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Sew Many Strips is an archived Rail Fence quilt-along that ran from February 18 through April 22, 2019. The project makes an 86½-inch-square quilt using 1½-inch strips; the guide below summarizes its supply list, schedule, construction advice, and a correction for early pattern copies.
What the Sew Many Strips quilt-along is
Sew Many Strips is a scrappy Rail Fence quilt project from American Patchwork & Quilting. Its original 10-week quilt-along is complete, but the schedule remains useful as a self-paced plan.
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The finished quilt measures 86½ inches square. The original project appeared in the April 2019 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting. The official project page lists individual pattern options; check that page for current format and availability.
Project specifications at a glance
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Quilt style | Scrappy Rail Fence |
| Finished size | 86½ inches square |
| Light fabrics | 20 fat quarters (18 × 21 inches) in assorted light prints |
| Medium and dark fabrics | 23 fat quarters in assorted medium and dark prints |
| Inner border and binding | 1⅛ yards of brown print |
| Backing | 8 yards |
| Batting | 95-inch square |
These are the project’s specified materials. The instructions also allow yardage or smaller scraps, with an alternate strip-planning approach. Use the pattern’s cutting instructions rather than assuming the listed fat-quarter quantities translate directly.
Fabric requirements and color planning
The official materials list calls for light prints in cream, beige, and tan, plus medium and dark prints in brown, red, teal, blue, green, and gold. The light prints are used in the blocks and outer border, as are the medium and dark prints.
Plan for clear value contrast between the light and medium/dark strips. If you are unsure how a fabric reads, compare fabrics together or view a photograph in grayscale before cutting. The project page includes a coloring diagram to help plan placement.
How much scrap fabric is needed?
For the alternate strip-planning approach, the project instructions specify at least 4,072 inches of light-fabric strip length and 4,540 inches of medium/dark-fabric strip length. Scrap pieces for that method should be at least 4½ inches and 2½ inches long, respectively. These are project-specific instructions, not general Rail Fence requirements.
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- ARTS AND CRAFTS STAPLE: Fiskars Sewing Ruler (6 in. x 24 in.) is an ideal size for cutting fabric from the bolt
- PRECISION ART SUPPLIES: Clear ruler has incremental grid lines and two-toned markings for visibility on light and dark material. 30-, 45- and 60-degree line indicators make it easy to cut at perfect angles.
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Sort scraps into labeled light and medium/dark groups before cutting. Keeping the groups separate helps maintain contrast and makes the later layout easier.
Prewashing: optional, but test fabrics that may bleed
Prewashing is optional. For fabrics likely to bleed, the project instructions suggest testing a 2-inch square:
- Soak the square in soapy water for 30 minutes.
- Check the water for released dye.
- While the fabric is wet, rub it on a paper towel and check for color transfer.
If a fabric bleeds, prewash it in cold water until the dye no longer bleeds, then dry it on low heat. Hand washing or a mesh garment bag can help reduce raveling for smaller scraps or precuts.
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Tools that make the long strip-piecing process easier
Prepare a rotary cutter, quilting ruler, cutting mat, iron, and sewing machine. A quarter-inch presser foot or a marked seam guide can help keep seams consistent. A design wall or large open surface is useful for checking the quilt layout.
The project instructions recommend replacing a dull rotary blade, pressing fabric flat before cutting, and keeping light strips separate from medium/dark strips. They say rotary cutting can handle up to four layers when cuts remain accurate. As an optional alternative, they name the AccuQuilt GO! cutter with the 1½-inch strip die (55024), which the instructions say can cut up to six layers.
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The 10-week Sew Many Strips schedule
The original schedule can be followed at your own pace:
- Week 1: Gather fabrics.
- Week 2: Cut 1½-inch strips.
- Week 3: Assemble light strip sets.
- Week 4: Cut light strip sets into A and B units.
- Week 5: Assemble medium/dark strip sets.
- Week 6: Cut medium/dark strip sets into A and B units.
- Week 7: Assemble the quilt center.
- Week 8: Cut and add the inner border.
- Week 9: Assemble and add the outer border.
