Restore America Quilt: Borders, Assembly and Finishing

Before cutting the sashing fabric, space out and embroider the block names on the fabric in similarly colored thread to create subtle name plates for each block.

Steps:

1. On each 1-1/2" x 13" deep red strip, center and embroider the name of each block. We found it easier to embroider the names then cut the strips. The names are:
First Hermitage
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Drayton Hall
Leo Carrillo Ranch
Paul Robeson House
Dunn Gardens
Sewall-Belmont House
Molly Brown House
1859 Ashton Villa
Pabst Mansion
Val-Kill
Hakone Gardens

2. Trim each strip after embroidery to 12-1/2" long, centering script. Stitch each strip to the bottom of matching block. Lay out blocks in order as shown. Join blocks into vertical rows; add a sashing strip to the top of each row. Join rows with vertical sashing strips to complete center.

3. Fold piping frame strips in half lengthwise, right side out. Baste in place on quilt edges, raw edges matching. Ends should be even with stitching line - do not catch ends in border seams.

4. Add top and bottom borders to quilt. Add side borders to quilt. Fold piping to border side of seam, fold raw ends under to make angle, and appliqué to border. Add circles in corners as shown in photo.

5. Join 12 assorted blue 1-1/2" x 7" strips to make 1 strip set. Make 14 strip sets. Place an interfacing border scallop atop 1 strip set, matching center registration marks to center seam and aligning bottom edges. Stitch, trim, turn, and press. Repeat to make 14 border scallops.

6. Center each border scallop on border as shown, aligning with blocks. When satisfied with placement, appliqué in place.

7. Join 10, 1-1/2" x 10" blue strips to make one strip set. Repeat to make two strip sets. Cut each strip set in half diagonally in opposite directions as shown. Join one triangle from each set together to make one angled strip set. Repeat. Place one interfacing border scallop corner atop one angled strip set on small pieced end, aligning corner and registration marks with center seam. Stitch, trim, turn, and press. Repeat to make second corner.

8. Repeat previous step to make two more corner scallops. Position each corner piece and appliqué in place.

9. Layer backing, batting, and quilt top. Baste in preparation for machine quilting (see below for block quilting detail). Quilt as desired (see quilting details below).

10. After quilting, trim edges straight if necessary. Bind using deep red strips folded in half lengthwise to make continuous straight grain French-fold binding.

Quilting

Quilt as desired. Quilting details from the original quilt below.

Block 1: Block is quilted in the ditch around exposed cabin pieces. The main cabin is detailed with logs, the sky area is filled with blowing wind swirls, and ground areas are filled with leaf patterns. In the redbud tree, each branch side is quilted along the edge with leaves quilted in a scattered manner through the open areas.

Block 2: Block is quilted in the ditch around arc pieces and lamp square. The lamp square has Tiffany-style patterning in the upper triangle, with radiating lines from center in the lower triangle. The orange brown arc is filled with meander stitching, and the outer arc has triangle detailing on both edges in a stylized tire tread design. The background of the block is filled with blowing swirls in variegated thread.

Block 3: Block is quilted in the ditch around all appliqué and checkerboard pieces. Turquoise checkerboard pieces have diagonal fill, and the arc background is filled with a stylized leaf pattern.

Block 4: Block is quilted in the ditch around all appliqué. Turquoise background is filled with a horizontal water pattern, the main cactus areas are filled with patterns to complement the batik patterns, and the orange arc background is filled with a pebble pattern. The arc and ell are quilted with three parallel lines spaced 1/2" apart.

Block 5: Block is quilted in the ditch around appliqué, outside house, inside windows, and inside embroidered scallops. Large and small arcs are filled with meander quilting. Light blue windows and sky areas are filled with wind swirl patterns.

Block 6: Block is quilted in the ditch around appliqué and wall portions. Sky and water areas are filled with wind swirl patterns, green area has leaf patterns, and the trees are quilted in parallel V-patterns. The red part of the wall is quilted in parallel wood grain patterns.

Block 7: Block is quilted in the ditch around appliqué. Sky areas are filled with wind swirl patterns and light area of bush is filled with leaf patterns. The blue arc has two parallel lines spaced 1/4" apart, and the fan has rib detail quilted in.

Block 8: Block is quilted in the ditch around appliqué and windows. Turquoise background is quilted in diagonal fill, windows are filled with echo quilting, and red arc is filled with a pebble pattern.

Block 9: Block is quilted in the ditch around appliqué and windows. Palm leaf detail is quilted, window sashing and door frames have wood grain patterns, and the center purple areas have wind swirl fill patterns.

Block 10: Block is quilted in the ditch around appliqué. Arc is meander quilted in yellow areas, green architecture is stipple quilted, and background is filled with fans.

Block 11: Block is quilted in the ditch. Purple windows have wind swirl patterns, door center has wood grain fill, and the hat brim has a grid pattern. Hat crown has closely spaced arc fill.

Block 12: Block is quilted in the ditch around all appliqué. Lily pad is quilted by the batik pattern, the water background is filled with swirls, pink arc is filled with feathered arcs, and yellow areas are filled with pebble patterns.

Border: Scallops are quilted with closely spaced palm feather patterns. In between scallops in purple border, the fence pattern from Block 7 is quilted in with a shortened tip. These patterns feature trapunto work, stuffed after quilting. The remaining purple border background is filled with closely spaced wind swirl patterns.