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Quilt as you go tutorial

August 12, 2019 28 Comments

Quilt as you go tutorial

Are you afraid to machine quilt your quilt tops?  I know many quilters enjoy sewing quilt tops so much but then they are afraid to machine quilt them themselves.

If you are a beginner or even an advanced quilter that finds machine quilting difficult, I am glad to share with you a technique that makes it easy, helping you at the same time to quilt BIG quilts with ease.

This technique was a revelation to me!

This quilting technique is not used too often. I used it for the first time in my 16th year of quilting. I ignored it for so long because (as in other circumstances, unfortunately) I just assumed I don’t need it/I don’t like it – without knowing too much about it and actually, without trying it.

So when I finally tried it, this technique blew my mind. It was FUN for me, but it was even more than that: I also understood what HUGE, TREMENDOUS help is for beginners and for quilters who sew on small machines, with small space under the arm.

So if you think that machine quilting (and especially free motion quilting) is not for you or you have difficulties when free motion quilting, you must try QUILT AS YOU GO.

What is Quilt As You Go?

Essentially, this technique means you create BLOCKS and you quilt them individually, and then you join the QUILTED blocks into a large quilt, with sashing. While you can make the blocks in any technique you want, for this tutorial I used the easiest technique: I just quilted a design in the center of the blocks.

NOTE
This technique produces a double-sided quilt; if you want to use both sides, plan ahead what to use as backing for your blocks. A good idea is to use fabrics from the same collection.

You may also like:

Matchstick quilting

How to quilt textured blocks

How to finish quilted coasters without binding

How to piece perfect quilts

How to choose fabrics for quilts

Quilt As You Go Tutorial

Here are the steps you need to follow.

1. Sew your blocks, in any technique you want. Layer each block with batting and backing and quilt as desired.
After quilting, you have to trim all the quilted blocks to the same size. It’s best to measure first the block that seems to be the smallest and cut all the others at this size.
I trimmed my blocks to 15”.

NOTE
A heavy quilting may distort the block; in order to keep it square, you may be forced to trim off more than what you want. This  could be a problem for some patchwork blocks; if you have intersection points at the outer edges of the block, you may end up with chopped off points. In this case, try to do a minimal quilting so that your blocks do not suffer too much distortion. If you want sharp points in your block, you must preserve the 1/4” seam allowances – AFTER QUILTING.

For other patchwork designs this will not be a problem. When you decide what to quilt on your blocks, look at the outer edges of your block. Does the design suffer if you alter the seam allowances?

2. Arrange your blocks in rows, keeping them in a pleasant composition. To keep the blocks in order, use price tags and label each block with the corresponding number.

3. For joining two blocks you need two strips:

– for the front sashing: 1 strip – 1 1/8” wide and as long as your block (15” in my case)
– for the back sashing: 1¾” wide and as long as your block (15”); fold it in half lengthwise and press.

The color of your sashing is your choice, I think the best option is a neutral color that works well with all the colors of your blocks.

Always cut these strips on the straight grain, parallel with the selvage.

Quilt as you go tutorial

Lay down the folded strip on the back of your first block, aligning the raw edges. Keep it in place with pins (will be removed before stitching).

Quilt as you go tutorial

Turn the block on the right side. On the same side, lay down the 1 1/8” strip. Pin through all the layers (strip, block, strip on the back). Remove the pins from the back.

Stitch at 1/4” from the edge- accuracy is important here. Use the walking foot. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.

Flip the top strip over and finger press (or even lightly press with an iron).

Quilt as you go tutorial

Here is the look of the block sandwiched in between the two strips (remember that the folded strip is always on the back).

Quilt as you go tutorial

Add the second block to the other edge of the top strip. See details below.

Quilt as you go tutorial

Pin block #2 to the strip, right sides together. It is easier to pin and sew with the strip on top.
Sew at ¼” from the edge- again, accuracy is important here. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.

Quilt as you go tutorialHere is a detail, before stitching.

The two blocks are now attached on the front side. Finger press (or press) the seam.

Quilt as you go tutorial

Turn the blocks on the back side.
Notice how nicely the raw edges of the two blocks lay next to each other (if you sewed with accurate ¼” seam allowance, there is even a little space that separates them- 1/8”; in case your seam allowance is a little bigger than ¼”, that 1/8” space still allows the edges to nicely nest together).

