I am thinking about finishing the next lap throw I make with Prairie Points. I haven't done this before and I am not sure how to figure the yardage I will need. Does anyone know a standard formula to determine the correct amount of material needed for this technique? Thanks.

Hi!
You did not mention what type of prairie points you had in mind to make.
Here is a tute for making a continuous prairie points...and the fabric is 4 X the height of the prairie point and the length of your quilt sides. This is probably the easiest method. You can also use two different fabrics, cut each 2 X the height of your prairie point and add 1/4" to each width for the seam allowance, sew them right sides together and follow the rest of the tute.

http://patchworkunderground.com/blog...oints-tutorial

That is a very great tutorial, Amma!!! I printed it out to put in my "Instructions" binder. All kinds of stuff in there, but nothing like this!!! I am sending you hugs and cheers for finding that one!!! Thanks!!! Janice

Thank you, amma. Thank you, Loretta. These instructions are perfect. I didn't know prairie points could be done without cutting a ton of little squares. I love the look but had been putting it off, now I am excited to start that lap throw. :-D

here's a link to the finished quilt of the continuous prairie points (the purple ones in the other link).

this way you can see how the cut edges are covered by the binding.


http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-21163-1.htm

Kluedesigns,
Thanks for providing the link to the finished quilt pictures. That quilt is awesome! Using the inward points really set off the curve of the center design and they helped break up and add interest to the solid color background, then to use solid binding was another good idea. That one certainly is an 'art quilt' :-)

I see how the edges are buried in the binding &/or the quilt sandwich, it looks very secure. I was a little concerned how durable it might be on a lap throw, but I think it will be ok - the throw is for an adult.

The fabric I plan to use for this throw has a busy pattern so I will use a solid color for the prairie points and test how they look as both innies and outies. I am excited to get started - too bad the prairie points are at the end of the project. lol

So, is there a way that continuous Prairie Points (this method) can point out instead of in? How would that work, since the binding holds everything on? I love prairie points, but have avoided them because too much fussing. This method looks do-able for me, but I would like to point them out if possible. Also, the tut doesn't give any guidance as to how to approach corners. Any suggestions?

I have put prairie points on one quilt, a couple of years ago. One thing I think would be helpful would be to put the prairie points on the top before you sandwich, that way you are not fighting keeping the batting and backing from the top and points while sewing them on. And perhaps this is a common sense thing for most people. But I didn't decide to put the points on my quilt until after I had quilted it. So in the future, I will plan a little bit further ahead.

you don't have to worry about corners at all.

each continuous point strip is cut the length of each side of the quilt.

for example, if your quilt is 60x80 you would cut 2 strips at 60 and 2 strips at 80. then make the alternating cuts in the fabric and fold them into points.

if you want them to point "out" instead of "in" like i did on the breast cancer quilt - you have a couple of options.

if its going to be a wall hanging you could press them over the binding - in the quilt i did i could have done that and the points would have stayed that way because i use starch but if that wasn't the case you could tac them down to the binding with a stitch or 2.

the other option is insert the points into the batting sandwich, turn under the edges of the quilt and top stitch all around the quilt as in the example tute.

http://patchworkunderground.com/blog...oints-tutorial

another option on this idea would be to use a blind stitch instead of a top stitch so that you wouldn't see a stitch line

Klue, I did as you suggested, blind stitch the back on.

I sewed my prairie points (used individual points since I had discovered the continuous method) on the top of the quilt top, then folded the points outwards, ironed my seam in the backing and then blind stitched it to the back of the points.

one of the ladies in the office brought in a quilt made by her great grandmother. it was 12 inch quilt blocks made up of prairie points! They were attached in a circular brick layer type pattern. The quilt had a backing and was heavy but not lumpy. I would love to know how to make it! Does anyone know what the pattern is called and where I could find it?