After the pattern and material are decided, the problem of cutting out our quilt is next. This is conceded to be the least interesting and most tedious part of quilt making; however, it is certainly not a step that can be hurried as blocks must be cut exact. There is no alternative to this. The very week I am writing this there came a gingham diamond clear from Montana to me in Missouri, from a woman asking, “What’s wrong with this pattern I got from a friend – it won’t make a blazing star”! And indeed it would not; the angle was too acute. Eight of them would sew together like a saucer, and no two sides of the diamonds were alike in length, the shortest varying from the longest by 5/8 inch!

In cutting applique parts the only special admonition is to clip in well to the folding back line on any concave curve – to keep stem widths even and mark accurately, of course. Bias tape is often substituted for cut stems. The sewing part of the applique work is most important. Some like an exact unit of cardboard to press edges back over with a hot iron.

Piecing a quilt top is not such a formidable task. Really a knowledge of plain sewing, accuracy and neatness are all that are required to add to that desire to make it yourself. What little helpful tricks and methods we have learned we pass on to you. The special instructions given with each pattern tell you how to build that particular block, unless it is an obviously simple plan.