Quilt as you go tutorial

Flip over the folded strip, firmly finger press then sew the strip down with a slip-stitch (the stitching you use for finishing the binding on the back of quilts).

Now the two blocks are completely joined.

Quilt as you go tutorial

Join all the blocks needed for one row.
If your row has 5 blocks, sew two pairs then add the fifth block two the second pair.

Quilt as you go tutorial

My rows have only 4 blocks so that I joined the two pairs with the same technique described above.

Quilt as you go tutorial

Once you stitched all your rows, it’s time to join two rows together – again, using the same technique.
This time you have to measure the length of your row and cut strips of this length.
The width of the strips will be the same: 1 1/8” for the top strip and 1¾” for the back strip.

Quilt as you go tutorial

It shouldn’t be a big difference between the lengths of two rows, but if you want to be even more accurate, you could measure both rows you have to join and use the average length when cutting the strips.

Quilt as you go tutorial

Mark the half point on both sashing strips; lay the strip over the row, put pins at the beginning and end of the row, match the center of the sashing with the center of the row and then pin the rest of the sashing.

When adding the second row to the front sashing, you have to match the front sashing seams. Pay attention to this step, it’s important to have continuous vertical sashing on the front of the quilt.

Quilt as you go tutorial

Again, pin with the sashing on top; at this step, you need many pins to keep the edges aligned.

Do not pin like I did with the first two pins in the photo below (only through sashing and block underneath); catch the front block too- see the next three pins-that pinning holds the layers together better.

Quilt as you go tutorial

Two rows joined…

Quilt as you go tutorial

…and a detail to see the nicely aligned vertical sashings.

Quilt as you go tutorial

Repeat until you join all the rows.

Then bind the quilt as desired; for my binding I used the same fabric used for sashing.


NOTES

1. When you use this technique, you will notice that all the machine stitching is extremely easy to do. Why? It’s because at all times, while stitching, the quilt is positioned to the left of the needle; the whole quilt rests on the table and nothing goes under the arm. NO BULK under the arm! This is extremely helpful if your machine has a small space under the arm.

2. Maybe you don’t like the look of the sashing? The contrasting color?

There is a way to make the sashing almost invisible! I plan to apply it on my next quilt-as-you-go quilt.
Stay tuned!

Happy Quilting!

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

Quilt as you go tutorial

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Filed Under: quilting tutorials Tagged With: quilt as you go tutorial

Comments

  1. Bente says

    August 13, 2019 at 12:42 pm

    Absoutely stunning Geta.
    Thanks for sharing you know how!
    Liebe Grüße
    Bente

    Reply
    • Geta Grama says

      August 13, 2019 at 4:40 pm

      You’re welcome, Bente, I am so glad to hear from you!

      Reply
  2. Debra Campbell says

    August 13, 2019 at 4:36 pm

    Thanks for the tutorial. I have arthritis in my hands and sometimes struggle with the weight and bulk of a larger quilt. That is why I mostly stick with walking foot quilting. This technique may be very helpful for me in trying to improve my free motion quilting skills.

    Reply
    • Geta Grama says

      August 13, 2019 at 4:42 pm

      If you try it, Debra, please let me know how it works for you!
      Happy quilting!

      Reply
    • Marlene says

      February 18, 2023 at 6:24 am

      I have just found these wonderful tutorials. Will very shortly be following the sashing instructions. Also have severe arthritis in my hands. Thank you and cheers. MARLENE.

      Reply
  3. Tacy Carlson says

    August 13, 2019 at 5:33 pm

    Thank you so much for this, Geta. I have been following you for awhile and your advice/tips/instruction are spot on. I have been toying with the idea of QAYG for the last month (just cut come odd-sized batting pieces into squares). Thank you for so generously sharing your amazing skills and talent.

    Reply
    • Geta Grama says

      August 13, 2019 at 6:12 pm

      Thank you so much for the kind words, Tacy. If it helps – I am happy!

      Reply
  4. Linda Martinez says

    August 13, 2019 at 9:40 pm

    Thank you for sharing your knowledge and techniques. You have been very helpful.

    Reply
    • Geta Grama says

      August 14, 2019 at 12:52 pm

      I am glad it helps, Linda.

