I'm soooo excited you all are so excited to do this quilt with me! I'm also very excited to make a queen sized quilt! I never thought I'd be able to start and complete a quilt larger than a lap-size on my own, since quilting a monster quilt is not what I would consider fun. With this method, not only can you make a monster quilt top, but, you will be able to quilt is as you go and not have to send it out to the long arm quilter. I originally came across this idea in the Patchwork Style book.
Before we begin, I want to touch on how the quilt will be assembled since I've had soooooooo many questions about that aspect. I just don't want anyone to start their blocks and then when we get to that point, be shocked at how I'm going about it. When the idea of a quilt-along came up, I immediately went to work and did a trial on three different techniques for sewing the blocks together, to see which one would look the best and also be the easiest. These are the three methods I tried:
- the books' directions of sewing the blocks together through both the fabric and batting layers, pressing the seams open, then once all the blocks are together and the quilt sandwich is made, stitching in the ditch around each block, *and then using some wool fibre for ties in the middle and corners of each block. {*this step is optional, but looks really cool}
- sewing just the fabric part of the block together, overlapping the batting, and then stitch in the ditch down the seam once the quilt top is assembled
- and lastly, cutting the batting 1/4 inch smaller than the fabric part of the block, sewing the fabric part together, and butting the batting together and stitch in the ditch once the quilt top is assembled
There was no noticeable difference between the three techniques in how the seam felt afterward (and, I didn't like the idea in the third technique of having loose edges of batting float around) so I'm going with the easiest, which is following the directions in the book.
Ok, so all that being said, are you ready? OK!
Quilt as you go |quilt-along| part one: gather, sort, cut, mark
For my quilt, I am making a queen-size that will hang over the sides and end of the bed at least 16 inches. So I will be giving directions for a quilt that will end up 94.5X108 inches.
For a quilt this size, you will need:
- plenty of scrap that is mainly white or cream. I've used some solids, linen, cotton home dec, and several designer quilting cotton prints that have other colors on them, but the predominant color is white or creme.
- plenty of scrap that have colors other than white or creme. I've used several cotton solids, linen, cotton home dec, and designer quilting cottons.
- {56} 14.5 inch squares of cotton batting (I am using warm and natural cotton batting). This quilt will end up 7 blocks wide, and 8 blocks long. If you would like to make your quilt smaller or larger, do your math to figure out how many blocks you will need.
- enough backing and binding material for the size quilt you are making
- size 80/12 topstitching needle
- wool yarn for tying (optional)
First, gather and sort your fabric scrap into the white/creme group or the colored group. Irregular sizes, strips, whatever. You'll need both and can cut the irregular pieces into the size you need once you start sewing.
Next, cut your batting squares. Mine are not perfectly 14.5 inches, but there abouts. I'll be trimming them to a perfect 14 inches later.
Lastly, in the center-ish (I eyeballed mine) of each square of batting, draw a 6.5-7 inch square with a marking pencil. You can either cut out a template, or use an acrylic one like I did. Mine is 6.5 inches square.
Yay! You've completed part one to the quilt as you go |quilt-along|!
Make sure to pat yourself on your back and post your pics of your blocks/quilts in progress in the quilt as you go |quilt-along| group:
and the scraps to treasure group:
See you next week for part two, when we will start sewing and making blocks!
~Penny
