I'll use a 9 patch as an example. When you are sewing your pieces together do you sew the squares from left to right and then the horizontal rows from top to bottom?
Or, do you sew the squares from top to bottom and then sew vertically the columns?

Linda in Maryland

squares left to right, rows top to bottom...the same way I read. Seems like the natural way to do it. ;-)

This is the way I do it, also!

same way here

Wow, I never really thought about it but I actually think it depends on the block. Fascinating question, I'll be paying attention now!

It depends on what I'm sewing. Sometimes I sew blocks 1 & 2 together from rows 1 & 2, continuing in that manner throughout the quilt. Then I take those groups of 4 blocks and sew group 1 & 2 togther in both group group 1 row to group 2 row, and so on and so forth. When I am done, if the math all works out, HOPEFULLY, I will only have 4 quadrants to join.

Otherwise, I sew from left to right, and from top to bottom. Did I totally confuse you?

Left to right...then not sure if I sew the top first or the bottom row to the middles..sometimes I look at the squares and see which ones line up better color wise if I am doing a scrappy one...some colors just blend better...as long as it gets done I don't think it would matter...Linda B.

Ditto!

Thank you all so much! I was watching an episode of Eleanor Burns and she said to always sew the squares from top to bottom and then the columns vertically.

I sew squares left to right and the rows top to bottom. Was wondering if I had been doing it wrong all these years.

:roll: :roll: :lol:

I say...whatever works for you is the way to go

Whatever works for you is the right way. If you like to chain stitch as I do, imagine this. Number your rows top to bottom. Alphabet your columns left to right. Sew Row 1, blocks A & B, then row 2, blocks A & B, etc. when you get to the bottom you can keep chain stitching by sewing Row 1, Blocks C & D, Row 2, Blocks C & D, etc. When you get all your blocks sewn into 2s, you go back and join 1A/B to 1C/D, then 2A/B to 2C/D, etc. Hope this makes sense.

Yup, me too. Never thought about it till this post! :D

I generally do it Eleanor's way, but not if the other way seems easier.

I sew my squares top to bottom and sew back to the top. when I am ready to join I sew left to right. I also always sew a straight seam line across a corner of my first block so that I know that is the beginning of the first row. One time I did not and had to take it apart. I had sewn the bottom to the top of the next row. When I am ready to make the sandwich I take the line of stitching out. Have not had trouble with the right ends together since.

depends on the quilt design= sometimes it is easier to match up and get it all together column style, sometimes horizontal rows make sense= and sometimes i use a diagonal setting-
everyonce in a while i work from the bottom up too...every quilt has it's own needs/personality - i do it the way it will be easiest for that project :thumbup:

Same here - but the other way would work I guess.

I do it as your first example left to right. I am right handed, maybe a left hander would do it the other way. haha