      Reply
  5. Kerryn Connor says

    August 14, 2019 at 4:45 am

    Do you give instructions on how to enlarge or reduce patterns on the computer. Thank you, you are very helpful. Kerryn

    Reply
  6. Alika says

    August 14, 2019 at 5:55 am

    Thank you so much! Very useful and necessary information!

    Reply
  7. Martha O. says

    August 14, 2019 at 12:39 pm

    I am not a sashing fan so look forward to your next tips. Cheers!

    Reply
  8. Susan says

    August 14, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    That looks lovely, and it’s much easier than other tutorials I’ve seen. Thanks!

    Reply
  9. Dee Ann says

    August 18, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    I love your style of quilting and teaching. I’m not a fan of sashing, so I’m looking forward to the newer technique! Also, do you have a tutorial or video on how you cut away the batting from your trapunto style quilting technique? Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  10. Emanuela says

    September 3, 2019 at 12:47 pm

    Fantastico questo tutorial, grazie mille per averlo condiviso!
    Emanuela

    Reply
  11. Elaine T Rutledge says

    July 3, 2020 at 1:34 pm

    Thank you, dear sister in stitchery – I’ve been thinking of switching to Quilt as You Go – because at age 76 (as of July 20, this year) I no longer have the strength to manage a large quilt under the needle. I can do it, but tire so quickly I spend more time resting than quilting. But I like to think I have a few quilts still in me.

    Reply
  12. Mary says

    July 24, 2020 at 7:06 pm

    Have you done the no-show method tutorial yet? If not, do you have any idea when it could be available?

    Reply
    • Gloria says

      July 28, 2020 at 4:08 pm

      Yes, I’m also interested in no-sashing qayg technic(s) too. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Nicole says

        December 29, 2020 at 3:18 am

        Me too. I loved your quilt as you go technique and looking forward to the one with no sashing.

        Reply
  13. Josie LCPC says

    October 24, 2020 at 12:43 pm

    Your quilting is absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for this tutorial. I’m a new quilter and am just learning, but will have to try this when I start quilting larger pieces.

    Reply
  14. Toni M says

    February 11, 2021 at 10:43 pm

    Thank you for this QAYG tutorial. My question concerns the back sashing: With my RA, I have trouble hand sewing and have learned to sew the binding totally on the machine. Can the back sashing be sewn on the machine and still look good? Have you tried that method?

    Reply
  15. Misty says

    May 19, 2021 at 11:21 am

    Thank you so much for this tutorial! I’m new at quilting and just finished my first quilt by machine… it was a patchwork and phew I couldn’t wait to finish it lol I just sewed it to the backing with simple straight stitches using my stitch in the ditch foot sewing 1/4” off the seam. The quilting on your blocks are sensational!!!!! I only hope to get that good someday!

    Reply
  16. Jane Hauger says

    January 3, 2022 at 5:45 pm

    Thank you for the clearly explained instruction. I plan to use this on my next project.

    Reply
  17. Frances says

    May 4, 2022 at 8:17 am

    This is definitely the best tutorial of the QAYG method that I have seen. So clear and well explained. I want to make a King size quilt for our guest room and this method would make it so much easier. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

    Reply
  18. Cindy says

    September 13, 2022 at 12:15 pm

    I’ve been putting off making a quilt for a fund raiser/charity group. Now I know how I’m going to quilt it. Thanks for all you do to make quilting so much easier.

    Reply
  19. Mary says

    January 12, 2023 at 1:46 am

    Thank you for this tutorial, instructions are very clear, I am looking forward to the no sashing tutorial. I actually used this method a very long time ago, but I may go back to it now that I am older.
    I love the quilting that you have done on your blocks, is that done free hand, or is it a digitised design?

    Reply
  20. Deb says

    October 29, 2023 at 10:59 am

    Love your sashing method for this QAYG tutorial…. Excellent tutorial and will use for sure!!! Thank You!
    Now I’m anxious for your no sashing QAYG Tutorial…
    I’m anxious to use both methods!
    Thanks again!!!

    Reply
  21. Melissa Fox says

    October 11, 2024 at 2:59 am

    Did you create the quilt as you go with less visible sashing?

    Reply

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