150th Blog Post GIVE-AWAY and Sawtooth Border Tutorial #1

Today is my 150^th blog post and to celebrate I’m giving, yep that’s right GIVING away this fat quarter bundle.

Pretty isn’t it? The fabric line is Prairie Paisley by Minick and Simpson from Moda. It’s from 2008 so if you want a nicer picture go here to check it out. To enter the contest, leave a comment telling me your favorite quilt block name. Sometime tomorrow I will pick a winner using my handy dandy random number generator.

Now, on to adding sawtooth borders to the feathered star block I made earlier this year.

The first disclaimer, I am not an expert on doing these borders. The second disclaimer is that this does waste fabric…sorry. I have come up with this method because it allows me to be reasonably accurate and not get hopelessly confused. I’m sure other people do this way better than me, all I can say is that this is what works for me. That being said, here we go.

Here’s what you need.

1 to 1 ¼ yards background fabric

½ to ¾ yard of the dark sawtooth fabric.

I strongly recommend an Add-a-Quarter ruler for my method. If you don’t have one a smaller quilting ruler works just fine.

Cutting:

From the light fabric you need to cut 116 rectangles 1 ½”x2 ½” AND 4 squares 1 ½”x1 ½”. Set the remaining fabric aside for the border we will appliqué on.

From the dark fabric you will need to cut 116 rectangles 1 ½”x2 ½” AND 4 squares 1 ½”x1 ½”.

Here is how I start:

The first step is to mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of the light fabric from one corner to a mark 1 ½” up on the opposite side as shown.

Place this rectangle on top a dark rectangle as shown. Make sure the sides and corner line up.

Sew on this drawn line like this

Then use a ruler (I’m using my Add-a-Quarter ruler) to cut ¼” from the seam as shown.

After this press like this

Next we repeat this process with a dark rectangle marked like this.

And press like this.

So that’s a glimpse at the process. Check back tomorrow for specifics on the first border.

Comments

[JOFRID S. SÆVERÅS]

My favorie block is the ninepatch block. congratulatins, and thank you for your tutorials. Jofrid

[Sonja]

Hello Erin! I absolutely love your blog, website, and great BOM patterns. Thanks for sharing with us!! I love the "Pigs in a Blanket or Annie's Choice" block. It's very simple yet very eye appealing. Have a blessed day!

[Carla]

Wow how generous of you! Those look amazing. I would have to say my favorite block is Ann's New Years Star.

[Kevin Britton]

I love the block Pickle Dish. I like the name, I like the look, and I like the fat quarters! I should also mention that your blog is incredible and enjoy reading it daily.

[Else Marie Hansen]

Jeg elsker flyvende gæs, og ninepatch.

[Michelle Pipeling]

My Favorite block is the Flower Basket
I just love anything that reminds me of spring.
Your blog is just amazing.
Thank you
Michelle

[Marijke]

Hello,
my block I love so match is the friendshipstar, this block is nice to make and with patchwork and quilting we make a lot of friends to,
Marijke

[Fran Williams]

My long standing favourite is Patience Corner, a simple block with a multitude of results! How many times have we as quilters heard "Oh! You must have Patience!" when we've been sewing somewhere (Said here in an Australian drawl!)
Fran

[Deb Puterbaugh]

Congratulations on the 150th will be looking forward to many,many more!My favorite pieced is a simple "nine patch".

[Magda]

Me gustaria participar, puedo? Estas telas me gustan mucho.

[Inger Maris, Närpes, Finland]

I like stars. Morning star. I´m right now making a starquilt.
Inger

[Annaleena]

Hi,

My favorite quilt block is Dresden Plate.

[anne-marthe]

My favorite block is Log Cabin !! Nice site :)
Best regards Anne-Marthe
www.espeseth.net

[Vanessa VanTrease]

I'm probably too late for the contest but wanted to tell my favorite block anyway. I love the Mariner's Compass. I love the light/dark shading on the star. I even made a round center piece for my table using a large version of this block. And, my second favorite is the log cabin...old stand by pattern for using up scraps of fabric or new themed fabric! When I saw the give-away prize I immediately thought of the log-cabin! Vanessa

[Kylie]

Hi Erin, is there a trick to knowing how big to cut your fabric pieces so you end up with even borders on your centre block? For example, if my block was 22 inches square, how do I know that cutting them to your measurements would make my corners meet up perfectly?