Merry and Bright – Day 9

It’s Saturday and Day 9 of the Merry and Bright Quilt-along!  It’s snowing this morning in New Hampshire and I’m definitely feeling merry!  If you’re like me, you’ve got a full weekend planned, so today’s stitching is fast and easy!

We’re moving on to sashing strip #2 and the back stitch!

1. Starting at one edge, make a small mark on the top and bottom edges of the sashing strip at every 1½” along its length.  Your sashing strip should measure 1¼” x 21″, so you should end up with 26 little marks (2 up and 2 down at each 1½” point).
2. At each 1½” mark and at the left and right edges of the sashing strip, make a little mark ⅜” down from the top of the sashing strip and ⅜” up from the bottom of the sashing strip.
3. Draw the beginning of a gentle curve at each of the marks made in step 2.
4. Extend the curves drawn in step 3 until they connect in the middle of the sashing strip.
5. Work your way down the strip drawing two wavy lines that intersect in the middle of the sashing strip.

1. Place your marked quilt top/batting sandwich in an embroidery hoop.
2. Thread an embroidery needle with two strands of embroidery floss.
3. Settle down in front of a holiday movie with a cup of tea at the ready.
4. Referring to the diagram below and beginning your stitching at the right side of the sashing strip (if you’re right handed!), bring needle up at point 1 and back down at point 2.
5. Move left and bring your needle up at point 3 and then back down at point 1.
6. Continue in the same manner until you’ve stitched both wavy lines, one green and one red.