Final QAL post

Here is the final post for the Quilt-a-Long.  Join this QAL at any time. The starter post is here and the Flickr group to share your progress shots is here.  This is where I attach the backing to the quilted top.  I was surprised to find that this step was very quick and easy and I am pretty happy with the result.  Here was what I did as my final steps.

1.   Trim the batting so that it lines up with the edges of the quilt top in each of the six blocks.  Join the six blocks together sewing right through the quilt top and the batting.  I used a 1/2" seam allowance.  Once I pressed the seams open, they did not lay as flat as I would have liked so I sewed lines about 1/8" away from the seams sewing the seam allowances down.

2.   Lay backing fabric out on the floor / table and lay the quilted quilt top on top. I bought a duvert cover from IKEA which is super soft and cheap too.  I cut open three of the seams and then laid it flat out and it was way big enough for this quilt.  Baste.  I baste with safety pins although I do fancy trying out spray basting, especially for smaller projects.

3.  I then straight line quilted along the seams lines, around each of the inner and outer circles and around the outside of the skinny sashing and these quilting lines seems to be enough to attach the backing nicely to the front.  I bound the quilt using offcuts from the duvet cover I used for the back which match pretty well with the duskier browns in the La Petite Ecole Layer Cake I used for the quilt.

And that's it.  We're done.  All finished.  Thank you all for quilting along with me - it's been way more fun than I ever would have thought.