- Week 10: Finish the quilt and bind it.
For the archived schedule and construction tips, see the Sew Many Strips quilt-along page.
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Cutting and piecing accurately
Press and cut the strips
Press fabric flat before cutting. Cut the 1½-inch strips carefully, keep light strips separate from medium/dark strips, and count them into labeled piles. Square one short edge of each strip set before subcutting.
Keep seams consistent
Accurate quarter-inch seams help the pieces line up. Test your seam on scraps before making the full batch. A quarter-inch presser foot or a seam guide made with masking or washi tape can help.
Press and check units
Set each seam by pressing it as sewn, then press as directed in the pattern. Keep the iron parallel to the straight grain to reduce tucks and pleats. Before repeating the process, compare sample A and B units with the pattern diagrams.
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- Creative Grids exclusive non-slip grip allows you to easily slide the ruler over the fabric until positioned correctly. Then, when slight pressure is applied, the grip holds the ruler in place, eliminating slipping while you cut.
- Easy to read black and white markings, with cutting slots every 1/2in.
- Whole inch, half inch and quarter inch increments are marked. Additional markings for 1/4in and 3/4in cuts are also included.
- For quick reference, 1-1/2in cuts are highlighted with black stars and 2-1/2in cuts with black squares.
Layout is where the Rail Fence design comes together
Arrange the blocks on a design wall or open floor before sewing rows together. Check for rotated blocks and balanced color distribution, then photograph the layout so you can refer to it during assembly.
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The original Quilt Assembly Diagram showed the bottom border upside down. The official project page says this affected magazine or digital pattern copies bought before February 20, 2019; the rest of the pattern was correct. If you have an early copy, consult the updated project page and diagram before attaching the bottom border.
Adding the inner and outer borders
Measure the completed quilt center before cutting the inner borders. Measure each side and down the center, average those three measurements, and cut the side borders to that average. Match the border ends and center to the quilt when sewing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Preparing the top for quilting
Before quilting, repair raveling seams, stay-stitch the top edges a scant quarter inch from the edge, clip loose threads and fabric, trim dog-ears, and press the top flat. The backing should be at least 4 inches larger than the quilt top on all sides. Press backing seams open if that suits your quilting method.
Batting, quilting, and binding choices
The project does not prescribe one best batting. Choose batting to suit the quilt’s intended use and the qualities you want. Follow the batting package instructions.
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Choose a quilting approach that suits your machine, experience, and intended use of the quilt. Follow the pattern instructions for binding.
A practical checklist before you start
- Obtain the pattern or verify the version of an older copy.
- Sort fabrics into light and medium/dark groups.
- Test fabrics that may bleed.
- Press fabric flat and use a sharp rotary blade.
- Test your quarter-inch seam with a sample strip set.
- Label strip sets and A and B units.
- Photograph the layout before sewing the quilt center.
- Measure the completed center before cutting borders.
- Check the bottom-border correction if using a copy bought before February 20, 2019.
- Leave at least 4 inches of backing beyond each quilt-top edge.
FAQ
When was the Sew Many Strips quilt-along?
It ran from February 18 through April 22, 2019, in 10 weekly assignments. The archived schedule can still be used as a self-paced plan.
What size is the Sew Many Strips quilt?
The finished quilt measures 86½ inches square.
Can I use yardage or smaller scraps?
Yes. The project instructions allow yardage or smaller scraps, with project-specific strip lengths and an alternate piecing approach.
How do I get consistent seams?
Test your seam allowance on scraps and use a quarter-inch presser foot or seam guide if helpful. Check sample units against the pattern diagrams before sewing the full batch.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhat correction was made to the Sew Many Strips pattern?
The original Quilt Assembly Diagram showed the bottom border upside down. The correction applies to copies bought before February 20, 2019; consult the updated project page before sewing that border.
The Bottom Line
Sew Many Strips is a large Rail Fence project built from 1½-inch strips and consistent quarter-inch seams. Use its archived schedule at your own pace, plan clear light-to-dark contrast, and check the bottom-border correction if you are using an early pattern copy.
Quick Recap
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