Assembly Line Quilts...Am I Crazy?
 

Sometimes, I think that I'm just a glutton for punishment. I'm considering making 4 or 5 quilts as Christmas gifts this year for my family members. I know...I only have about 7 weeks to pull this feat off. Any tips?

Note: I do quilt as you go, so if you do a full quilt top you would do #5 between #2 and #3.

I'm making 2 quilts right now for family members and they are the same pattern, just different color/fabric design. It goes fast because I'm not having to rethink everything for the second quilt - because of doing one right after the other on each step.

I did it like this:

I complete each step for both - first for one quilt and then repeat for the 2nd quilt - before moving to the next step

1. Cut all the fabric/backing/batting/ for both - including sashing/binding (keep in separate containers/piles - with pieces labled)

2. Assembled cut pieces into blocks

3. Sandwiched blocks/borders for both quilts - (note I do quilt as you go - so each block gets sandwiched as well as borders)

4. Quilted each block/border

5. Assembled blocks/borders into rows (across and down)

6. Sewed binding on
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I will be making an additional 4 quilts of a different pattern than the one above, all four will be the same pattern, different colors/fabric design. I'll do the same with these 4 as I did with the first two above.
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If I was making different patterns for each quilt - I would probably just do one quilt at a time to keep from getting confused on the patterns.

Gosh, I'd give it a try like Ru described...however, I find I some times get confused about which stack to go to next if the same fabric is used for all.

My advice? Make them small.

Three Yard Quilts by Fabric Cafe. Watch their youtube channel to see all the patterns. Some are easy enough to make with no rush in a few days, and look great. Fabric choice is the key. Also I can make a large size rag quilt in a day completely finished using my Accuquilt.

Are you planning to do the quilting yourself or send it out? If the latter, check on the longarmer's schedule.

Doing it yourself would be made much more efficient (you could multitask) if you have a longarm with robotics.

I second Onebyone and mck. It's probably too late to get them to the long arm quilter and back by Christmas. Most Three Yard Quilts are fast and easy. I suggest you choose one of her patterns with larger pieces. Use a batting with scrim, like warm and natural. That way, the quilting can be as far as 10" apart and won't take forever. As Tartan suggested, I would do them in different colorways to reduce confusion.
I made Roman Holiday from the Quick as a Wink booklet. It was fast and easy. I would suggest you buy a little more of the fabric you will use for binding, as her bindings are just a single fold binding and I prefer the double fold.
It can be done, but I hope you're retired, as it will take lots of time to do.
bkay

I'm quilting them myself on my domestic.

Thanks everyone...I haven't heard of 3 yard quilts. I'll look them up. My kids tend to like more modern designs, so that could be a blessing. Some of those only use 2 fabrics and are fairly easy to put together. Time to go through my stash!

Thanks for that step-by-step Ru. I'll print that out for reference.

Oh my, that's a tall order for yourself tropit. If there's a will there's a way. Concentrate on how many days you need for each quilt and then decide. I would definitely keep them simple. D9P, jelly roll race, pinwheels. something simple and fast.

You're welcome! :)

This is a striking quilt (done in high contrast solids) that should go pretty fast. Only 2 colors. It's also very modern.
https://awonderfulthought.com/hounds...quilt-pattern/

Three Yard Quits have a modern version of several patterns. . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_vRYvZ5VQY

I do like cutting for multiple quilts at a time. They would be different patterns but maybe use the same size blocks.

Keep us informed. I'm curious about what you choose, how it goes and would love to see photos when you're done.
bkay

A sweet idea, but I'd back off that project! How about giving yourself more time and the recipients more involvment by gifting them a package that says "A new quilt for you in 2023!" and invites them to come up with a colour they want their quilt built around, and a choice of (simple) patterns to choose from? That would be a really fun present, and you could shoot for having the quilts done by a certain date (maybe their birthdays, if those dates work). You could put in fabric swatches to choose from, a questionnaire on what they want in terms of use and character, pattern worksheets etc.

Thanks...I like the houndstooth pattern. I've always loved houndstooth fabrics.

I'm looking at https://www.modernquiltstudio.com/ and they have some interesting quilt patterns that don't look to complicated. I need to do 2 mens' quilts and 2 women's quilts. I have a lot of florals and calicos for the girls' designs, but I'll have to hunt down some solids for the guys'.

I'm considering this pattern: https://www.modernquiltstudio.com/pr...drops-pattern/

I also found this site: https://ilovequiltingforever.com/modern-quilt-patterns/

I like the bird watching quilt. It's simple, but it has a cabiny feel to it.

Tropit, those links have some great, quick quilts. Love that plus quilt in the modern quilt pattern link.

And the leaves pattern on the modern quilt site is lovely too.

I gave my daughter her baby quilt at her baby shower as unfinished blocks. She didn't care. She loved it. I don't think people mind IOU's when it comes to quilts. BTW, the baby quilt was hand appliqued and hand quilted. The baby was almost a year old before she got it, but she considers it an heirloom.

Tropit, how are you doing on getting your Christmas quilts made?