Originally Posted by England Street Quilts

Hi Clare,

Thanks for visiting my blog and for your interest in my pattern. If you are a confident sewer, I think this project will be fine for you to start with - just read the pattern thoroughly and watch the video a few times first. As MTS said, you do need to be careful about stretch on the bias edges of the blocks but with careful handling and a bit of starch you should get minimal movement. I am a huge fan of starch, but didn't actually use any for this project. I found that just by setting my seams carefully as I added each new strip my strip sets were straight and stretch wasn't a problem.

Thank you to MTS for your tips, they are certainly steps I took when making my Summer in the Park quilt but just took them as assumed knowledge. It just goes to show - you should never assume! Lesson learned. I have now updated my patten with some extra tips, so if you have already downloaded the pattern, you may wish to go and have another look.

If you need any help or advice you can contact me through my blog and I would be more than happy to help. Good luck and happy sewing!

All the best,
Shontelle.

Originally Posted by MTS

Cute pattern.

So, not to scare you off it but I just want to mention three things that were not included (they never are) in the video or pattern but that, as a new quilter, you should be aware of before you start.
And they are not just relevant to this pattern

First:
Not all jelly roll strips are created equal.
It's kind of hard to maintain a perfect strip width, even with a perfectly sewn 1/4" seam allowance, if you start out with unequal strips.
http://www.bearpawproductions.com/us...May%20Vary.pdf
This way you can be sure you'll end up with a 2" finished strip width.

Second:
When sewing strip sets, always alternate the direction when you add a new strip.
So after sewing the first two strips together top to bottom, turn the strip set and add the third strip (so what was the bottom is now going through the machine first).
This helps stabilize the strip set, and prevents it from bowing (which can happen if you're always sewing in the same direction). It's a torque thing.
In the case of this pattern, also alternate the directions when sewing the two strip sets together.
One side top to bottom, the other in the opposite direction.

And third (and MQC always does this):
When you cut those squares from the strip sets, please be very aware that the ALL the edges are exposed bias.
That means they are very stretchy.
And once you stretch bias, there is no unstretching it, and it can easily change the dimensions of your blocks.
So handle with care, and when you press the blocks, do it gently.
Same goes for when you attach the blocks together.
Otherwise, you could end up with a quilt top that has the topography of the Rocky Mountains.

You might want to starch the strips sets before you sew them together.
I'm a starch fiend, so I like mine to be as stiff as possible but I realize that's a personal choice.
However, some starch will help stabilize the strip sets so that when you're ready to cut those squares, they'll be less likely to stretch.


Other than that, go for it.
Enjoy the process and post pictures when you're done.

Originally Posted by Littlebearquiltingboard

Hello,

After receiving some great advice from my thread about supplies I feel ready to tackle my first proper quilt.

I saw this pattern today. There is a written pattern and a tutorial at Missouri Quilt Co.

http://englandstreet.blogspot.co.uk/...l-pattern.html

Would you recommend this as a first pattern for me to tackle? I have general sewing skills but patchwork and quilting are new to me.

Many thanks.

Clare x