Strip-Piecing Saves Time and Can Increase Accuracy

A Beginner's Guide to Quilting Learn all of the tips, tricks and shortcuts of cutting fabric and sewing blocks using the strip piecing method in this easy-to-read guide. Unlock the Secrets of creating a beautiful quilt using this simple 9 step system. Amaze your friends with your creativity. Click here to learn more

 

 

One of the biggest time-saving techniques in my lifetime of quilting was strip-piecing.

Years ago, quilters switched from hand piecing to machine piecing, but even so, we were cutting and sewing individual squares. Then some brilliant person figured out that you could sew strips of fabric together and then cut the strips apart to create square patches that could be sewn together to make blocks.

And a whole new arena was opened up for quilters!

The first step in this process is to sew your strips together. If you are making a simple 9 patch checkerboard, you will sew two sets of strips together:

Sew strips of fabric together. To make a 9 patch checkerboard, sew two units together with alternating colors.

 

Once you have the strips sewn together, place one strip unit right side up, and the other unit (with the opposite coloration) right side down.

Take the one facing right side down and place it on top of the strip unit facing up.  (These two are now facing right sides together.)

 

Place the units one facing right side up and the other right side down.	Put one unit on top of the other. Fit the center strips together.

As you line up the edges, notice that the center strip of the top unit (the black strip) nestles inside the center of the bottom unit (the white strip in the center).  This is because the seam allowances are pressed opposite each other.  This makes cutting and sewing much easier and helps to make square corners with matching seams.

The next step is to cut the strips into units for the blocks.

To get square patches, cut these units the same size as your strips. For example, if your strips are 2 1/2 inches wide, cut sections off of the strips that are 2 1/2 inches wide.

 

Cut the units apart. - Left-handed quilter	Right-handed quilter

 

These units are now ready to sew together to make 2/3 of your 9 patch block. Because you have nestled the center seams together, and the seam allowances are facing opposite directions, you will have nice, square corners.

Once these two units have been sewn together, just add a third unit to one side to complete the pattern you want for your block.

 

Here are a few other tips for getting square corners.

Squares are about the easiest shapes to match, especially because they are cut on the straight grain and cross-grain of your fabric, therefore don't have much stretch (as triangles do because they are cut on the bias)

There are a couple of specific things I do:

• match both of the ends of the patch
• fold the seam allowances in opposite directions where the seams match up
  
• nestle the seams together
• pin the patches at the seam allowance and ends
• Set your machine to 18-20 stitches per inch.  The smaller stitches will keep the seams from separating

This video shows the matching process in more detail:

 

 

Happy Quilting!

Penny is a quilter of more than 27 years who seeks to interest new quilters and provide them with the resources necessary to create beautiful quilts.

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©2006, Penny Halgren

 

 

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