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SEW-AND-CUT TECHNIQUEUsually, when sewing a patchwork, you will cut out lots of the shapesthat you need individually and then sew them together. Sometimes,however, it is quicker and more accurate to sew a set of strips of fabrictogether first and then cut them into units. This method is useful whenyour design includes blocks made from squares or rectangles, as onthe Sweet Sixteen and Autumn Floor quilts, or when the design is madeup of lots of long strips, for example Ohio Star.Here I will show you how to sew a nine-patch block. It is a squaremade from nine patches of fabric. Instead of cutting out nine separatelittle squares then sewing them together, you can stitch strips togetherin rows then cut them up and re-sew to create the block.1Lay two strips together, rightsides facing, and align the rawedges. Stitch down one side.2Fold open the strips and lay athird strip on top of thesecond, right sides facing. Stitchdown the seam, starting from theend you have just finished at.NoteStarting to stitch fromalternate ends of thefabric (see step 2 below)prevents the fabric fromstretching in one directionand distorting.3Press the fabric on the front,ensuring all the seams arepressed in the same direction.6Repeat steps 1–5 with adifferent set of fabrics, ifdesired, as I did for the blockshown. Lay two patchwork stripstogether, right sides facing. Ensurethe seams are aligned, and arepressed in opposite directions.9Pressthe seams flat by ironingon the front of the fabric.7Place the fabric under theneedle with the seams facingin the direction of sewing. Sew thestrips together, guiding the seamsunder the needle as you stitch.Copyrighted Material8Fold open the patchwork andplace the third strip on topof the second, right sides facing.Stitch the strips together as before.NoteAlways place the largest pieceon the bottom and the stripyou are adding on the top.4Cutoff the selvedge, following the method onpage 16, step 1.5Cut the fabric into strips. Here, they are 2½in(6.5cm) wide.The finished block.20 21