Finishing the Edge

A few of you have asked me how I am going to finish off the edge of my Granny's Posies quilt.  This is how the outer edge looks after I join the rows.   I want to add a border and then quilt as usual, so my first step is to make it a straight edge.

To do that, I  have to remove the tacks I put in the outside of the corners, and press the the hexies flat. 

Next I stay stitch right right along the line where the hexies meet.  I sew two rows of stay stitching to give it added strength.

Then I measure 3/4 inch from the outer edge of the hexie.  This measurement would depend on the size hexie you have made and it is approximately 1/2 the width of the hexie.

Finally I trim off off the excess, and there you have it...a nice straight edge to add a border.

I have been at retreat this past weekend and had a wonderful time.  I took my camera and of course did not take pictures, except for one quilt I was fascinated with.   This one will definitely go on my bucket list.  The quilt looks so complicated, but when you see the blocks up close, they almost look like a modified rail fence, with the center rail split diagonally.  I think I can do this!

We did have some excitement Saturday night as the cabins had a little septic backup at 11:30pm and we had to be moved to another location.  So here we go - all us senior ladies with our pillows and blankies parading around the campground in our jammies. Hmmm..maybe the midnight parade can become an annual event!

I didn't finish anything at retreat to show you, but I did make progress....I am now over half done with quilting on my Circus Stars, I completed another row for my Granny's Posies quilt and I finished my third flower block on my Cottage Grove quilt - and I think that is pretty darn good!

Happy Stitchin!

Teresa
25471