Quilt as you go is a blanket term for lots of different methods. Don't give up until you try other techniques. Sounds like you are joining the quilted blocks directly to each other, which is my least favorite. There are several other methods where the bulk is reduced. some use sashing, others don't. Here are 2 that have recently been posted in our tutorial forum:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...l-t283918.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...l-t285474.html
There is a great book on this topic, Marti Michell's "Machine Quilting in Sections", that covers several methods:
https://www.amazon.com/Marti-Michell...lt+in+sections