFF Sewing to create a series of videos for an “Instagram Takeover” on the PFAFF Sewing Instagram account. I decided to demonstrate how I made my Merry Weather quilt from start to finish in a week. I’ve shared the videos below so you can see how quick and easy it is to make this quilt. The pattern can be purchased here:
1 — Introduction
I used my PFAFF Quilt Expression 720 sewing machine which is all prepped for quilt making with a ¼” presser foot, a fresh needle, a new spool of thread and a full bobbin.
Using strips of fabric in 16 different colors I sewed the strips lengthwise to skinny white strips. I use a method called “chain piecing” which is like an assembly line for quilt making: you sew each seam one after another without removing them from the sewing machine until the whole batch is pieced. Then snip them apart and get ready for pressing the seams.
2 — Square Units
Once I finished all my strip piecing, I pressed my fabrics towards the dark side (away from the white strips). It’s important to press the seams well so they lie nice and flat.
Next, I folded each strip unit into fourths and used a square ruler and rotary cutter to trim the strips into 4 equal squares.
Look at those pretty stacks of fabric waiting to be sewn into blocks!
3 — Pinwheel Blocks
After making all my individual square units, I pieced them together in a pinwheel formation to make a block. To do this, first I sewed two units together and then I sewed two pairs of units together to make a square block.
After each seam I pressed to the dark side. This helps lock the seams and because of the pinwheel formation, I “spun” the seams in the middle so they lay nice and flat. I like to use a spritz of water and a quilter’s clapper (flat block of wood) to help set the seams as flat as possible.
4 — Combining Blocks
Once I finished making all my individual pinwheel blocks, I started sewing them together. This step is tedious, but I used the “chain piecing” method to make the process go as quickly as possible.
I sewed pairs of blocks together, then sewed two pairs together making sets of 4 blocks, then I combined 4 sets of 4 blocks until I had 16 blocks. Then so on and so on until I had a total of 64 blocks sewn together for my completed quilt top.
5 — Quilting
After “sandwiching” my quilt top, backing, and batting, I did a little happy dance because it was all ready to be quilted. First, I marked an S‑curve line using a hera marker. This gave me a guideline of where to start my quilting.
Using a standard foot with IDT system, I carefully stitched along the gentle curve mark. I used the edge guide set at about 1.75” to follow along my first seam. I used matching light grey 40wt. cotton thread and bobbin and set my stitch length at 3.5.
The results are a lovely organic wavy quilting design to balance out the rigid geometry of the pinwheel blocks.
6 — Binding
Once I finished quilting my quilt and trimming the excess batting/backing, I was ready to bind it. I know this is many quilters’ least favorite step, but to me, it’s like the crossing finish line of a marathon.
I cut out 7 strips of 2.5” wide binding strips, then sewed them together on the bias. I trimmed the bias seams, then pressed the seams open and I was ready to bind. For this quilt I decided to sew the binding to the back first. Then I wrapped the binding around to the front, pinned it in place and then top-stitched it to the front of the quilt. I took time to carefully line up my corners, so they have a clean mitered look.
7 — All done!
That’s it! I’m finished my Merry Weather quilt. This quilt took me 7 days to sew/quilt/bind. The finished size is 64x64” I’m thrilled with how it turned out and I am looking forward to snuggling under it on my couch.
See more photos and the Merry Weather quilt pattern details here.
Click here for more details about the beautiful PFAFF Quilt Expression 720 sewing machine.
Follow me @holdmyseamripper on Instagram.
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