Summer Pop QAL - Week 4
Hello hello and welcome back! It's the fourth and final week of the Summer Pop Quilt Along, which means we are piecing our quilt tops! By the end of this week, you should have a finished Summer Pop quilt top! Here's a look at our schedule. If you are just now joining us, click where you see an underline to catch up on the previous week!
- Week 1 - June 6th - Cut Fabrics
- Week 2 - June 13th - Sew 15 Blocks
- Week 3 - June 20th - Sew 15 Blocks
- Week 4 - June 27th - Assemble Quilt Top
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WEEK 4
This week is straight forward, especially if you've ever made a block-based quilt. First and foremost, you'll want to lay out your blocks to determine where you want them to appear within the quilt. I try to space everything out so that there is an even mixture of color throughout the quilt. The pattern has the columns of popsicles flipping directions every other row....but I've seen shop quilt tops on Instagram with the popsicles all facing the same direction. Either way works! Play around with it and see what you like.
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Once I like my layout, I like to create a stack of blocks from each row, then I bring the entire stack to my machine for chain piecing. I'll sew the first block to the second block, the third block to the fourth block, and the fifth block to the sixth block.
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Then I'll trim my threads and sew the first two blocks to the second two blocks, and the third two blocks to the last block in the row. Then I'll snip my thread and sew those final two units together. THEN I'll bring the entire row to my ironing board to press seams.
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An alternative is to chain piece your entire rows, which I demonstrate here. I used this method for three of my rows. Honestly, I much prefer using this technique with smaller blocks or individual components of blocks. I've found that I get a little overwhelmed when I do this with larger blocks. 
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Then once you create an entire row or column, press all of those seams in one direction. This is how I press my seams to one side:
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Then when you go to create your next row, you'll press those seams to the opposite side, which will create nesting seams from row to row...as seen below:
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Once your rows are created, sew them together and press those seams open. Remember to pat your iron in an up and down motion, don't slide! It helps to use your fingers to open the seam and press from the wrong side. Then flip it over and press from the right side.
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OTHER TIPS:
- Create space behind your machine and to the left of it to help support the weight of the quilt top as it grows.
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- Pay attention to the seams on the underside of your piecing as you sew blocks together. If they get flipped in the seam, it's really not a big deal. But I usually try to avoid it as best I can.
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- Stay stitch 1/8" around the perimeter of your finished quilt top to help secure seams....especially if you're one to go out and take quilt photos like me. :)
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GRAND PRIZE BUNDLE
If you've been participating in the entire Quilt Along, be sure to share a photo of your finished quilt top! If you've been sharing photos for all 4 weeks of the QAL, you'll be automatically entered to win our GRAND PRIZE BUNDLE (valued at over $500!) Here's what's in the bundle:
- FREE seat in Free Motion Quilting Academy by String & Story
- FREE edge to edge long arm quilting for your Summer Pop quilt top by Stitch Lab Quilting
- FREE Robert Kaufman Palette Picks 24 piece FQ bundle by yours truly :)
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Remember that your account must be public for us to see your entry. Use the hashtags #summerpopQAL, #summerpopquilt & #loandbeholdpatterns and you'll be entered to win! You have until Wednesday July 6th to get your entry in. The winner will be announced via newsletter on the 7th!
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Sip & Sew
Don't forget about the Sip & Sew happening over on the String & Story's IG page (@stringandstory) Monday night at 7PM EST. HollyAnn and Darcy will be working on their Summer Pop quilts live and I invite you to join them for more Summer Pop tips, community and general entertainment. :)
I'll see ya'll next week with a Grand Prize winner!
Brittany
