Sorry if this has been answered before. I have checked the forum and printed off alot of material to read and I think I do understand how to quilt as you go with the sashing and I have watched the fun and done method and I understand that. But here is the stupid question can you use any quilt block you want to, or do you have to use specific ones? I need to learn this method until my brother remodels my one car garage into a craft room for me, cause I am getting very frustrated finding a large enough area to put my quilt sandwich together at.

No special patterns - Georgia Bonesteel probably wrote twenty books on the subject, originally called lap quilting.

Okay, for those of us less advanced, what is "quilt as you go" and what is "fun and done?"

Any block with do. And, you do not have to use sashing. Here is a pic of a pinwheel that I did with no sashing just to give you an idea.

[IMG]http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...9/100_0496.jpg[/IMG]

Lynette

Is this done more like the fun and done or does it have a larger backing to sew the pieces together? I will have to read more on the larger backing. I think I understand but not sure yet. Beautiful quilt by the way.

Lynette, that is beautiful.

I have not done a quilt as you go, but would like to learn. I'll check out some of those books that were mentioned.

the new Quilters Newletters Magazine has an article that detaisl 3 different methods of quilt as you go based on the design. if you can get your hands on a copy its a good one to have handy.

i picked it up at barnes and noble

I would not do anything with points that could be lost.
Ive done one Fun and Done quilt and liked being able to use up batting scraps. Thanks for the link on no sashing.

I have never quilted anyway but a block at a time. I've never had a problem with corners and have used many different patterns, both setting with sashings and alternating plain with pieced blocks. I have also done this with blocks set on the diagonal, using sashings and corner blocks.

If you will PM me, I will give you a detailed description of how I do it. Not the only way, and probably not the best way, but it works for me. I'm working now on a king-sized quilt for my daughter. She bought all the materials, and she is quilting some of the blocks - after I showed her how o do it.

Sure. I just want to be sure that everybody knows I didn't get this from a publication. I figured it out for myself years ago and it works for me. I just came across a block I've been working on. Let me gather my thoughts and I'll try to put it into writing in the proper order.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Sorry posted twice :oops:

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Do you have a quilt store nearby? Sometimes you can use their tables to prep a sandwich.

I only do one block at a time, so I use the kitchen table or a card table. Depending on block size, I can also use one of those TV dinner folding tables.

I got the Quilters Newsletter today at Barnes and Noble and printed off the instruction from quilters cache and I am looking forward to reading and studying Miss Ann's way of doing quilt as you go.

Thank everyone for all their suggestions and help, I do believe I will be able to this method with some confidence.

I apologize for the delay in getting my method posted. I started to post it here, got stuck and decided I better actually sit with a quilt block and write it down. Tried it using Word, but during our tropical rainstorm the power went out and I lost the document so had to start all over. We've had multiple problems (Louisville Kentucky) because of the massive amounts of rain. Today, I'm trying to post an apology because my phone line comes and goes.

I'm writing it out in hand and as soon as I'm sure I have it clear, and I have a reliable phone line (the phone company has been up and down the street several times today, so I'm not the only one), hopefully tomorrow, I will get it posted.

Again, I apologize for the delay.

Incidentally, while looking for an ol LP of Johnny Rivers music, I came across a wonderful folder of Mary McElwain patterns from the 30's. I refuse to explain my housekeeping methods to anyone. Actually I live alone and have no real interest in housekeeping. These patterns have given me fresh incentive. AND came across some Quiltmakers from 15 years ago. But I promise to work on the quilt by block instructions first.

Okay, here goes. I'm starting with a pattern using sashings.
Take the first block. Add sashing strip to left side of block. Sew corner block to second sashing strip and sew these to top of block and side sashing. This will be the top left block of your quilt.

Cut batting 1/2 inch larger than block with sashings. Cut backing 2 inches larger. Place backing, wrong side up, on table. Place batting on top of backing, lining up top and left edges. Place block with sashings on top, lining up top and left edges. Pin or baste well along top and side edges to hold all three layers in place. Then base remainder of block. I base from top to bottom. I have occasionally used the sprayon basting but don't really like it. That's just me. No problems with it.

On this first block in the top row of your quilt, quilt as follows:
Starting with corner block, quilt from top to within 2 inches of bottom of block, 1/4 inch from sean along corner block and left side sashing. Then quilt along the other side of that seam, from top of block to within 2 inches of bottom.

Next quilt from left edge of block, in corner block, and quilt 1/4 inch from seam between top sashing and main block, to within 2 inches of right edge. Then quilt along the other side of that seam, starting at left edge and stopping 2 inches from right edge.

Then quilt all of the rest of the block as you desire. I generally just do quilting inside and outside each patch, both in pieced designs and in applique.

