system of numbering quilt blocks
 

Awhile back someone posted a link to a webpage where there was a page you could print out so you could number your quilt blocks for assembly.

I think it was A1, A2,.. or 1A, 1B...
Then it went to second row...

Hopefully someone bookmarked it... I have tried search area but can't locate it and need to get the blocks off the guest bed.

Thanks.

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Was that for a Dear Jane quilt? There was a grid shown that you could insert your pictures into in the correct layout. each picture would enlarge when you clicked on it. It was offered as a "download" but many of us found that the site did not work. I have made one with Microsoft Excel that works, but I don't know how to make the pictures enlarge!
Great for figuring out what fabric to use for the next block, too!

A piece of paper, a ruler and a pencil work just fine to make your own.

Or type them into an excel spreadsheet & print.

Ok here is my take on this problem.
1. I use index cards as row markers with pressing direction arrows on them. I cut them from the index cards and pick up each row starting from the marked block. I do this for each row. I use a black sharpie marker. I am looking into printing mine on the computer.
2. You can take a photo of the whole quilt or the 4 parts (ie each corner to the middle). Use the photos for placement.
3. Use the index cards on every block 1a is top left block first row. 1b is first row second block etc...
I am sure there are many more ways to keep the rows organized. These are mine! Good Luck! Luann in Rainy CT

I use 12x12 pieces of scrapbook cardstock paper as dividers. Starting at the end of each row I stack each row on a piece of paper in order. I put a pin in the upper right hand corner of the top piece so i know which side to sew together in case the pages get turned around. I just put a piece of cardstock between each row and just stack them up as I go. Works like a charm!

Thanks for all the responses. Like all of you, I don't like reinventing the wheel. But I did make labels for columns instead of rows and will stick them on half size index cards so I can reuse. I will add the directional arrows for pressing- thanks, Luann for that tip. At least I can get those blocks off the guest bed in order. Thanks again.

I use Excel or Word for the same purpose. I pin the label into the upper left corner of each block to be sure I get the correct orientation when I sew. Of course I still goof up sometimes, but this system really helps.

Is this is?

http://acuppaandacatchup.com/2010/07...little-labels/

I use small stick on circles from office supply store. 1/1 = Row 1 Block 1. They don't seem to leave behind sticky residue. I use a sharpie to write on them. Easy to use and disposable. I'm going to check out the excel spreadsheet and picture idea if I have a longer term project though.

I just take one row at a time off my design wall, press and square up blocks and then look again at my picture of the completed quilt to be sure I'm putting the pairs of blocks together in the right orientation of each block. And once I've stitched a row together I put the completed row back up on the design wall before taking down the next row.

Works for me...

I used some small plastic squares and write row 1 block 1 etc and pin them on. Use them over and over since most quilts have rows and blocks. Bought them at a lqs - really have used them a lot.

I use tiny bits of blue painters tape no residue!

Ive also heard of ppl taking a picture witth digital. Camera.

I was the person who posted that. Of course I can't remember where I found them but I saved the file on my 'puter so if you'd like them (they work like a charm!), just PM me & I'll shoot'em your way!

The heavy duty roll of masking tape is good for labels and for holding the backing in place when pining for quilting.
It is heavier than regular masking tape but still tears easy.

I've been doing it this way for years. If I have a graph paper sketch of my block layout I number it too just for reference, but usually I just number the first row A1, A2, A3, etc. and the next row starts B1 and so forth. I use garage sale stickers that are a couple of dollars for 500 or so at WalMart. I also have a set of binder clips that are numbered 1-100 from some project years ago that I use occasionally too.....

Good suggestions!! Now if I can only remember them all...

Yes these are the ones. Thanks for posting. I used to live in Apple Valley years ago. Loved it.

I found this site. It has the rows and blocks printed out and suggests you laminate them or put them on cardstock and punch a hole in the corner. I'm going to try it.

http://acuppaandacatchup.com/2010/07...little-labels/

Yes! That's the site I suggested! These little labels are so neat! I bought sheets of laminating at Walmart or Office Depot of some place & laminated them on both sides. They work like a charm!

I also use the little round stickers you find at office supply stores, along with a photo on my digital camera. I just started taking some classes from Craftsy and they are great! There is one, Magical Jelly Roll Quilts by Kimberly Einmo, where she demonstrates how to use a chain-piecing technique that encompasses the whole quilt! I always chain piece, but have never seen it done for all rows and columns. The quilt top ends up looking like its all held together by a spider web. Look for it in Lesson 3 of the series where she is teaching the Jacob's Ladder quilt. This avoids all need to label the rows and columns.

Here is an idea that may help with those little laminated tags...instead of punching one hole and having to use a safety pin, punch two holes (use a smaller-hole craft punch if you happen to have one) and insert a straight pin down in one hole, up in the next. That way you don't have to fiddle around with opening and closing those safety pins.

When I was taking quilting lessons, I used my Excel spreadsheet even to write in colors and blocks.

That's what I do.

Thank you Karen, what a big help this will be.

That's basically how I label my blocks, except I use post-it notes (the tiny ones). If they stay up too long, I have to put pins in them. I will definitely make a set of these.

This is the way I do it also. Have also used masking tape with the numbers written on it and you don't have so many pins to contend with.

I do the same thing with Post-It notes and if they don't stick very well I pin 'em on.

system for laying out blocks
 

After I lay out my blocks for a quilt, I take a pictue. It serves 2 purposes: one to preserve the order I had them in and 2 to put in my scrap book. This is before I even put the blocks together. I have done this on a design wall and on my queen size bed.

This My way: When I retired I had Lots of Bandage/wound care supplies from my work. I decovered That the Paper Tape Will stick to the Fabric, Won't come off,Won't leave a sticky mess,and I have even Wash it One time and IT was Still there! and Still No problem!! ALL I do IS Wright the INFO on the TAPE with Sharpe BEFORE You PUT It on the Fabric and Your Good to go!! Label your blocks say: this block A-1 and stack that row all up atogether, next row; B-2 stack all them up and so on.....

Thanks for the link!!

I don't know about the site you are looking for, but I use the colored dots like you would use for price dots at a garage sale, and pin them onto each block, I just purchase a pkg. and there are different colors in the pkg. and one pkg will work for several quilts.. I mark them as R1B1, for row 1 block 1, R2B1 and continue in that order, either going vertically or horizontally. This really works well for me and I use this on all of my quilts. it doesn't take as much time as using a grid. But when I do a Log Cabin, I use a grid and pin a swatch of the fabric for each strip in the block of the grid, then I can keep my colors in the right order I also take a picture of my layout and keep it on my digital camera or computer, and can erase it later. If I need to take it with me to the guild and don't want to take a camera, I just print out a pic. of what I plan to use.Taking a pic. is an excellent way for me to decide if I like the layout or color scheme or not. It is really surprising what you can see through the camera lens that you can't see with the eye. This is my method, it may not work for everyone, but it is cheap and quick.

I use numbers for the rows, then a hyphen and a second number to indicate the position within the row.

That's how I do mine... it's waaaaaaaaaaaaay easier that way.

That's such a good idea! I wish I were that organized & had my stuff together so well! It would sure save me time in the long run.