Starry Night Sampler | Quilt Sandwich

Quilting the Starry Night Quilt together.

Happy Day My Stitching Friends, today we make a quilt sandwich!

Heather here from The Sewing Loft back for our monthly sit & sew session in the Starry Night Quilt Sampler series. To get started you will need a few basic sewing supplies and materials. To make it easy, I have created a printable download that you can get here. These additional tools will be helpful in creating your quilt. standard sewing machine iron/ironing board rotary cuter, quilting ruler and self healing mat are helpful *Note the white fabric is mixed in throughout the quilt blocks and also used as the borders & sashing. Backing fabric is not included on the supply list. The Starry Night Quilt finishes 45″ x 54″. The first block we are creating is called a 9 patch. Not only is the 9 patch quilt block a very basic block but it can help your build your skills in so many ways. It allows you to practice your stitching lines, seam alignment and nesting. This is one of those blocks you want to master! In the Starry Night Quilt, we are taking the standard 9 patch a step further by mixing things up with an extra color stripe in each section. Let’s take a look.

All year long we have worked block by block, piecing this amazing quilt top together and last time we chatted about the different types of backing options. I’d love to know which one you picked. Did you go whole cloth or pieced like me?

Starry Night Quilt Back View

So that means that your quilt top and backer are ready to be sandwiched together.

Additional Supplies Needed for a quilt sandwich:

*Please note that if you added additional borders to your quilt top you may need a larger size batting.

Basic Assembly:

  1. Find a big open space on the floor or table to lay your quilt backer right side down. If you prefer, you can tape the quilt back to  the floor with masking tape. This will prevent it from moving as you create your quilt sandwich. Starry Night Quilt Sandwich
  2. Center and layer the batting over the quilt back.
  3. Center and layer the quilt top over batting. Optional spray adhesive can be used but I suggest doing it with the windows open or in a well ventilated space.
  4. Secure all layers together with basting pins.

Since I do not have a large table in my home, I often use the floor and seem to always have a helper close by.

Starry Night Quilt Sandwich Layout

Once you have all of your layers together it is time to start quilting.  This quilting can be anything from straight rows across the quilt to something more free form like pebbles.  As you may have noticed from the few sneak peeks I have shared along the way, I choose free-motion pebbles. Here is a quick video. 

Heather from The Sewing Loft shows us just how easy it is to add free motion pebble quilting to your Starry Night Quilt.

Using my open toed free motion foot, I started making small circles in the center of the quilt. To help keep the stitching balanced, I would move my stitching around randomly instead of stitching from top to bottom. With each pass of the needle, I could feel my excitement build. I actually did not want to stop and almost finished it in one sitting behind the machine. Which for the record, my back reminded me was not so smart.

Quilting the Starry Night Quilt together.

QUICK TIPS for making a quilt sandwich:

  • Make sure to smooth out any wrinkles in batting and remove loose threads when creating your sandwich.
  • Consider wearing gloves during quilting.
  • Quilt will pass through the inside machine bed much easier when rolled up.
  • A large surface area is your friend when quilting.
  • Take your time and enjoy the process.

Well, that’s it for now. Don’t forget that I’ll be back next time to talk all about binding!  In the meantime, be sure to come find me on social media and share a few pictures of your finished quilt using #StarryNightQuilt as a tag, I want to see your quilt come together!

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Starry Night Sampler Quilt Layout

One thought on “Starry Night Sampler | Quilt Sandwich”

  1. Clairequilty says:

    Thank you Fairfield World, Sewing Loft for this great sampler quilt. For quite a time I lost contact with this blog and am so happy I found the rest of the blocks and information today. It never fell out of my mind and now I can get started. Thanks again.

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