Ladybugs in Polka Dotville: Part 4

[If you are just now joining the Quilt-along, please click on the button above for preliminary and additional information.  Again, you can join this quilt-along ANYTIME!]

NEWS FLASH, my friends!  Fat Quarter Shop is now carrying kits for the Ladybugs in Polka Dotville in the multi-color colorway!

I hope you have had a good week, and also a good time quilting along this Quilt-Along!  I have loved seeing all the colors coming together.  Black is a great color to use when you are trying to bring all the colors together, as you will see in this installment of the Quilt-Along.

Part 4: We are using black to “frame” in the colored squares you pieced together last week.

You will need for the multicolor colorway -

You will need for the pink/purple colorway -

Or fabrics of your choice!

**** please note that my instructions are for the multi-color colorway, you will need to adjust the fabrics for the pink/purple colorway or the colorway of your choice****

Step 1:

Cut widthwise, four 1-1/2″ x 42″ strips.

Step 2:

Cut sections off two of the strips into two 1-1/2″ x 26 1/2″ strips. Cut sections off the other two strips so that they measure at 1 1/2″ x 32 1/2″. So, now you have two 1-1/2″ x 26 1/2″ and two 1-1/2″ x 32 1/2″ strips.

Step 3:

Take one of the 1-1/2″ x 26 1/2″ strip and pin to the short end of the quilt center.  Again, I like to leave the part with all the seam allowances on the top if I can possibly help it. That way, I ensure that they are all nice and smooth after I sew my strip onto the quilt top.

Step 4:

Sew the pieces together.  Repeat for the other short end of the quilt center.

Open up the strips, finger press and press with a hot iron.

Step 5:

Sew one 1 1/2″ x 32 1/2″ strip to each side of long sides of the quilt center.  Open up the strips, finger press and press with a hot iron.

And you are finished for this week!  We will have a big week next week getting the next pieced border onto the quilt top, and then, we will be on the home stretch!  Wherever you are in your progress, I hope you take a moment to share it with the wonderful people at RJR on Facebook and Flickr.

This is how mine is looking so far… how does yours look?  Notice how the black on both sides of the pieced colored squares sort of “pen in” the squares so that your eyes are drawn to look at the colored squares.

Here is a fun fact on ladybugs for you:  their average life span is 1-2 years.  I didn’t know they live that long, to be quite honest.

Before I leave, curious mind wants to know what projects you have going on besides the ladybugs.  Mine includes: magazine projects, Miss Baby’s fall dresses, Civil War Bride Quilt, and a few heirloom needlework projects.

Happy Quilting, everyone!  I shall see you again next week.

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