Your First Sampler Quilt Series with Valerie Nesbitt

Your First Sampler Quilt Series with Valerie Nesbitt

Valerie guides you through everything you need to know to make a Sampler Quilt from choosing and cutting fabrics to constructing blocks and then on to the final quilting and binding. The Sampler Quilt in this series has 9 blocks. For those of you who already have a good level of skill and are up for more of a challenge, Valerie will highlight variations at each stage so that you can make more difficult blocks...even expand your quilt to 15 blocks. So, an excellent project for the complete beginner and those with some sewing skills.

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Your First Sampler Quilt Series with Valerie Nesbitt
  • Your First Sampler Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt

    The Sampler Quilt series
    In this series, we plan to guide you through from start to finish making a Sampler Quilt. This consists of a series of block squares that build up your skill base from the first block to the final quilting and binding. It is created using the modern rotary cutting and mac...

  • Choosing Fabrics for Your First Sampler Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt

    The fabrics used here as examples are from Makower. Some of these are no longer available; similar fabrics in colour and tone could can be used instead to recreate this look.
    Fabric design house Stof have a current range entitled Vintage Roses, that would also work well and you could ask your loc...

  • Rail Fence - Block 1 of Your First Sampler Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt

    A traditional favorite
    This traditional pattern is an absolute favorite whether you use two colors or the four shown in the thumbnail.
    This video will take you through rotary cutting and strip piecing techniques. Then, you’ll learn how to piece the little segments together and pin them accurately...

  • Block 2 of Your First Sampler Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt

    The second block in our series.
    In our second block of the series you will learn:

    how to rotary cut strips;
    how to cut squares quickly, accurately and safely;
    that a rotary cutter is a brilliant tool but sharp so it needs to be treated with respect.

    We also cover strip piecing to make the alter...

  • Friendship Star - Block 3 of Your First Sampler Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt

    Rotary Cutting Squares and Triangles
    In this our 3rd Block we continue to help with the rotary cutting skills. You also discover how to create fast and accurate half-square triangle units.
    This block is very simple in its original format and great for using up scraps.
    The variation block incorpor...

  • Shoo Fly and Monkey Wrench - Block 4 of Your First Sampler Quilt

    Precision Patchwork skills
    We continue to build on your patchwork skills with the Shoo Fly and Monkey Wrench blocks.
    In this workshop, you’ll get a refresher course in making the Half-square triangle units for the corners using the rotary cutter, sewing machine, and your square-up ruler. You’ll a...

  • Prairie Queen and Jacobs Ladder - Block 5 of Your First Sampler Quilt

    Rearrange the Design
    Similar units for both these blocks but by rearranging them within the 9-patch you get a completely different look.
    Precision Patchwork skills
    We continue to build on the skills you have already learned. There are half-square triangle units that you sew and then trim back to ...

  • Ohio Star - Block 6 of Your First Sampler Quilt

    Why the grain of the fabric is important
    In this block we are introduced to the quarter-square triangle – which means paying attention to the grain of the fabric and making sure that we have sufficient seam allowance for that additional middle seam when we sew all four triangles together. We need...

  • Card Trick - Block 7 of Your First Sampler Quilt

    Be Clever with Colour
    Simple use of colour creates the lovely 3D effect of the cards.
    More Rotary Cutting - No Templates
    Moreover, this is a very traditional block that used to be made with templates. However, I have redesigned the block, so that it can be cut easily with the rotary cutter, us...

  • Pinwheels - Block 8 of Your First Sampler Quilt

    A very useful unit
    The pinwheel is a very useful little unit which can be used in all sorts of quilts and in all different sizes, which are easy to calculate since you use 4 of them.
    You do need to pay attention to the way the wheels spin – they should all spin in the same direction, but you coul...

  • Log Cabin - Block 9 of Your First Sampler Quilt

    Simple to make from four smaller blocks. The colour change of two and two is optional, but adds more interest as this will be the centre of your quilt.
    Valerie shows how to strip piece two of these blocks at the same time, which speeds up the process.
    Log cabin – a great classic that makes into a...

  • Sashing for Your First Sampler Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt

    All your blocks should now have been made whether they are 9 or 12 or 15.
    The next step is to join your blocks together with sashing strips and corner stones. You’ll love this stage in the process, because all your blocks now look as though they belong together!
    We will be working on the borders ...

  • Borders for Your First Sampler Quilt with Valerie Nesbitt

    Adding borders
    This is the final stage of making the quilt top – adding two borders.
    The first can be as a single strip with cornerstones, or you could echo the sashing and put this around – it’s when you have smaller pieces of fabric left.
    Cornerstone options
    Cornerstones add accuracy to your wo...

  • Layer, Quilt and Bind Your First Sampler Quilt

    A beginners guide
    Layer, quilt, and bind – three simple words that appear at the end of most patterns – but how do you do it?
    This video is an introduction and beginner’s guide on how to turn a piece of patchwork into a quilt. Valerie talks about the things you need to do and also the options you...