Rail Fence Signature Block

General instructions: Please use 100% cotton for ease of pressing and quilting. Cut your strips so that the grainline runs parallel to the shortest side of the strip (see diagram below). Use off-white (or white if that's what you have) for the center signature strip.

Thread: 100% cotton regular sewing thread is preferred. Do not use "quilting" thread because that is the heavier thread used to actually quilt, not piece, a quilt.

Colors: The overall theme is the pink/white of the breast cancer awareness campaign, but any pinks, purples, off white, whites, or whatever you heart tells you will be fine. Just stitch it with love.

Use a Pigma pen to sign the block. Do not use a laundry marker or Sharpie marker because these will bleed. Tip: If you iron a piece of freezer paper to the muslin strip, it makes it easier to write on. Or you can lay a piece of sandpaper under the block while you write. If you do not have a Pigma pen, please sign the strip in pencil and we will trace over it with a Pigma pen.

Instead of signing with a Pigma pen, you can also handstitch your signature, or use lettering on your sewing/embroidery machine.

If you add embroidery, please use a design with a low stitch count so that it is easier to quilt through (or around), if necessary.

Directions:
Cut two 6-1/2" x 2-1/2" pieces of solid or print cotton fabric.
Cut one 6-1/2" x 2-1/2" piece of pure white/bleached muslin.
Using 1/4" seams, stitch all three strips together with the white strip in the middle. (See diagram below.)

Press seams allowances to the dark fabric, in other words, away from the white center. Try not to stretch or distort the block as you press the seams open. Lift the iron when repositioning instead of sliding it across the fabric. (Sorry if you already know this, but in case you didn't!)

At this point, the block should measure 6-1/2" x 6-1/2".

Examples of some blocks (thanks Kay!)