How to Do the Quilt As You Go Method

Machine quilting can be hard to do when the quilt is large. Stuffing the entire quilt through the neck of the sewing machine can be difficult. Long arm quilting machines are expensive. There is an alternative that gives a lot of machine quilting detail on any size quilt with a regular sewing machine.

Machine quilting each individual quilt block and then sewing the quilt blocks together after they are quilted makes machine quilting much easier than quilting after the quilt is fully assembled. Beginners and experienced quilters can both benefit from this method.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Quilt Blocks
• Batting
• Backing Fabric
• Sewing Machine
• Walking Foot
• Rotary Cutter, Ruler and Mat

1. Make a quilt block of any type and size. This method is very flexible and can be used with any style of quilt block.

2. Cut a piece of batting about a half inch larger than the quilt block. There should be batting sticking out on all sides of the quilt block. This will allow for batting to be taken up by the quilting process. This is a great way to use up small pieces of left over batting from other projects. Remember the thinner batting is easier to use for machine quilting, but a walking foot can be used for the thicker battings, so the thickness is up to individual taste.

3. Cut a piece of backing material about the same size as the piece of batting. Each piece of backing can be the same or different. This is also a great way to use up scraps by piecing the individual backings for each block. It makes the final quilt a double sided quilt with designs on both sides of the quilt.

4. Individually machine quilt each quilt block sandwich (top, batting and backing with right sides facing out). Use the fancy stitches on the sewing machine or use the straight stitch to stitch in the ditch or use the darning foot with the feed dogs down to free motion quilt on the block. Don't be afraid to combine different techniques on each block. Don't be afraid
   to use different thread on each block. The final result will be
   spectacular.

5. Trim the quilted blocks to be the same size. Use the quilt block that shrunk the most during the quilting process as the The Quilt As You Go Method www.edonyourown.com guide for what size to trim the blocks. Using a rotary cutter, ruler and mat is the easiest way to get this done and have the blocks looking very nice. It helps to iron the blocks before trimming.

6. Cut one inch wide strips of sashing fabric. This will be the fabric that will hold the quilt blocks together, so make sure it is strong, high quality fabric. The sashing will be applied to the top and the back of quilt, so make twice as many strips as you would need for just the top of the quilt. This can also be used as the binding for the quilt.

7. Start with one of the blocks, using a quarter inch seam allowance, sew the sashing strip to the back of the block along one side. Sew it on with right sides together. It will be turned in the next step.

8. Use the iron to fold the sashing on the stitching so the right side of the sashing is now showing on the back of the block.

9. Flip the block over and use the iron to fold the sashing so that the edge of the sashing is touching the edge of the block. No wrong side of the sashing fabric should be showing once the fold is made.

10. Line up the next block with the first block and edge stitch the sashing fabric to the second block. The two blocks will now be joined on the back sides.

11. Repeat this process with the top sides of these same two blocks. Edge stitch the other side of the sashing on the top to make the edge stitching look more uniform. This will help to reinforce the sashing on the top and bottom of the quilt.

12. Trim the sashing on the ends and continue this process for the first row of the quilt. Continue for each row of the quilt and then join the rows in the same method with a much longer strip of sashing fabric.

13. Bind the quilt using the sashing fabric, by sewing the binding on the back of the quilt and then wrapping it around to the front of the quilt and edge stitching it in place. Each side of the quilt can be done individually, making sure the corners of the sashing are turned under to have no loose ends showing on the corners of the final quilt. Once this step is completed the quilt is done. The quilting happened along the way. It makes a beautiful double sided quilt for any size of quilt.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a high contrast sashing fabric to make the blocks stand out and look like they are framed. I like using a black on black fabric for that eye popping effect.

Resources

• Quilt As You Go pdf
• Craft Ideas
• Education On Your Own
• FreeDigitalPhotos.net

[pacegal]

on 9/28/2009 Very informative and useful. I'm a novice so I'm going to try this with the quilt blocks I'm making.