Adding Borders and Quilt Blocks to a Collage Quilt

For the past little bit I’ve been working on the Horse Quilt for Eliza.

I had picked up the pattern at a local quilt show and knew it would be perfect for her.

She loves horses, but I didn’t really want something that was all the traditional horse room. Right now her room is a grouping of cute eclectic things and they all work together.

There was one wall though that needed something. A quilt was the answer– (of course) and a horse quilt fit right in.

The center features a large horse that is layered applique fabrics. It’s a lot of layering! But, it was fun to hunt fabric down and cut it into just the right shapes and find it’s perfect place.

The border– oh that border.

Do you ever find yourself totally satisfied and then that’s blown to bits when you show it to the person who is getting it? yes…that happened.

I had sewn one border onto the quilt– and there are no other words than it was hideous. Bad. No good.

Bring on the seam ripper and let’s unpick.

Then I auditioned a few fabrics….found a purple that was wonderful. Oh it was nice.

I was so confident about this that I had sewn all the border blocks around it even! Yes! It was complete!

Then. I showed it to Eliza.

I don’t like purple she says……. What?! I don’t like the purple.

So, being the awesome and patient mother that I am, I hunted a few more times and auditioned a few more fabrics (this is not an easy thing to do when the horse is busy and a solid color doesn’t work for it!)

The final border was found and it is perfect once again. And– Eliza likes it.

The poor border had been removed twice….but once it was put back together everything looks fine. phew!

Today I thought I’d share a quick how to for the horse quilt. If you have a panel or something else for the center…this would work for that as well!

Materials Needed:

FABRIC: pick it up at Connecting threads or Fat Quarter Shop

horse for the center– pick the pattern up here or here.

fabric bits for the horse — these are scraps of flower prints in the colors you want to showcase

background fabric for the horse–

border fabric– 1/4 yard

backing fabric & batting

quilt block fabrics:

Full tutorial for the Horse Collage Quilt

Supplies you may need:

• Rotary cutter or a new sharp blade
• Cutting Mat
• Quilt Ruler
• Sewing Machine  this brother is my favorite!
• Iron here or here
• Thread
• Bobbins
• Scissors
• Seam Ripper  not my favorite thing to do!

Horse Quilt Instructions:

1- Complete the horse using the given instructions. Fabric Collage Quilt Tutorial here.

OR- use your own panel fabric for the center. 

Trim the horse or whatever center to 29 1/2″ X 37 1/2″

Adding Quilt Blocks to the Panel Center

Cut the following sizes:  

center- 22- 2 1/2″ X 2 1/2″  

next pieces: 22–  2 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ – teal

44– 2 1/2″ X 4 1/2″ – yellow & blue

22– 6 1/2″ X  2 1/2″ – red

3- Cut 44– 4 1/2″ X 4 1/2″ background squares. Cut in half diagonally  – you’ll get 2 triangles per square. 

4- Using your triangles, add them to the outside of the quilt block to put it on point. 

 

3- Cut your border fabric into strips: 2– 2 1/2″ X 37 1/2″ and 2– 2 1/2″ X 34″

4- Sew your border fabrics to the horse center

5- Sew your blocks into rows: 2 rows of 5, 2 rows of 6

6- Sew your block rows to the quilt center

7- Sandwich your quilt and quilt it

8- Bind the quilt

9– Optional if you are hanging your quilt. Add a sleeve to the top or hanging ribbons for hanging on the wall.

WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE THE TRAVEL SEWING KIT TUTORIAL TO YOUR FAVORITE DIY PINTEREST BOARD!

---