Originally Posted by honeybee_2000
I want to hand quilt the blocks and then add them together for the quilt.
Okay then. That's a start.
I've actually done many like this, including group quilts. There are many tutorials around.
One of my first quilts was QAYG - from the "Awash with Color" book by Judy Turner. Fabulous book, and I've adapted that method to different applications.
"Reversible Quilts" by Sharon Pederson is another good book. Her method is similar, but I preferred Judy's. My friend liked Sharon's.
But the general idea is the same.
Hand or machine quilting is irrelevant. Actually, there is a current thread on WholeCloth quilting and I was thinking that would be the way to go (for me) if I decided to make one. Smaller blocks hand quilted, and then joined QAYG.
There are many tutorials out there. Here are some that I liked.
You should take the time to read/view them, compare them, and then come back with any questions you might have about the process. And do your own Google search for even more information.
http://www.treadleon.net/quiltshop/j.../joining.html/
LOL! I was looking for a video for you that I had seen a few months ago. And I came across this - and there's Mary from my old guild. Small world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRiPjOv50lM
This video is about embroidery blocks (irrelevant), but if you skip ahead to the 3:50 mark, you'll see how she puts them together.
The method she's using is similar to Sharon's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWKVNQTG-74
Now, I personally use much smaller sashings (1/2" showing), but that's your choice.
Also, Kimberly posted a really well-written and detailed tutorial with a ton of pictures.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-115627-1.htm
All of these should give you some idea of where/how to start.
If you're still unsure, you can start your blocks, make the top piece, batting and backing oversized, so you'll have options as to how far you want to trim them down.
It's a great technique to know.
The other day, wildyard posted a pic of a quilt in which she had made a major boo-boo (her words ;-) ). She fixed it with a QAYG solution. If she hadn't mentioned it, you would never have known.
I'll try to post pictures later.