Quilt as you go?
 

For those that do the quilt as you go method, what things do I need to know before tackling the project? I am going to do a 4 section block (carpenter star pattern) that will end up as a large star block when put together. I was going to try to fmq each section before putting it together. Does the batting and back fabric need to be a different size than the front piece? Do I do the quilting then flip it over and attach the sections together then hand stitch the batting and then turn the back piece and slip stitch it? I have looked on youtube and haven't really seen what I am looking for. Dear me, I hope I have explained my latest problem.

watch Leah Day. She has a thing on u tube on how to attach largish squares. it's what I do. I have disabilities and can't handle a large quilt at one go.

This is method I use. No hand sewing.
http://www.thequiltingedge.com/2011/...ng-blocks.html

you (can) have your batting/backing a little bit larger than the top (if you plan to do extensive quilting on the block-then trim them to the same size after quilting- but i think usually for qayg it's not as necessary- unless it's really large- or you are doing very dense quilting.
you are kind of (over-complicating) the process...often quilted blocks are then put together with sashing strips- but there are numerous ways to go about it- the Leah Day method is a good place for tips/hints, also- 'the Cotton Theory' technique- Elenor Burns has a (6-Hour Quilt) that teaches another method- that's fun & easy- none of them involve any hand sewing or as many steps as you are (envisioning)

Hello Schoolteacher, I use a sash less quilt as you go method for most of my quilts. - even did a Double Wedding Ring and quilted as I went and joined each row to the next. I looked for a video that was close to the way I do mine, and this is the most similar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_qyb7XxY4k However, I don't use the original stitching line she used.

I usually cut my batting and backing an inch bigger all around and trim it back when joining. After quilting each block, I join the fronts together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance and press. From the back of the blocks, smooth down the batting and it will overlap. Carefully take your scissors and slip them between the front fabric and the batting and cut through the overlapped batting. It doesn't matter if you cut straight or crooked - the cutting of them overlapped makes them join perfectly! I whip stitch my batting together instead of using a special tape. You can do the back seam like it is done in the video, or slip stitch it by hand. For me, that depends on how I want the front to look.

I have given up fighting to do quilts under my sewing machine. This way I find that I have less UFO's as when they are done - they are done!
Hope this helps.

Thank you for this video - I found it once and haven't been able to find it again. My next quilt will be a quilt as you go, but I'll hand stitch the back as opposed to stitch in the ditch.