Sudoku QuiltStep by Step

Step by Step

Assumptions

• you can accurately cut fabric

• you can accurately sew a ¼” seam

• you will carefully read though all these instructions before you start

• you’ll ask questions

Hints

• keep everything super organized• set aside an area where you can lay out

squares/blocks and leave them for as long as you need

• keep your wits about you• accuracy is important• ironing is important -- “press for success!”

Cutting Fabric – the Squares

• Cut fabric into squares as needed– you’ll need a total of 81 squares– 9 of each color– remember – we’ll be sharing squares!

Pin One Square of Each Fabriconto a Piece of Paper

• number each square– do NOT write on the fabric!

• this will be your master list– you’ll use this as your guide to make your first

eight blocks– you will use these “master” squares for your

last (ninth) block

see next slide

Like This

Pick Your Arrangement

• pick the of sudoku grid of numbers you’d like to use– remember, each number corresponds to one

of your fabric squares

• there are nine blocks within the grid

• print your grid

perhaps this one?

see next slide

Label Each Block with a Letter

#1 Sewing

• I’ll make the “A” block first

• I’ll arrange my numbered fabrics like this

#2 Sewing

• Because of the numbered grid of this block, I’ll sew– fabrics #1 and #2 and #3 together

• I’ll iron their seams toward the right (toward fabric #3)– I don’t press seams open much any more

– fabrics #4, 5, and 6 will be sewn together• I’ll iron seams toward the left (toward fabric #4)

– fabrics #7, 8, and 9 will be sewn together• I’ll iron seams toward the right (toward fabric #9)

– I’ll now have 3 rows sewn and ironed

My Rows

arrow indicate direction that the seams are pressed

#3 Sewing

• Sew the top row of this block (fabrics 1-2-3) to the middle (fabrics 4-5-6) row– make sure to keep the correct orientation

• i.e., fabric #1 should be on top of fabric #4; 2 on top of 5, etc.

– iron this seam toward the bottom of the block

• Sew the bottom strip on (fabrics 7-8-9)– again, be careful

• fabric #4 is on top of fabric #7; 5 is on top of 8, etc.

– iron this seam toward the bottom

• you should find that the seams within each row “lock” together with the row below – that’s because we alternated ironing direction. Very cool.

My Block

This block is actually straighter than it looks, the picture was taken at a bit of an angle. Your block should be nice and square.

#4 Sewing• take finished block (block “A”) and label it

– pin a piece of paper to your block• do not use tape as we’ll be ironing a lot

• be careful ironing pins with plastic heads!

– Include the “A” letter, and the direction the block lays• which way is “up”?

– write on the label before you pin it to the fabric• it’s be horrible if your ink oozed through onto your fabric

• BE CAREFUL– be sure to label the correct block with the correct letter– be sure and keep the block oriented in the correct direction

• if the block gets rotated then the “sudoku-ness” of the quilt will not work

My Labeled Block

Continue!

• keep on sewing blocks (A – I) being very careful to label each one and to keep its orientation correct

• refer constantly to your master sheet – the ones with the sample fabrics pinned and numbered

• refer constantly to your number grid– mark off each block as you complete it

My Number Grid

Block “A” done, only eight left to go!

BlocksAlmost

Complete

Oops?

• no one is perfect– that’s why we have seam rippers

• there are no Quilt Police• I once heard that “only God is perfect” and

you should intentionally include an error so you’re not trying to take God’s place– at least it makes a good excuse?

• and let’s face it – I’d challenge someone to find a mistake in a sudoku quilt!

Bottom Sashing

• cut 6 pieces of bottom sashing the correct size

• sew a sashing strip to the bottom of blocks A, B, C, D, E and F– do not sew any bottom sashing

on blocks G, H, or I

• iron toward the bottom of the block – toward the bottom sashing

a bottom sashing strip

hint: do not remove your pinned-on block labels!

My BlockswithBottom Sashing

Sew Columns

• make the first column by sewing the bottom of block A to the top of block D– then sew the bottom of block D to the top of on

block G– make sure they’re in order– make sure the top of each block is still at the top

• make the middle column by sewing B-E-H

• make the last column by sewing C-F-I

A

D

G

B

E

H

C

F

I

MyColumns

Side Sashings

• cut 2 pieces of side sashing the correct size• sew a sashing strip to the right side of the first

column and the middle column– column A-D-G and column B-E-H

– do not sew any side sashing to the last column• no side sashing on column C-F-I

• iron toward the left of the block – toward the side sashing

Side Sashing, cont.

• Sew the first column to the middle column– Carefully line up the bottom sashings

• Sew the last column to the first two– Again, carefully line up the bottom sashings

My Quilt with Side Sashings

Side Borders

• cut 2 strips of fabric to the correct size for your left and right side borders

• sew them on, easing as needed

My Quilt with Side Borders

I had some fabric that went from light to dark purple; thought I’d try it.

Top/Bottom Borders

• cut 2 strips of fabric to the correct size for your top and bottom borders– 1 strip for the top– 1 strip for the bottom

• sew them on, easing as needed

My Quilt with Top/Bottom Borders

Your Top is DONE!