I have experience in putting the blocks together for a local church anniversary quilt. I do not attend this church, btw. I friend knew that I quilted and she asked me to put the already made blocks together and finish the quilt. Well....since this particular friend is a very sharing, loving and very active volunteer in the community as well as her in her church, i agreed. Interestingly, when the church asked for a volunteer to do this, NO ONE STEPPED UP!!! Thus, this non-member put it together. It was going to be a wallhanging of about 12 blocks. No problem, happy to help.
TIP: set a BUDGET!! who is PAYING for the materials, the batting, the quilting?? You really are the project manager. This is important!
TIP: I hope that you are at the beginning stages of this project. Decide on the size of the finished block. STRESS the importance of allowing for the seam allowance on each side of the block. In fact, ALLOW 1 inch for the "seam allowance. Want the finished blocks to be 9" square? INSTRUCT the block makers to make the unfinished block 10" and leave the outer 1" clear of any design element. You will then have plenty of space to square up the block to the size you need to set the blocks. No big deal. Easier to cut off excess vs. adding borders to get to the desired finished size.
It was an aggravation for me to have to sqaure up blocks that were multiple sizes thanks to inconsistent seams, "designs" and embellishments that went to edge of the block, photographs that extended beyond the assigned size, etc. I understood that inexperienced block makers would not know what was required to set the blocks but whover headed this project up should have done some research on piecing. On Many of the blocks, once I squared up the blocks, I had to ADD outer strips to make the blocks the correct size in order to set them.
Write out explicit parameters for the size of the block. Dont micromanage what the block should entail. (embroidery? Photograph? Signature block? Pieced ? ). I enjoyed seeing how each of the blocks were unique and made with love and creativitiy of the maker.
By the time I was to start on putting the quilt top tegether, i had to add borders to most of the blocks before I could square them up.. THEN, i sashed and put cornerstones in the sashing. I had about 20 Hours into this "simple" request!! interestingly, this wallhanging exploded into a kingsize quilt !!! I guess once they found out that someone was going put this wallhanging together, they got busy. (i admit to feeling used by this time.). They were shocked at the cost for sashing fabric! Yes, i was reimbursed but.....they were not expecting the expense of fabric and long arm services.
interestingly, as I was assembling the blocks in the layout, there was one PRISTINE AND PERFECTLY PIECED block!! Amazingly, there WAS a quilter in the congregation and they did not bother to volunteer finish the quilt for their church. This outsider did! Sheesh!
On a side note, i lieu of paying me for finishing up this quilt, all I asked was that the offering plate would be passed for donations to a particular charity that my friend was very active and passionate about. It was a disappointing donation.
the finished project was charming and I enjoyed seeing each block, etc. They were happy too. But never again will I "volunteer" to help with a project esp one that I do not have a personal affiliation with. AND i will charge for my time!
Good luck annd have fun! But PLAN Ahead!!
Sandy
Last edited by Sandygirl; 11-10-2014 at 04:13 AM.