Let’s try modern machine quilting!

This simple pattern will allow you to get into the spaces between the flowers and fill the rest of your background. Always work from the middle out because although you have secured the entire quilt with the applique stitches, ripples can still happen.

Once you’re happy with the amount of quilting it’s time to trim the quilt to size. The pattern is for a 24″ square but this is a general size and depending on how you placed your appliques, there’s wiggle room. It’s good that I left that room as my design ended up closer to 25″ than the 24″!

Using a 6″ x 24″ ruler decide how much to leave on the outside of the design when trimming the quilt. The picture below shows where you can line up the ruler on the outside edge of the applique, in this case at 3″, and then trim on the black line. Do the same to the top and the bottom of the design to keep the entire piece square.

Always trim less than more, you can cut more away but you cannot add fabric after you have cut it!

Finally, stay stitch the edge of the quilt. I find this is a good idea for smaller quilts that you hang as it helps stabilize the edge and reduce any waviness that might happen.

I think you’ll agree that Banyan Batiks Floral Boxes add a fresh, modern feel to your quilt art!

Tomorrow we bind and add a hanging sleeve to display the lovely May Flowers wallhanging!