Should I Do Rows, or Blocks?
 

I want to make a King size quilt using 5 inch squares. There will be no pattern, just a mix of 5-7 fabrics randomly placed. Being my first large quilt, it will probably be tied instead of quilted. My question is, do I piece in long rows, or blocks? What would be the best for smooth seams? Thanks for your help.

I put the squares out on my bed to sort colours out, then sew rows... but it would work OK with blocks....

I would have to do blocks because I would be afraid I would mess up doing rows. (meaning have them all not line up somehow) That's just me though.

I stopped doing long rows. I put my quilts together in quarter sections. I start by putting all the blocks into giant four patches. Then those four patches into even bigger four patches or sections until I have the quilt put together in roughly four quarters. If the quilt isn't an even number across or down one section will be one block wider or longer. Then I sew the top two sections together and the bottom two sections together and then you only have one full width seam. I noticed the first time I put a quilt together that way that it came out straighter and squarer than doing row after row. You do have to really pay attention to which way you press your seams though.

I'm doing a king size quilt and i'm making blocks, and then sewing them together. I find it much easier to handle.

I agree with making smaller sections and sewing them together.

For a King size quilt, I'd probably make NINE smaller (approx) 35"x35" quilts (or whatever size you'd need them to be), and then sew them together.

(and while making the smaller quilts, I'd also start with smaller configurations, like 3x3 or 4x4, and sew them together.)

Definitely stabilizes and prevents wonkiness.
Also, it makes the whole project less daunting.
And you end up with only two really long seams to sew.

And echoing ScissorQueen's advice - map out your pressing strategy before you start.
Makes life a whole lot easier.

With working with the sections like that you start to see it coming together quicker and it helps me to keep working. This way I don't have another UFO!! ;) Good luck. :)

I do a lot of 6" squares quilts for charity. For Lutheran World Relief, the specifications are 60" x 80". I do 4-patch blocks, then sew those blocks into 6 colums of 8 blocks. Finally sew the columns together. It works for me. BTW for those utilitarian quilts, I use 1/2" seams. If I choose to make a border, it is 6" also, and then the situation calls for 5 columns of 7 blocks (all 4-patches).

These quilts are worked up quickly because of the 6" x 24" ruler.

Dayle

As above, I'd suggest doing sections as well. Does help to keep things straight. :)

I do twos then fours, then eights, etc. that way you never have a long wavy seam the length of the quilt.

I have done both. Doing it in block sections makes it easier to keep track of what block goes where. But I seem to get a btter looking quilt with better matching seams if I do it in rows. And as mentioned earlier, when doing it in blocks, pay close attention to which way you press seams.

I like working in rows - that way I can make changes if I want to a little easier. And, I make sure to sew the rows in opposite directions (start sewing rows 1&2 at the first left edge block of both rows, then sew row 3 on to row two beginning at the right hand edge of each row.

I, like the scissor queen, assemble my squares into blocks and then into 1/4 of the quilt. My design wall is not real big and my sewing room is small so it is just much easier to work in smaller sections.