Keeping blocks in order off of design wall
 

Argh! For the life of me every time I try to take my blocks off to stitch them, I cannot keep them in the right order! Please share your secrets to keeping them in order off the design wall!

I use sticky notes and number the blocks. Then I put the note at the top of the block so I know which is the top.

I take tiny scraps about 1" width and cut into squares and use a permanent marker to number the blocks. Great way to use up those tiny scraps. I am working on this quilt right now

I pin them together as I take them off the wall and put them back on the wall when I am finished sewing that seam.

In the kids craft section at Michaels I found plastic numbers and letters that can be strung for a necklace or bracelet. I use the letters for the rows and numbers for the blocks and string the letters/numbers on safety pins and pin to each block.

that's the way i do also. i do scrap quilts w bazillions of pieces in each block. lay the patches for the block on a piece of felt so i can remember the order i want them in. stitch the block and put on design wall in wanted position as i finish them. then i usually move them around a bit til i'm happy w the color mix and pin each block side to side and stitch row, replace on wall and do next row of blocks. i have no problems. did a scrap quilt couple years ago w gifted fabric and scraps. 2" cut, too small to wash, so pieced the blocks, took pick of design wall w desired layout using my ipad. rinsed the blocks w colorcatchers & got storage smells and bleeders cared for, then i reassembled the blocks back on design wallusing ipad pic for placement reference. this idea also works for replacing blocks in appropriate positions when happy doggy tails dislodge some before i start sewing all together.

Right now I use pieces of scrap paper and pins. I am going to be looking for those numbers and letters at Michaels!!

Some company makes straight pins with numbered heads. I can't remember who makes them but they come in a clear flat round container. They were a little pricey but if you could find them with a coupon might be fine.

I have plastic markers that my sister gave me. They say what row and block they are, and get pinned to each block. Then I write on a paper what direction I am counting in so that I do not get confused.

This is a huge problem for me too. It is why my quilting goes so slowly. Take two blocks and sew them. Put them back on the quilt in progress to make sure they are right. Take two more blocks, etc. No chain piecing for me - I always end up turning them the wrong way. I have a scrappy carpenter star. I laid it all out. Took a picture. And, when I thought it was together, well, it wasn't. Had to take most of it apart. I confuse myself with pins, etc. I guess I am a work in progress!

Yep, use the camera on your phone or other mobile device. In fact, I use the camera on my phone to help me to decide on potential layouts. Another hint: Using your mobile device, take a picture of fabrics you plan to use in a block. If your device has the option to view the photo through fliters (I have a Nokia 1020 phone; camera has multiple filter options), use the black and white one...and voila! you will immediately see how the values of the fabrics "play" together. It's an alternative "geeky" method to the one whereby you lay the fabrics on a copier and make a black and white copy. Same result.

I'm of two camps here. I use post it notes with arrows for up and numbers where necessary. I also, though, sew the blocks together for a complete row before stopping my sewing session whenever possible. I don't have a design wall but do the same on my cutting table laying out everything as I have room for. Minimally I will have a complete block or row laid out. Next stage before stopping a session is to pin; next sew; etc. It's the only way I have a prayer's chance of having things in the correct order.

I use a spiral notebook to keep my blocks in order. I sort of use the pages as file folders. I number the blocks (or fabric) using stick on garage sale labels and then store them in the spiral notebook. I don't have blocks stored that way right now, but I have the strips cut out for my next Bargello stored that way....in case pictures help anyone....and in case this method might work for anyone else...

This way, if I need to, I can pick up a "whole quilt" and move it. This spiral notebook contains all my strips for a Bargello for a twin sized bed.

Dina

I lay out my blocks in rows on the floor. I put one pin in the top of the first block, two pins in the first block of the next row and so on. I stack one row of blocks with the pinned block on top. I then know that this is the top. I still make some errors but I find this method helps me to know what goes where.

I take a photo of the design wall on my tablet or phone and use it as a guide. I can also move the entire design wall and hang it on my window infront of my machine by using skirt hangers.

I have several WIPs cut and love the flannel backed tablecloths because of the grids. I like that I can fold the layout up and move it. One thing also. I can roll one row down or up as I go along. If I have to stop, I just roll/fold it up and put it away. I always keep the hangers attached. They fold up nicely in a project box.

I took some felt and markers for the alphabet and numbers. Seems to be working so far for me.

Ditto ksdot417, keeps me sane.

I saw these and thought they were very expensive so I made my own using a Sharpie marker on flathead flower pins. I have used them three separate times and they are holding up so far, but I used really cheap pins to see if it would work!

