Across the Sea Quilt-Along: Completing the Quilt Top (Borders included)

We've made it to the final steps in completing our quilt top! Yea!

Today we are going to sew together the cross blocks and add the two borders.
Be sure to check out Sarah's Baby Size Quilt. If you've missed any of the previous Across the Sea Quilt-Along posts, you can find all of them here.

First up: piecing the blocks together.

You should have your layout decided upon. (You can read more about layout and design here.)

Now, take your first row of blocks and sew each one together, right sides facing each other, to make a row of 4 (for the lap size, 3 for the baby size.)

These blocks are right sides together. 

Press your seams open.

Repeat with each row until you have all rows completed.

Now, to sew the rows together, place the rows right sides facing, on top of each other, line up your seams and pin. Sew your rows together.

Line up your seams then line up your edges.

Repeat until all of your rows are sewn together. Press your seams open.

(Quick Tip: pressing seams open helps them lie flat. First, place your fabric right side down and press the seam to the side, then use your fingers and the tip of the iron to guide the iron along as you press the seam open. Once flat, turn the fabric over and press again on the top. Note that pressing is not ironing -do not move the iron back and forth- just press down and lift up.) 


Scrappy Border: (this really ties it all together!)
The scrappy border comes from the extra 2.5" x 5" pieces you cut and reserved when you cut your cross fabric.

Lap Size: needs 60  2.5" x 4.5" pieces
Baby Size: needs approximately 42-52  2.5" x 4.5" pieces

If you do not have enough pieces cut, please cut more now. 
If you are using a layer cake, you need to cut more pieces. Choose 3-10 pieces of a layer cake and cut it into four 5" squares. Cut those 5" squares into two 2.5" pieces. Continue until you have the desired amount of pieces.

The baby size border can be made just like the lap size border, or you can make it extra scrappy as Sarah did.  For extra scrappy, simply cut the scrappy border size pieces into two pieces measuring 2.25" x 2.5." IMPORTANT: Sew the 2.5" ends together NOT the 2.25" ends together.

On your design wall, audition the layout of the scrappy pieces. You don't want two of the same fabric side-by-side.

Lap Size: the top and bottom rows need 13 pieces each and the sides need 17 pieces each.

Baby Size: Top and bottom rows need 9 pieces (or about 22 if super scrappy) and the sides need 12 pieces (or about 28 if super scrappy.)

Once you are happy with your scrappy border layout, sew the pieces together, lining up the 2.5" ends, right sides together. Sew 13 together for the top row, 13 together for the bottom row, 17 together for each of the sides. Press your seams to the side.

(Follow the same steps for the baby size.)

Place the 13 piece scrappy border, right sides together on top of the cross blocks. Make sure your border is long enough before you begin to sew. You may have to center your overhangs on each end. Line up the edges and pin.

Center your overhang on each end if needed.

Sew the top and bottom scrappy borders, press the seam open and trim to remove any excess from the ends if needed.

Next, sew on the side borders. Press the seams open and trim to remove any excess from the ends if needed.

As you are sewing periodically check to make sure that your seams underneath are flat as you sew. 

Scrappy border complete

Outer Border:
Lap Size: Need 2 continuous yards of fabric (the same as your background for your blocks)
Baby Size: Need 1.5 continuous yards of fabric (the same as your background for your blocks)

1. Line up your selvages (hold your fabric in the air to do this) then press your fabric. You will be pressing out wrinkles from when it was on the bolt.

2. Fold your fabric in half so that you have 1 yard on top of 1 yard with the fold on the left side and the selvage along the bottom of the cutting mat.

3. Fold again so that you have 18" showing and the fold is on the left and the selvage is along the bottom of the cutting mat.

4. Turn your fabric (or your mat) so the selvage is vertical (on your right) and trim to remove the selvage.

Now spin your cutting mat around so that your selvage side is on your left.

5. Cut 2 strips 3.5" wide. You should have 4 pieces that are approximately 3.5" x 71.

Baby Size: Follow the same steps as above. 

6. Sew the outer border right side together onto the scrappy border. Sew the top and bottom on first, press and trim the excess, then sew the two sides. (Put the outer border on the bottom so you can keep an eye on your scrappy border seams as you sew.)

7. Press your seams to the scrappy border side.

That's it. You did it! Your quilt top is done. Woo Hoo!

Next Monday we start cutting fabric for the back side.

Lap Size Back

Baby Size Back

Are you keeping the same background color? I'm switching it up and making the back in Kona Ash.

Be sure to check out our Across the Sea Flickr Group for questions, comments and inspiration. There's a lot of great stuff happening over there!

If you have any questions, let me know. Happy Sewing!