Can you believe that we are already on the chicken quilt Part Three? If you are just joining us, you can catch up by starting at the beginning. If you missed the chicken quilt step two it is here. Now it’s time to go shopping again. In this step, we will be creating the grid that goes between the chickens and creating the quilt’s border. You can use fabric scraps that match, do not match, or are color coordinated. It is completely your choice.

Chicken Quilt Part Three Supply List:

• 3 yards (approx.) of fabric to make the grid and border between the chickens.
• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing Machine
• Pins
• Thread- you probably picked purchased these in the part two step.

Directions:

Layout your chicken quilt squares out to determine an arrangement that you love. Do something to keep that order. Stack them in order, place a sticky note in order, or leave them out laying on the floor in the guest bedroom.

Next cut 15 pieces of the grid fabric 4 inches wide by 11 inches long. These will be sewn between your chickens squares like so.

Then using a 1/2 inch seam, sew three strips of fabric between your four chickens squares going across. When you are done, you will have a total of five strips of chickens. Tip: You might want to measure your squares once they are sewn to be sure they are each 10 inches wide when sewn and your strips are three inches wide.

5 strips ready for ironing

Iron your five lengths of chickens so that they lay flat.

Next you will need to cut your fabric to make four strips that will go between these five chickens strips. You will probably need to sew some of the 4 inch wide pieces of the fabric strips together to get to your desired length. Iron these strips.

For the horizontal strips that run between the chickens strips, you will need:
Four- approx 51″ long by 4 inch wide strips of grid fabric.

Sewing a 4 inch wide length of fabric between the chicken strip.

Now pin the strip in place and then sew it between your chickens strips. Repeat this process until all 4 strips are sewn between the 5 rows of chickens. If some are a bit off that is okay. My seams are not straight. My corners do not match up exactly. Are my six year old and I making precious memories? Yes!

Now it is time to add some the border around the entire front of the quilt!
You will need to cut:
2- 58″ x 4″ lengths of grid fabric strips-ironed
2- 74″ x 4″ lengths of grid fabric strips-ironed

Sewing on the left side of the outer border.

Next re-iron the grids on the entire quilt at this point. Lay the quilt out on the floor. You will sew the left and right side borders on first. These are the two longer 74″ strips. Leave at least a 4 inch over hang at the top and bottom, pin the strip in place. Then sew it into place.

Repeat the above step on the right side. Iron both the left and right borders.

Next you will sew on the top and bottom border strips and make the corners. We are making a very simple corner. Start at the top of the quilt.

Overlap the entire top chicken strip across and the two side borders with the fabric strip. Pin in place and sew the strips across the entire top. Repeat on the bottom. You have also just made the two top corners!

Flip over each corner and trim off the excess fabric square found on the back of each corner.

Photo added per request: Reverse side of the top corner. Extra fabric to trim from side border is on the right here.

Then flip it over and the front corners should look like this:

Finally iron the entire front of the quilt.
Congratulations! The entire front of your quilt is done. It should look like this.

DISCLOSURE: I learned to sew in 4H in the 4th grade. I’ve been sewing for over 30 year. I’m not a professional quilter. I take short-cuts and I may not do things the “right” way according to other quilters and sewers. Nonetheless, you will have a lovely handmade quilt when we are through. One that you will hopefully come to treasure for a lifetime.