Welcome to Week 4 of the Merry Christmas, Darling Quilt Along!
I can’t believe the end is already here. Last week, we focused on getting our panels quilted. For the final week, we are trimming, binding (with more Chenille-It!), and finally getting our panels washed/fluffed! If you’re new, you can find the full schedule (with links for each week) at the bottom of this post.
But first – congrats to Sherry Cowley (@cowleysherry) for winning last week’s fabric precut. There will be another giveaway for participants this week – details at the bottom of this post.
Week 4: Trimming/Binding/Washing
Once your panel is quilted, the first step is to trim and square it up! If you remember, I had my friend Ruth Davis do a custom quilting on mine (Big shout out to her for rushing this back to me). I am excited to see which quilting option each of you has selected.
After the quilted panel is trimmed, you will want to serge the edge with a serger -OR- if you don’t have one, use a wide zigzag stitch around all four sides of the quilt. This is to enclose the edges and ensure we don’t get fraying around the perimeter after it’s washed.
Binding
The next step is to bind your quilt. This week’s video focuses on the Chenille-It binding technique and walks you through the process step by step. We’ll be stitching down two layers of 5/8″ Chenille-It on both the front and back of the quilt—a total of four layers for the binding. I like to cut one continuous strip long enough to go around the entire quilt (approximately 7 1/2 yards in this case), and then take the second layer directly from the roll—but feel free to do whatever works best for you.
When adding your Chenille-It binding, layer the two strips on top of each other and position them so they extend about 1/8" past the serged or zigzagged edge of the quilt. Stitch down the center of the bias tape, securing both layers of Chenille-It as you go. Work in small sections—a few inches at a time—to help maintain precision and control.
Watch the Merry Christmas, Darling QAL Week 4 Video Here
Washing/Fluffing
Once your quilt is bound, it is ready for washing. If you watched the video, I offer a handful of tips to get the best bloom, but I will also mention them here in case you want to refer back.
- Use color catchers in the wash
- Wash using a cold water cycle
- The more agitation in the wash, the better. If you don’t have an agitating washing machine, throw in a couple towels, shoes, etc.
- Tumble dry on warm until completely dry
- You may want to wash it a couple times
This should give you an idea of what it will look like. If you have any questions, definitely reach out to us. One thing I failed to mention in the video is that if you have any problem areas or sections that didn’t bloom as much as you would like, gently comb it with a Chenille brush, then spritz it with a water bottle and toss it back in the dryer for a few minutes.
Post for Prizes — #MerryChristmasDarlingQAL
Of course we are offering another prize for this final week! Post a pic of your progress for Week 4 on social media and use the hashtag #MerryChristmasDarlingQAL to be entered.
The prize for Week 4 has been generously donated by our friends at Moda Fabrics!
Our lucky winner will get to choose between a Magic Dot Jelly Roll from Lella Boutique or a Love and Cheer Layer Cake from Amarilys Henderson — which one will you pick?
Can’t wait to see how your panels turn out! Thank you so much for joining us! To check out the full Chenille-It Quilt Along process, here’s a listing of the tutorials:
Week 1: Embellishing the Letters
Week 2: Embellishing the Floral Elements/Motifs
Week 4: Binding & Washing