78
CHAPTER PIECING TECHNIQUES
Piece Two-Bar and
Three-Bar Units
A bar unit is made with rectangles of equal size,
arranged one on top of the other. A two-bar unit
consists of one light and one dark bar, to provide
nice contrast. A three-bar unit consists of alter-
nating light and dark bars.
Here are two ways to make bar units. The first
method shows you how to construct the unit us-
ing separate rectangles. The second method uses
strip sets to construct a bunch of similarly colored
bar units.
Press to create opposing seams.
Consider where the bar units will appear in the finished
block, and press the bars to create opposing seams.
21
Cut pieces and sew the first two bars together.
Cut the bars to the size specified in the pattern and lay them
out. Maintaining the arrangement, flip the bottom bar on top
of the first bar, right sides together. Pin the lower corners of
the bars. Remove each pin right before sewing over it.
Method 1: Makes One Bar Unit
79
PIECE TWOBAR AND THREEBAR UNITS
Create a strip set.
Cut a light and a dark strip the same width as the rectangles
given in your pattern. For example, if you need three-bar
units with 1
1
⁄
2
×3
1
⁄
2
-inch (3.8×8.9 cm) rectangles, cut three
1
1
⁄
2
-inch (3.8 cm) strips and sew them together to create a
strip set.
1
Add an additional bar if needed.
If you’re sewing a three-bar unit, flip the last bar onto the
completed two-bar unit, right sides together. Pin in the low-
er corner and sew the final seam. Press, creating opposing
seams with adjacent blocks as needed, or pressing to the
dark.
3
Subcut the strip set.
Measure the width of your strip set, and use that measure-
ment to subcut the strip set into the dimensions you need.
In the example, the three-bar units should finish at 3
1
⁄
2
inches
(8.9 cm) wide, so cut the strip set every 3
1
⁄
2
inches (8.9 cm)
to create the three-bar units.
2
If you decide to make bar units
using a dierent method than
prescribed in your quilt pattern,
adjust the fabric yardage and
cutting requirements.
Method 2: Makes Several Bar Units
Press strips as you
add them, to the dark
fabric.
..................Content has been hidden....................
You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.