Layout
1. Arrange the strips on a design wall, table or empty bed. Balance the colors, fabrics and size of strips. Separate busy fabrics with calmer ones. Stop when you are happy with the look (figure C).
Construction
1. Sew the strips together with a consistent seam. Beginners, start with a seam allowance you are comfortable with. Sew each seam with a progressively smaller seam allowance until you can achieve the traditional quilter's 1/4-inch seam. Each seam must have a consistent seam allowance all the way across the quilt.
2. Press each seam allowance after sewing, pressing toward the darker strip. Always start at the same edge of the quilt top. That way the uneven edges will all be on one side and when you trim the top there will be less waste.
3. Construct the top and bottom halves separately, then sew the top half to the bottom half.
Trim
1. Fold the quilt top in half, top to bottom, right sides together, keeping the seams parallel to each other and straight (figure D). Use a rotary cutter and ruler to trim off the uneven edges and selvages. If it is a long quilt, line up the ruler with the seams to keep it straight, cut TOWARD YOU from the top of the quilt till you run out of ruler. Open up the quilt, lay it out straight and trim the middle, lining up the ruler with the cut edges of the top (figure E).
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