assembly line sewing
 

I've decided that my brain doesn't do assembly line sewing very well. I know it is suppose to make it more efficient but I just can't get myself to do it. I'm working on a double irish chain and I'm struggling to use this method. I start out trying to assembly line sew but I keep going back to "one strip - one block at a time" method. Anyone else feel this way?

I'm with you! I like to finish each block before I move on to another. I have started out doing the assembly line method but also find myself sticking to one block and finishing it.

If finishing one block at a time works for you, then go for it.

Try working on them in small sets of blocks. I tend to do all of the strip sets to start with but from there I break it up in to smaller sets of blocks to work on.

I tend to love to chain stitch but if your brain says to finish a block at a time, go for it. just think, you will have all your blocks done when you finish stitching. not a bad thing.

For me it depends on what I'm doing and if I am learning a new block or whatever, and the first time I do it I use assembly line methods for different parts. I can best explain it in education terms. You know how some words you have to write down before you are confident you have it spelled correctly? You most likely first "recorded" that word in your brain spelled incorectly. We learn in short term memory and what we need to or can best retain goes into long term memory. This happens most often when we sleep. Then you learn to spell the word correctly and that goes into your long term memory. Now your brain has it recorded twice, but the incorrect spelling will come into your "accessed memory" first when you need to spell it. That's what makes you unsure and you write it out so your visual memory can back up your recorded long term memory. I say all this to explain what's happening. You are trying to change a long term memory way of doing something. If we really like the new way better we overcome the "uncomfortableness" of the 2 memories vying for brain recall space. When I can't overcome that uncomfortableness over a period of time; I just resign myself to the fact that I really like my original method whether others think it is the most efficient way or not. Sewing and quilting is supposed to be fun, creative and relaxing not anxiety creating-so be a Burger King quilter and have it your way!:thumbup:

if i have an entire quilt with the same block, i assembly line sew. if the blocks are only similar but with some color variation, i will do them one at time.

I guess my mind is an assembly line. It seems only natural to sew this way.

For years I sewed one block at a time... but then the rotary cutter changes my cutting .. and then changed my sewing methods. it took some getting used to .. but took time to get comfortable with it ..my brain was just wired from years of block by block.

I do exactly the same thing. I just finished a churn dash quilt and did the assembly line sewing for it. It went so fast! And if they are different blocks, I do them one at a time.

If there are multiple blocks of the same pattern, I will complete one to make sure all is correct, then chain sew the remaining.

I get bored doing one block at a time but I still do it with certain ones. Took me a long time tho to get the hang of assembly line sewing. Im doing it in my current quilt it does make it go faster. Good for you though do what works!! I just started making sample blocks before i do a quilt I used to just go all in

My mother taught me to chain piece so I do so when I can. The rest of the time I piece as best I can but I always feel guilty of not using my time wisely.

Chain piecing is more productive for me. I keep a copy of what I am doing on my sewing machine or nearby so I can look and check that I am doing the correct sewing. This is important because I do stop and start on my sewing quite a bit and I definitely don't want to start sewing only to later find I did it wrong!

It is the finished product that is my goal.

ali

You should do what works for you. I am the exact opposite. I make my test block to work out any kinks and then I work best doing everything in order for all the blocks.

I work in a lab and most of us are very effecient at doing multiple analysis on multiple samples simultaneously. BUT...if we step into someone else's set up in the middle it takes twice as long because all of our minds work a little differently.

I hate to cut everything out in advance and have it laying around. I like to cut the piece I need next for each block. At my BOM they keep telling me I really need to cut everything out before I sew. Doesn't work for me.

Do what you enjoy and we won't tell the quilting police.

To be honest, it depends on my mood. I chain piece with no problem, but sometimes I get bored. So, I do what I want-when I want. Even with a sampler quilt, I will often sew 3 or 4 blocks at the same time. I made the four Craftsy free BOM blocks yesterday just for fun, and I made them all at once. As long as I can lay them out it works for me. It would frustrate a lot of people, but I enjoy it. I tried to teach someone to chain piece and there was simply no way she was going to be able to do it. The fun part is that we can all do it our own way, and it will all work out.

For me, it depends upon the pattern/block. Some blocks get confusing but for others assembly line just speeds things up.

For me, I find cutting a little then sewing a little works for me and my back & legs so that I am not in the same position for more then 5 min. at a time.

Oh boy, I just finished a stack and whack and the chain piecing was confusing the heck out of me. I am used to one block at a time as well. It was very weird especially when trying to keep the colors in the right order as I went along. I only screwed up a couple of times, but it's still stressful to do it that way.

Piece by piece! I don't have a sense of direction, and still can't tell you north, south, eas tor west directions. lol I can do left, right, up and down. I think that has something to do with it. My husband always says" I could get lost in my own back yard". I go by landmarks, and hope certain business never move!

If the pattern is clear and lots of pictures I will do the chain pieces, otherwise I do different. I do cut out all pieces before sewing. I put the pieces in stacks and label them, put them in a plastic tub until needed.

See.....that would make me run screaming the other way. I did a table topper and a tree skirt at Christmas this way and literally gave serious thought to trashing about $60 worth of fabric after I cut it out because it was so stressful to me to have it like that.

We all have to do what works best for us and anyone that tells you differently I give you permission to stick your fingers in your ears and hum while they try!

I love chain piecing and it saves so much thread. It does take practice but I am able to piece several rows at once after having a lot of practice.

I think it is just to do what is best for you!!

It depends on the quilt I am working on. Sometimes it is a quilt to get done. And then sometimes it is the journey that I enjoy most. This is one block at a time.

I like assembly line, so much faster for me

I cannot assembly line sew. My brain does not work that way and I do it block by block. As hard as I have tried assembly line sewing does not work for me.

You are not alone I tried assembly line and got soooo confuse I do one block at a time,And to think I worked 25 yrs in sewing factories assembly line sewing by the way I am new to the board and quilting and love reading all the post

I dont like cutting threads all the time so chain pieceing is the way to go.
But will do a test block first to make sure it is the right size.

Assembly line is so nice. Comin' around the bend on the final fabric means the quilt blocks are finished!

depends on if finishing or just enjoying the process.....when i had very little fabric and no UFO's (that i knew of, but that is a different story) i would take my time and just enjoy. Even now in this mad production phase i'm in, there is one applecore doll quilt project in a cookie tin that is being sewn by hand and cut out with sissors, and enjoyed.

It depends on the pattern and the person. Do what works for you. There is no right or wrong.

Thank you!

You are so cute...if I had to cut one block at a time, sew it, then cut the next I would run screaming the other way.

I don't cut one block. I cut one fabric for all the blocks. Then I sew it to all the blocks, press it and cut the next fabric. It really upsets me to have all the fabric cut and waiting on me. I feel as if I am starting out behind and can never catch up. For some people that is organized. For me, that is overwhelming.

Nice thing is, if we ever meet and find the other one screaming we each know how to calm the other!

I watch Eleanor Burns doing piece sewing and that is the only way for me if it possible, so much faster and less cutting threads. Then taking the lot to the ironing board to press just speeds it all up.

I will be on the lookout for anyone screaming and running the other way! lol:)

To each his own...I tend to chain stitch but if finishing each block works for you, then that's the way to do it!