Mardi-Gras Magic Mystery Clue Nine

Mardi Gras Magic Quilt – Completing the Quilt Top

Assemble:

• The long 2-1/2″ wide Solid Purple strip. Cut this strip into (2) strips that are 52-1/2 long and (2) that are 60-1/2″ long.
• The long 4-1/2″ wide Music strip. Cut this strip into (2) strips that are 60-1/2″ long and (2) that are 64-1/2″ long.

It’s always a temptation to simply sew on a strip border and then cut off the excess but don’t do that here. Forcing your quilt to match identically cut borders will force it to remain flat. If one side of the quilt is just the tiniest bit larger than the border, place the quilt top down on the bed of your sewing machine when sewing the border on. The feed dogs will help take up the slack. Reverse the process if it is your border that is bigger.

Using a walking foot, sew the (2) 60-1/2″ long Solid Purple strips to either side of the quilt top, taking care to match the center of the strip with the center of the quilt top. Press to the quilt top. Again using a walking foot and matching centers, sew the (2) 52-1/2″ long inner border strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top. Press to the quilt top.

For the outer border, sew (2) 64-1/2″ long Music strips to either side of the quilt top, taking care to match the center of the strip with the center of the quilt top. Press to the quilt top. Again matching centers, sew the (2) 60-1/2″ long outer border strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top. Press to the quilt top. It should measure 60-1/2″ × 72-1/2″.

You are done! Pin your top to the wall for a couple of days in an obvious place so you can enjoy it and your family can praise you. Use this time to decide on a quilting design. Don’t forget to add a label.

Preserve your place in history! Sign and date your quilts!

---