Hi Quilters!

Welcome to week 5 of the Summer Jubilee Sew Along!

We are almost to the finish line.  By now, you have made all of the blocks, and now it is time to assemble your quilt top!

This will be an easy and fun week.

If you didn't press your blocks as you were making them, now is the time to do that.  Pressed blocks sew together better. 

I recommend pressing the seams open as indicated in the pattern, but if you press your seams to the side, you can get flatter seams by placing the blocks under a heavy book to really set the seams.

Another tip I learned about is to sew your first three rows together, then use a safety pin to mark the top.  Set it aside and then sew your bottom three rows together.  Your final seam will be sewing the two halves together.

Doing this makes sewing the top more manageable.  When I was first learning to quilt, I would just sew row to row until I got to the bottom.  But my quilt top would pull from all the weight on one side and get so wrinkled as I crunched it under the neck of the machine.  

Sewing the top in two halves is so much easier, and your quilt top gets less wrinkled.

Once your top is made, I do recommend cutting any loose threads on the back–especially if you are using a white background and darker colors for your blocks.  This step will help eliminate any rogue threads showing through after it is quilted.

And that's it!  Like I mentioned–an easy week.  And don't worry if you are a little behind, next week is just a chance to catch up and show your work if you did finish.

I would love to see your progress.  If you share photos on Instagram, please be sure to tag me @midlife_quilter and use #SummerJubileeSAL.

***Ready to See This Week’s Prizes?***

This week's prize is batting from Hobbs Batting and an Aurifil thread set that matches the Summer Jubilee Cover Quilt!

I use Hobbs batting in all my quilts and am so happy to share that they donated a Queen Size (90" x 108") Bleached Cotton Batting for one lucky winner.  

The Aurifil Thread set has 5 spools of 28 weight thread that can be used for adding some hand quilting touches to your quilt or for hand binding.

To enter the giveaway:

Sign up to the Summer Jubilee Sew Along: Click Here
If you're on Instagram – Follow me @midlife_quilter & @artgalleryfabrics
If you're on Facebook – Follow me Midlife Quilter & Art Gallery Fabrics

Leave the comment: "Summer Jubilee Sewalong" right here in the comment section of the blog.

I'll be drawing a winner first thing on Monday, May 26th. Entries close at midnight, May 25th.

Come join our public Facebook group! It’s the perfect place to share your fabric pulls, introduce yourself, and ask any questions along the way. Click below to join.

Join the Facebook Group

Don't forget there is still time to order a kit!  You can shop here.

See you next week, 

Victoria Newmyer & Art Gallery Fabrics