How to Put Quilt Blocks Together

Once you have the quilt blocks finished on a quilting project, the hardest work is behind you! There are only a few steps remaining before you are finished sewing an entire quilt top.
There are two options for sewing together quilt blocks. You can sew them directly to each other, or you can sew them together with strips of sashing in between the blocks.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Quilt blocks Sewing machine Sewing notions (scissors, thread, pins, etc.) Iron Fabric for sashing (if desired) Quilting mat Quilting ruler Rotary cutter

Put Quilt Blocks Together Without Sashing

1. Lay the quilt blocks out on a large working surface (the floor works fine for this). Arrange the blocks in the desired pattern.

2. Begin to sew the quilt blocks together one row at a time. Begin with the block in the lower left corner. Take the quilt block immediately to the right of this block and flip it over the first block so that the side that needs to be sewn for these two blocks is on the right and the two blocks are together with right sides together. Align the edges.

3. Sew along the right edge. Press the seam to one side and place the sewn blocks back in their positions.

4. Repeat with the next block in this row in the same fashion. Continue sewing blocks together until all the blocks in this row have been sewn and pressed.

5. Move up to the blocks in the next row and sew them together in the same fashion.

6. Continue until all of the rows of blocks have been sewn together and pressed.

7. Sew the rows together by starting with the bottom two rows. Place the rows together with right sides facing each other. Match the seams, and place a pin at each seam to secure. Sew each row together and press the seam to one direction after stitching.

8. Press the entire quilt top to finish.

Put Quilt Blocks Together With Sashing

9. Lay the quilt blocks out on a large working surface (the floor works fine for this). Arrange the blocks in the desired pattern for sewing together.

10. Determine the width of your sashes. For example, you would need to cut sashing strips 2 1/2 inches wide to have 2-inch finished sashes.

11. Cut the sashing strips with your rotary cutter across the grain of the fabric. If you want 2 inch sashes, measure and cut strips that are 2 1/2 inches wide. Cut enough strips to have enough for the entire sashing. Some long pieces may have to be sewn together to make them long enough.

12. 
     

    Sew a row of horizontal blocks first. Cut sashing pieces that are 2 1/2 inches wide and the length of the blocks. For example, if your block is 10 inches long, your sashing pieces need to be 10 inches long also. You will need sashing pieces to go between all of the blocks that are in a horizontal row. In the example image, there are four blocks in a horizontal row, so you would need five sashing pieces to sash this row.

13. Sew a sashing piece to the left edge of the first block in the row with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Place right sides together and match edges. Stitch the seam and press. Now sew a sashing piece to the opposite side of the same block in the same fashion. Press the seam. Now sew the next block to the other long edge of the sashing piece with right sides together. Press the seam. Continue adding sashing pieces and quilt blocks in the same way to complete this row.

14. Sew each horizontal row in the same fashion.

15. Lay out the horizontal rows in the desired design.

16. Measure the length needed for the remaining sashing rows. These will be strips of sashing that will be sewn horizontally in between the rows you created in Steps 4, 5, and 6.
    
    For example, in the image the horizontal sashing row would be 50 inches long (four 10-inch blocks and five sashing widths).

17. Cut a length of sashing for each horizontal sash needed.

18. Place a sashing strip along a horizontal row of blocks with right sides together. Match up the edges and sew the horizontal seam. Press the seam to one side.

19. Sew each sashing strip in the same fashion. Press the seams.

20. Press the entire quilt top to finish.