Temperature Quilt-Along – February 2025

Dear quilters, February passed and the first two months of the BERNINA Temperature Quilt-Along have been sewn. Have you had fun? Did you find sewing easier day by day? I hope you appreciate the slow but steady progress of our joint project as much as I do. We sew with the weather and the seasons, follow the rhythm of nature and gradually acquire a routine. Sewing becomes part of our everyday life. For me, that’s one of the best things about this quilt-along.

Today it’s all about sewing together the first two monthly rows of January and February. I’ll show you both variations, the Snowball and the Flying Geese. I’ll also explain how we deal with the empty blocks at the end of the months that don’t count 31 days. February is missing three days. You can read below how to fill them.

First a look outside. Were you as cold as I was? And yet the first few warmer days arrived and nature woke up.

Not everyone will enjoy this beautiful sight (allergies…):

New here?

Is this your first time hearing about the Temperature Quilt-Along? Then welcome! We will sew a Temperature Quilt together. This quilt represents the daily temperatures you have measured throughout the year and tells your own personal weather story in 365 blocks. You can join in and sew along at any time.

Would you like to take part? Wonderful! Then read the announcement article with all the information first.

On the following page you will find an overview of all the articles that have been published so far: BERNINA Temperature Quilt-Along – all previous articles.

Our recently created world map is particularly exciting. Haven’t we already created a great worldwide community? Let me know in the comments where you sew and I’ll put a little flag on the map for you.

Organisation of the ‘empty’ days at the end of February

February 2025 has 28 days. This leaves 3 empty squares that need to be filled with fabric, as the quilt is designed for 31 days per month. If you are working with the recommended fabric kit, choose the anthracite-coloured fabric. If you are already using anthracite, it is best to choose black.

Cut 3 pieces 4.5‘ x 2.5 (11.5 x 6.5 cm), sew them together with 1/4’ (0.7 mm) seam allowances and press the seam allowances open.

This free area of 3 blanks is the best option in the quilt for attaching embroidery, for example. I used it to attach the dates and location of my temperature quilt. With the Embroidery Module L (SDT), this can be done quickly, precisely and quietly.

Embroidery Module L (SDT)

✓ With Smart Drive Technology (SDT) ✓ Increased embroidery speed by up to 55% ✓ Effortless freearm embroidery ✓ Embroidery area of up to 400 x 260 mm / 15.7 x 8.3″ ✓ For BERNINA 7 and 8 Series machines

Learn more

I sew the small embroidery panel to the February end. First, I position it exactly right sides together.

Then I pin the strip and sew the panel along the pre-printed line of the FPP template.

Remove the paper from the seam allowances

If you are sewing the Flying Geese version, you are probably curious when the papers of the FPP template will be removed. The large areas will be removed at a later stage. Now it’s time to cut out the narrow paper edges at the seam allowances. Then iron the seam allowance apart again.

Sewing rows together with the Flying Geese

In this version, 2 months are sewn together first. So January + February, March + April etc.

To do this, place the rows on top of each other, right sides facing. The paper edges are flush. Pin the layers together with pins along the edge of the paper. Pin at the seam edges of the day blocks.

This refers to the seam edge of the day blocks. The tips of the triangles fit exactly. Insert a needle lengthwise here.

If papers come loose on the back, they can simply be glued back on with a fabric glue stick.

Sew the first two rows of the month together along the marking on the FPP template. Stitch length is 1.5 mm.

The bottom three blocks of the empty days are closed with the same seam allowance as on the FPP template, namely 1/4’.

Then remove the papers from the seam allowance along the entire length of the front and back.

Finish the back and remove all excess threads.

Unfold the sewn-together areas and place them on the ironing board. Left side facing upwards. I deliberately don’t look at the right side first and check whether I’ve got all the points that meet exactly. I save myself the excitement and prefer to enjoy the overall result.

Now press the seam allowances open.

Turn your work around and be happy 🙂

Sewing rows together – the snowball

If you have chosen the snowball version, it is easier to sew the monthly rows together. Here, the same step is repeated month after month.

Position the rows of months next to each other and make sure that they are the right way round.

Then place both rows together, right sides facing. Pin the individual day blocks together along the long edge at the seam edge using pins. Make sure that the pressed seam allowances meet exactly when pinning.

Now sew the row together using a 1/4’ (0.7 mm) seam allowance and a 2 mm straight stitch.

Unfold the fabrics and press the centre seam allowance open.

Time to smile: Turn the sewn-together January and February rows and enjoy the result. Don’t the newly created blocks of four look great?

I’m certainly not the only one who has problems photographing these long strips. But the wider the quilt gets, the easier it becomes. Here I show you the first two months in both quilt versions: the Snowball and the Flying Geese.

Do you have any questions? As always, ask them in the comments section below this article. I’ll answer them as soon as possible.

Have fun in March, spring will certainly be here by then.

Happy Sewing,
Jutta

PS: keep showing off your great sewing results and share them with us all in the community section of the blog, in the comments or on Instagram and Facebook! I’m excited and look forward to every photo.