42. Quilt Lines & Matrix in a Basket Block
Last week we finished up our house blocks and jumped right into learning how to piece a basket block. Today we’re going to free motion quilt our first block with straight lines and matrix to create this cool woven effect:
The one tricky thing about this block is matching up the wiggly lines of matrix that flow around the basket handle. I would really advise marking this section because it can be tricky to free hand quilt lines that need to match up across a segment like the handle.
If you’re needing the pattern to mark, remember that all the guides, the how-to instructions, and cutting and piecing diagrams are all found in the Building Blocks Quilt Pattern.
Let’s watch the video to see how it all works:
Now you might be wondering – if you stitch on all the lines will it make the quilt dense or stiff?
The lines within the basket are around 1/4 inch apart, which can feel a bit stiff depending on what type of batting you’re using. A soft natural batting like cotton or wool is going to shrink and soften up around the quilting stitches. A thicker, polyester batting is going to tend to be more stiff and will not shrink and soften up when it’s washed.
It’s really down to the look and feel of the quilt you want. If you want it to hang well on a wall, poly is a great choice. If you want your quilts to feel cuddly and soft, cotton, wool, bamboo is going to be a good choice for that finish.
Of course another way to get around the stiffness issue is just not to quilt all the lines in the basket. I’m sure Josh will be changing up the design once again when he tackles this block tomorrow.
Let’s go quilt,
Leah Day
