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Medallion Sashiko Crib Quilt with Prairie Points

Hello my Dear Friends and Readers. A warm welcome to today’s post! Today I would like to talk about a binding alternative which is great for adding a decorative edge to a quilt and for using up scraps. We love to use up scraps! I am talking about Prairie Points!

Praire Points are a lovely alternative to traditional binding and for those who do not enjoy sewing bindings, this may be inspiring.

I used Prairie Points to finish this Crib Quilt.

On a recent Craft tour to Japan, I picked up a small Sashiko panel, which I thought would be perfect for a baby quilt which is required in the near future. If you would like to make a similar quilt, you could find a Sashiko panel that you liked or even just use a 12 ½” block or piece of fabric to replace the centre panel,

This is what I created using the Sashiko panel as my inspiration.

Finished quilt size including Praire Points 31 ½” x 31 ½”

For the small Sashiko panel I stitched, I used red, green, light blue, and ochre. These are the colours I then used to make the quilt top. Sashiko stitching feels a bit like doing hand quilting to me, but easier in the sense that one is generally working with a thinner amount of fabric. Sashiko stitching is also known as Japanese embroidery. Expert Sashiko stitchers are able to complete their work with perfect stitching on the front and back without any signs of knots or stray threads, and at the same time achieving a completely different pattern on the back from the front.

I am a Sashiko novice, so that didn’t happen.

Requirements for the Medallion Sashiko Crib Quilt with Prairie Points

1 ½ Metres of multi coloured focus fabric for the fourth border and the backing.

One 12 1/2” x 12 1/2” Sashiko panel or quilt block for the centre

1/2 metre of light blue solid for the first and third borders

1/3 of a metre of white solid for the third border

2 of 2” red print width of fabric strips for the second border

48 of 4” x 4” squares in assorted prints in red, blue green and ochre for the Prairie Points

Centre Panel

Centre Panel 12 ½” x 12 ½”

Medallion Sashiko Crib Quilt with Prairie Points susies-scraps.com

After I completed stitching the Sashiko panel, added several borders to make it into a crib quilt in a Medallion style.

Making the Medallion Borders

First Border

The first border is made using a light blue solid.

Cut 2 of 2” width of fabric strips. Sub cut 2 of 12 ½” strips and 2 of 15 ½” strips.

Sew the 12 ½” strips to the top and bottom of the centre panel then sew the 15 ½” strips to each side.

Second Border

Second Border is made using a red print.

Cut 2 of 2” width of fabric strips. Sub cut 2 of 15 ½” strips and 2 of 18 ½” strips.

Sew second border by sewing the 15 ½” strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top and then sew the 18 ½” strips to each side.

Third Border

Third border is made from 32 half square triangle units.

To make the half square triangle units cut:

2 of 5” width of Sabrina strips of light blue solid and sub cut 8 of 5” x 5” light blue squares

2 of 5” width of fabric strips of white solid and sub cut 8 of 5” x 5” squares

Make the Half Square Triangle Units

I am using a quick method to make these half square triangle units.

Put a blue square and a white square right sides together. Sew a quarter inch seam around the perimeter of the two squares. Repeat for the other seven units.

Take the units to your cutting mat. Cut each square carefully on both diagonals to reveal the 32 half square triangle units.

Making sure that all of the units are facing the same direction and with the white triangles to the right upper corner and the blue triangles to the left lower corner, carefully sew seven of the units together. Repeat. Sew these two strips to each side of the quilt top. Make two more strips of nine each of the half square triangle units in the same manner. Sew each of these to the top and bottom of the quilt top. Be aware that these units are on the bias of the fabric, so treat gently at this stage.

Fourth Border

From the multi coloured focus print cut four of 3” width of fabric strips. Sub cut. two of 24” strips and two of 29” strips. Sew the 24” strips to each side of the quilt top.

Then sew the two 29” strips to the top and bottom of the quilt top.

Fifth Border – Prairie Points

One of the things I thought about while I was stitching the Sashiko, is that some people don’t really enjoy binding. For this reason, I thought this was a good opportunity to talk about a feasible alternative which is quite easy to do and gives a great effect at the same time! That is to use Prairie Points. That is what I decided to do for this small crib quilt. I do like binding, but I also find adding Prairie Point’s a really delightful way to finish off the edge of a quilt.

I need to add, that there is more than one way to make Prairie Points. They can be made individually or, in a strip. Today I am showing using individual points. Making Prairie Points

If you have a lot of scraps and extra fabric this is a great way to use it. It also adds a beautiful little extra weight to the edges of the quilt which make’s it even nicer when using it. I made a small crib quilt years ago which became quite a favourite for all the new babies as they arrived. Little Star Baby Quilt The little Prairie Points which were the finishing edge just give that little bit of weight to the edges which helps keep it in place when covering a baby in a pram, a pusher or a small bassinet.

On this occasion I used individual 4” x 4” squares and I used 48 of them around the edges of the quilt top.

After pressing each square on both diagonals right side showing, into triangles, they can then be placed as evenly as possible around the raw edges of the quilt. Align the raw edges of the Prairie Points with the raw edges of the quilt top. Make sure that all the triangles folds face in the same direction. Tuck the folded edge of each Prairie Point in between the two open edges of the previous Prairie Point. Use 12 on each side.

I then basted the Prairie Points to the front edges of the quilt top.

Sandwich the Quilt

On a flat surface, lay down the batting square and smooth out as much as possible. Lay the backing fabric on top right side up. Centre the quilt top squarely over the backing fabric right side down. The right sides of the fabrics are together. Pin the whole in place so that the layers will not move. Sew a 1/4” seam around the perimeter of the quilt top, leaving a 6” – 8” opening on one side for turning.

Trim the excess fabric and batting around the perimeter, close to the edge of the quilt top. Clip the corners. Remove all the pins. Turn the whole through the opening. Use the Prairie Points to gently pull on the sides of the quilt top to complete the turning. Turn in the seam allowance and slip stitch in place.