Hey Everyone, welcome back to Technique Tuesday.
Last Thursday on Cool Tool Thursday I introduced you to Quilt Fuse Grid – A Nonwoven Layout Grid. Today I will show you how easy it is to use.
To Begin
1. Cut the size of grid needed. My piece is 18 squares long and 5 squares wide. I am using the 2 inch grid which will make 1 ½″ squares.
Pieces cut for the short sides
2. Cut the number of 2 inch squares needed from the fabric being used to create the border or piece.
2 inch squares cut
Preparing The Grid And Fabric
1. Turn the piece of grid over so the fusible side is on top.
2. Layout the 2 inch fabric squares on the grid. Here are the blue squares laid out in the position they need to be in. Make sure to place the fabric right side up.
Blue squares placed on grid
3. Add in the rest of the squares. The yellow squares have been added in to create a checkerboard effect.
Grid filled in with the yellow squares
4. Take piece to the ironing board and fuse fabric squares to the grid. Cover with a piece of parchment paper or use a Teflon appliqué sheet to protect the iron. I held the iron in place for about 10 seconds.
Sewing The Pieces Together
1. Fold the first horizontal row over on the grid line with the right sides of the fabric facing each other.
Fold first row over onto second with right sides together
2. Sew a ¼″ seam allowance from the fold line.
Sew a ¼″ seam along fold line
3. Continue doing the same for the rest of the horizontal grid lines.
All horizontal seams sewn
4. Trim off the fold on each seam allowance. An ⅛″ or less. Press the seams all in one direction.
Trim off the fold on each seam
5. Sew the vertical rows the same way as the horizontal rows. I started in the middle of the piece and worked my way out to each end.
Grid folded in the middle
¼″ seam allowance
All the vertical rows sewn
6. Trim off the fold on each of these seam lines. Press seams all in one direction.
Trim off all the folds on the vertical seams
7. The grid is complete.
Completed grid
Such an easy way to make a grid and the best part is there is no matching of seams or pinning.
The worse part is cutting all of the squares needed but tune in Thursday to see a tool that will make that so much easier and faster as well.
Happy Quilting!
I have never used fuse grid…and never seen in quilt shops. Is it easily available?
Maureen, it is available in most quilt shops. Some carry Quilt Fuse Grid while others carry Quilt Smart – same thing just different companies.
How do I determine what size to cut my squares for the grid.? The squares in my grid are 2 1/2 inches and I cut my squares 2 1/2. I want my squares when sewn to be 2 ” square, but they look too crowded on the grid. I thought I was supposed to have space between my fabric in the grid. Thanks
Louetta you are on the right track. It will look crowded but needs to so that when they are sewn together there is a ¼ inch seam allowance. Jen
could anybody tell me where to get fusible grid with 2 1/2″ instead of 2″
thank you
nancy
Nancy, I did a search on the internet and only came up with 2 inch grid. I would suggest going to your quilt shop and have them look it up in their catalogues and see if it exists. Hope this helps. Jen
Thank you very much. I couldn’t find it either might try 4″ using two squares
Does the interfacing affect the ‘snuggling factor’ of the quilt? I don’t want a stiff quilt but I love the idea of the grid to straighten up my lines.
Debbi, I do find that the quilt is a bit stiffer when the quilt fuse grid is used but suspect that once washed it would soften up. My piece has not been washed that I used it in as it is an art quilt and a wall hanging. Happy Quilting