Yo-yos and echo quilting to finish a quilt

Now that the top band of our Day at the Lake quiltowel has been appliqued, let's turn our attention to the bottom band. It's got lots of scraps pieced together, but we can add some dimension with sweet yo-yos in variety of sizes. I used 47 yo-yos scattered around the bottom band.

I regularly use up fabric scraps and circle templates to create a yo-yos in a number of sizes, and store them in a jar, ready to embellish projects. The yo-yos in this project range in size from those created using a 2½ʺ circle all the way up to a 5" circle.

Yo-yos enhance the bottom band of the Day at the Lake quiltowel.

Lots of yo-yos embellish the bottom of the Day at the Lake quiltowel.

Yo-yos can be made ahead of time and stored away for future use. It's a great way to use up scraps.

Use quilting thread and Sew Smooth to gather up the edges of the cut circle...

...and pull those threads up as tightly as possible.

Squash the yo-yo down and use a finger pressing tool to flatten the center. Press with a hot iron and lots of steam.

Tuck the batting into the seam of the band and the waffle weave. Spray baste the batting to the front of the band.

The Press Perfect hot ruler makes quick work of pressing a hem on to the edge of the backing.

Place the pressed hem of the backing band onto the back of the waffle weave and baste into place.

Echo quilt the Dresden Plates on the top band.

Top stitch the top and bottom band binding.

Stitch the top blocks together with a ¼ʺ seam. Press seam allowances to one side, lighter fabrics toward the darker ones. Attach the sashing strips to each end.

Piece the bottom bands together, pressing seams to one side, lighter fabrics toward darker ones.

Attach the top and bottom bands to the waffle weave cotton. Press seam upward to the top of the band. Use lots of steam.

Cut batting and tuck the bottom end into the seam allowance. Pin into place and spray baste. Repeat for the the top and bottom. On the backing fabric, and press ½ʺ hem on one edge. Align this pressed edge to the bottom of the band to the back of the quilted band (see photo) baste with long stitches and contrasting thread. Spray baste the quilt sandwich. Sew along the bottom.

Following the manufacturer's instructions, install your machine's walking foot. Smooth the quilt sandwich on the bands and use safety pins to ensure the top edges don't shift.

For the top band, echo quilt around the Dresden plates, and stitch in the ditch between the blocks.

For the bottom, stitch in the ditch between the blocks, and scatter the yo-yos around in a random, pleasing way. Tack each one into place. This will not only secure the yo-yos, but also further quilt the bottom band.

Cut a 2" wide binding strip. Press edges to the center. Top stitch to the bottom of the band, where it meets the waffle weave.  Bind the sides and top of the quilt band., taking care to begin and end at the center binding strip. Stitch the binding to the front of the bands and then slip stitch the binding to the back of the bands. This will take a while, but it make for a pleasing finish.

Repeat for the bottom band.

I created a label for this quiltowel using inkjet fabric sheets and copyright free graphics, along with my computer's desktop publishing program.

That's it for me on QUILTsocial. I'm off to the lake for the summer.

See you later this year. In the meantime, come back to QUILTsocial often, and don't forget to make a mess and create some fun!

Don't forget your label! Mine was created using inkjet printer fabric, copyright free graphics and my computer's desktop publishing program.

This beauty is dancing in the wind, and ready for a cozy day lakeside!