I have 5" charms sewn together into a 8x10 grid for a baby quilt and it needs to be done for Friday night.

I'm thinking of sewing the wrong sides together and turning inside out. (Birthing?) Is this the way to lay the layers out??? First on table, backing right side up. Second on table, quilt top right side down. Third on table, batting. Stitch around - turn right side out.

Next question??? Can I then stitch an easy X pattern in the 5" charms so that the quilt is quilted? Then stitch along the edge to secure the flipped out border? Do you think I'll have an issue with the backing not laying flat? Should I spray inside the quilt with a basting spray and smooth it down? Should I spray the batting and the back of the quilt top before I sew around the outside of the quilt? (Then I'd just have to spray between the batting the the backing.)

How did you do this successfully?

Thanks for your help - will check back for answers in a few hours.

Maybe, I do it a bit different. Lay batting on table, lay pieced top on batting right side up, lay backing wrong side up on top, pin, stitch, trim and turn.
I am in the middle of quilting one now...

:) Packet is the same way ... only backwards. Right sides together with batting on one side then.

So then you do quilt it after flipping it? Any issues with it laying flat? Do you pin the heck out of it or use spray basting or both?

Thanks

Thanks for asking this question-I'm interested in the answers too. The only time I "birthed" a quilt and then quilted it, I had big lumps out toward the edges. I ended up slitting the sides, smoothing it a lot and then attaching binding the usual way. How can this be prevented?
Thanks again.

You need to be a little careful when "birthing it" as the batting can stretch if you tug on it too hard, and then you can have problems with lumps as you quilt.
Eleanor Burns leaves a pretty good size opening and then she rolls up the quilt from the corners to the center and then births it...It looks like it wouldn't stretch as much this way.

You could spray baste it... but I would still pin baste it too, to keep the layers from traveling while you quilt it.

I leave at least 12" open. I reach in and grab the top two corners and pull them out the opening then straighten the quilt and pin the heck out of it. It is pretty forgiving.

Thanks! The top is done! WOOHOO! I have to add a row of 5" charms to the backing to make it a little wider. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Goal is to get it ready for simple quilting TODAY!

I'll have to rearrange the pieces so I can see the top and where to stitch 1/4" from the side of it. If I layered it either way above I couldn't see the side of the Quilt Top. Where would I sew? LOL

SO...ON TABLE...
Quilt top - Face UP
Backing - Face DOWN
Batting - On Top

Then I can pin it well - flip it over and stitch following Quilt Top edge - turn out - close seam and spray and pin.

Ok! I can do this - right? :?

I did it! (except for spraying).

It's pinned and I'll quilt later today or tomorrow!

Thanks ladies!