Finally I have made time to update my blog with instructions for joining the QAYG blocks. Just remember that I’m only an enthusiastic amateur and my photos aren’t very professional but they will hopefully give you the idea. I made this up myself so I’m sure that there are many other ways to do this.
First I lay the quilt blocks out. Lately I’ve been using the zig-zag layout. Cut the joining strips the same as you would for binding at 2.5” wide and across the width of fabric. Press the strips in half lengthwise.
Then take the first 2 blocks and place them wrong side together and pin. Then place the joining strip along the seam line and sew in one motion. You will be sewing through 2 blocks of batting and the joining strip. Take the pins out and open the blocks to lie flat. Then machine down the strip to cover the exposed batting seams.
Join the rest of the blocks in the row in the same way. When joining two rows together pin them in the same way as for individual blocks and place the joining strip along the seam and stitch in one motion , then sew down the joining strip over the exposed seams.
Continue until the blocks and rows are all joined and then bind as usual.
HINTS: Use a denim needle to sew all blocks together as it’s the only way to cope with sewing through so many thicknesses without breaking needles. Position the quilt so that you only have one row under the machine throat while you are joining rows as it makes it easier to handle. I hope this makes sense. I use any strings in these quilts but you could make some gender specific by using fabric which is more suitable for males or females. I use a plain coloured joining strip which ties all the colours together. Strangely enough most non-quilters love these quilts as they are like an eye-spy. I love them because they use up odd scraps of batting and fabric which would otherwise be thrown out. It doesn’t matter if you use different background fabric because it just gives it another patchwork of squares on the back. I also use shorter lengths of fabric by joining them together to make them long enough to fit across the block diagonally.
Hope you enjoy making these and have fun with them. I love to have some kid friendly fabric in them to give them interest too.
6 comments:
This tutorial made the idea perfectly clear, and I'm starting my first ever string quilt and my first ever quilt-as-you-go today. I'll be back later for the details where to send the finished quilt.
Great Jan, I actually thought the joining strips were hand sewn & worried it would take me forever. Now I know they are machined I can make a complete quilt without feeling I'm holding up the works.
love, Jan.
great explaination of how you do this -- thanks!!
Thank you for pictures and further instruction. I have a clearer understanding.
thank so much Jan, as Ulla said, i'm about to start my first ever QAYG quilt block and with luck it will become my first ever quilt. I'll get something off to you by the end of this week. You must be wearing quilted wings, you're an angel.
Wonderful idea and I'm going to present it to my quilters. Unfortunately I could not print out the remaining instructional pictures but took pictures of my screen and will download them from my camera. Will contact you when we have something for you.
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