I have to say boston1954 I love your quilt.! I mark my rows from the design wall with scrap paper with #'s and I pin them to left top of first block. I pin my block sides together as i sew them and put the row back up on wall. So far so good. The beads sound great to use and the numbered pins.

so far I've done all these things. Guess I'm on the right track. I've wondered if there is a better way, hoping to see something different that will work for me LOL I've wondered if I'm dyslexic. Is there AD (adult dyslexia?)
Toni

These are all wonderful suggestions! Some great ideas here that I will try. Thank you all for sharing!

I also mark mine rows are numbers and columns are lettered

But I use a small piece of masking tape with the corresponding number or letter it only takes a few minutes to mark it and rip off. works good for me.

I take a photo on my phone or I pad, I stitch in rows as I finish a row, I use sticky address labels for the printer, write numbers on and cut into small pieces and stick the row number on the first block. I'm doing a drunkards path just now and this has kept me on the straight and narrow lol.

I do the same thing. Keeps every thing in order and your sanity at the same time:)

I don't have a design wall. I mark my blocks and rows with crayola washable markers. They always wash out. I have tried all the other ways of marking and find the markers works best for me.

No matter how much "running" I have to do between design wall and machine, I only work with 2 or 3 blocks at a time. I put right sides together actually on the design board and they are put in a pile so that the seam side is on the right like I am going to put it under the machine. Then back to the design board like several have said. I am so anal that if I'm working with top middle bottom stuff, I put the top part on top with middle row underneath and bottom row on the bottom of my pile to get ready to sew. I know-- I'm bad--my friends call my friend anal and I'm super-anal!! LOL I think they're right!

I, too, pin mine together before going to machine...only row numbers.

Some people take pictures of the blocks before taking it down.

The numbering system of 1a, 1b, - or a1, a2, a3 - works for me.

I use sticky notes or even cut pieces of paper...I put like 1-A, 1-B, 1-C, 2-A, 2-B, 2-C etc, and I always pin it to the upper left hand corner of the block...not to the edge, but down in to leave plenty of room for the seams and for pressing. I am not sure how it would be to iron the sticky notes with the glue on them, so I always fold it down and stick it to itself and just pin them to the blocks. I do try to keep my blocks straight, but it is not big deal if they get out of order because I can tell which row, what position in the row and how the block should be oriented if that matters.

I use pins with letters glued to them. Went looking for the flower pins but refuse to pay the price I found them at so made my own using baby bracelet beads and straight pins with the yellow balls on the ends. I stuck them upsidedown on my ironing board with a letter threaded thru them and added a drop of non washable Elmer's Glue. Let them dry and you're good to go. While making a bargello quilt they came in handy keeping the rows in order. I made 8 sets of these pins and have given a few out as I doubt I'll ever need 8 sets. Got the beads and extra pins at WalMart for about an 8th the price they wanted for the flower pins.

That is the way I do it too but I use one small Wonder Clip instead of pins. I do not like pins.

Take a picture! Print it out and there you have it!

I use this method with my quilting students and they are beginners and have no problems with it.

I put a photo on my iPad and use it beside my machine

I use scraps of muslin fabric that I pink the edges. I used a permanent marker to write row numbers and block letters. I pin them in the upper left corner of each block so that I know which is top of block. When I no longer need them-after the quilt is assembled I put them back in order and store them in a plastic container until needed again. I have found that keeping everything in order-from the cutting process until the top is put together is important to me. So I use lots of labels and lots of pins to hold them in place. As I cut I make labels that coordinate with the cutting instructions and then change the labels on sections of blocks, then the blocks, etc.

The plastic tabs from bread/potato bags can be numbered with a Sharpie and pinned though the opening to your blocks. If you have a fairly wide and long piece of batting you can lay your blocks out in order and roll it up and take it to the sewing machine. You can lay out a whole quilt top on a flannel sheet and roll it up and work on one row at a time too. I once made a "book" with twos pillow block (about 18 inches square) for the "cover" and "back". Inside I laid out some pieces of slick fabric and pieces of fluffy batting alternately. The pieces of the block stick to the batting and you can lift the slick fabric without disturbing them and sew one block at a time from each "page". It is also convenient if you need to take them with you to work on them .(The pages are sewn inside the cover and back by simply sewing the side you want to be the back through all layers close to the fold.

I use the camera for deciding what fabrics I like together the best, the layout. When I get what I want I print out that picture and have a guide to make sure I have them in the right order.

Smart idea! Thanks for sharing it!