NOTE; If you're using a stencil for a specific quilting design on any patch, you need to use water soluble pen to trace it onto the block before beginning the quilting process. And if you're using alternating plain blocks, trace your quilting design on first. Your plain blocks can be quilted the same way. Add sashings at the left edge, corner block and sashing at the top and then just quilt the top sashing on both sides of the seam from 2 inches on the left edge to 2 inches on the right edge, and the side sashing from the top edge of the sashing to within 2 inches of the bottom edge. Do not quilt in the corner block yet. Then quilt the central marked design and leave the edges until the block is joined on both sides to other blocks.

Okay, so now you have your first block, quilted to within 2 inches of right and bottom edges. To join, let's use that plain block. Place the right sides together, right edge of first block to left edge of second block. Once those are sewin together, spread out the two blocks, right side down.
Trim batting so there is no overlapping. You should have an overlap of backing of about two inches on each side. This will probably be a little less because the batting and block will have spread out as you quilt.
Trim down to 1/2 inch on one of the sides. It all depends on how you are more comfortable quilting. I trim off the right side (as it faces me) and then I lay the left side over that and determine how much I can trim off there. I need about 3/4 inches to turn under and pin in place. I then blind stitch the left side over the right side. Then I turn the two blocks over, pin everything in place and quilt those edges beween the blocks that have not been quilted yet. I do not quilt on the right edges of the plain (or pieced) block.

The telephone company is outside working, so I may lose my phone connection any time. It's been going on for nearly a week. Dial tone comes and goes.

I will continue this later with details on the blocks in the inside of the quilt,
I will also show how I've gone to quilting a whole row at a time, which cuts out a lot of the work involved because it cuts out the back seams between blocks.

Thank you Miss Ann, I've never really understood what this was either! I'm printing off your directions!
:-)

I intend to cover quilting with pieced or applique blocks, with no sashings, tomorrow.

And how I quilt an entire row at a time.

This is a great post. Very informative, I think I may try thisl, and Miss Ann, your housekeeping sounds just like mine! Somedays it's just like a treasure hunt!

Thank you Miss Ann! I live alone as well and I am always discovering new treasures! I love it! However I fear having company! :? They just don't get it! My critters and I like it just like it is!

BTQ, thanks for posting your method. I printed it out and will study it later and see how I can incorporate it with all the stuff that is in my head. I have played around with machine quilting and do mostly hand quilting. I have most of Goergia Bonesteel's lap quilting books and tapes and couldn't sort out what is hers and what is mine when I quilt! :? I do feel like a sponge!

Okay, I'm back. Power outage 6 hours yesterday. After I got electricity back, just about dark, it was too hot to sit at the computer.

After I signed out, I realized I didn't tell you what to do with the last block on the row. On this block, you attach sashings to the left and right sides of the block. Then attach the top sashing with a corner block at each end. Attach that to the block. This lining and batting piece will, of course, be larger. Cut both larger, as described earlier, even though it's the last block. When I quilt, everything seems to move to the right. This may not be necessary for other quilters, you will have to experiment with this to find out what works for you.

On this block, quilt within two inches of the left edge of the sashing, and, as described, start at the top edge on the inside seam of the sashing and block. On the left side, start the left side as described previously. But on this block, you can quilt all the way to the right edge. Just keep everything at least two inches from the bottom edge.

Once you have two rows of quilted blocks, turn the right sides together and stitch the second row sashing to the top bottom row of the blocks.
Turn right side down. Trim any batting if necessary, so there is no overlap. Then trim one edge of the lining as you did on the blocks. Turn over side of lining over and blindstitch. I use a lot of pins, some basting and a lot of smoothing to make sure I don't have any puckers or bubbles.

Now, when you're quilting blocks without sashings:

Line up the lining, batting and block as described in the beginning. The left edges and top edges should line up. You will have extra batting and lining on the right and bottom edges.

Quilt the inside of the block with outline quilting or a transferred design. quilt the top left block with quilting from the top and left edges. Leave two inches from each of the right and bottom edges. All top row blocks are done basically as described for the blocks with sashings. But on the following rows, the only blocks where you will quilt to the edges are the left and right end blocks. On the blocks in the middle of the following rows, just do not quilt closer than two inches from any edge. Once you set two blocks together, you finish the back side as described before, and then you finish the quilting on the part of the blocks left unquilted.

I have a feeling I'll think of something else after I log off.
And of course, anybody with specific questions, or something you need clarified, please PM me.

Also, please remember that it took me a while to get used to quilting like this. I actually practiced it first on potholders. I used to make potholders to sell at church bazaars and other places, and that's when I first tried this, and, of course, eventually got it down pat.

Thank you, Miss Ann!!! I've got it all saved to print off.
Also great idea of starting with potholders! :D