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To secure the denim top to the fleece backing, sew in the seams stitch-in-the-ditch style. I use the pattern above.
At first, I used pins and a four-inch plastic square to mark the broken-seam segment lengths. Lately, though, I've just been eyeballing them.
Matching thread colors are more forgiving of the inevitable mistakes; if the threads match the denim closely, they'll almost disappear after sewing. Medium blue is usually pretty safe for the top. For the bobbin, use a color that matches the backing fabric.
Remember, if you have a walking foot/dual feed foot, use it at this point! It will produce beautiful pucker-free seams.
The biggest time-saving tactics for machine quilting are these: 1) Start with a full bobbin, and 2) don't break the thread!
Also, be gentle with the needle. It's easy to bend or break it when pulling out lengths of top thread.
After machine-quilting any one section (border, star outline, log cabin squares, whatever --), do not break the thread.
Instead, raise the needle, pull out a generous length of top thread (enough to draw to the underside with a hand needle afterward), "free-float" to the next section, and continue machine-quilting. You can backstitch at each end of each segment for extra security.
When you're finished machine-quilting, cut the extra top-threads in half. Use a hand needle to draw the loose ends to the fleece side of the quilt. Knot them securely with the bottom threads and cut the threads off close to the fleece.
By this time you may feel like blankies are black holes surrounded by fabric into which labor is poured. Don't give up; the end is in sight!
Cutting the Binding Strip
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