Has anyone ever tried the quilting in sections procedure for putting quilts together? I have a couple of books I purchased from Amazon.com on this procedure.

Instructor at Viking shop told me about the process and how much easier it is than the usual way of sewing completed blocks together to make quilt top. You complete one block at a time, and then cut the backing and batting and put together with completed block plus sashing and then quilt the block. You procede this way with all the blocks you are using and then sew all blocks together and, voila', your quilt is done except for the borders and binding.

Sounds pretty nifty to me...has anyone ever tried it yet? This has been around for years and is making a resurgence in popularity, at least around where I live. Local quilt shop is even giving classes in it.

I've heard of that but only for certain patterns that end up being reversable quilts.I was thinking of trying to do one in sections, maybe quarters. For machine quilting on a regular machine it would be so much easier to manage.
kathy

Howdy, Norma. Looks like we are almost neighbors. I've been meaning to hit the quilt shops out that way. Beautiful country. I'm over south of DC.

Hi Kathy,

Thinks for your note. Let me know how you do with trying the quilting in sections procedure. I have 4 lap quilt tops I am working on now for dtrs. They were originally supposed to be Xmas presents but guess they will be for birthdays instead in 2007!

After I finish quilting and binding these, I think I will try the section process and see how it goes.

Happy New Year and thanks for your input.

Fondly, Norma

Hello Penny,

If you ever make it over this way, let me know. Would love to meet you and maybe we could hit Wendy's or some other "luncheon" place! There is a really neat quilt shop called Patchwork Quilting in Dayton, VA, which is just south of Harrisonburg on Rt. 11. They have lots of great classes as well as nice fabrics. I usually go to Joann's in Winchester.

We spend the month of August in VT, so I'm really anxious to get over to Keepsake Quilting in Center Harbor, NH. Have you ever been there? I get there catalog and have flagged there website for sales, etc. They have more beautiful fabric than I have ever seen ANYWHERE! I just can't wait to walk through their doors...Nirvana to the quilter!!

There is also the Shenandoah Valley Quilters Guild that meets once a month on Saturdays at the Massanutten Resort on Rt. 33, east of Harrisonburg. I've thought about joining as they have a large group of excellent and talented quilters, as well as an annual quilt show.

Happy New Year. Fondly, Norma

P.S. Your dogs are absolutely beautiful. What breed are they? We have an 11 yr. old Glen of Imaal terrier named Lucky and a 2 yr. old Cocker spaniel named Luci. What would we do without our doggies?!

Norma

Norma, I will surely give you a call if I get over there. It would be fun to meet you. I've been to the Little Quilt Shop in Madison which is a bit further south from you. Never been to Keepsake Quilting but wouldn't it be fun to go? As for my girls, they are Samoyeds - Sapphire, Jezebel and Evelyn.

Penny,

Yes, it would be fun. Have a great New Year's and look forward to meeting you, too, sometime. My husband and I are retired, so don't have to worry about taking "time off" or anything!

Best regards, Norma

I was thinking about try it I was surfing and found this site with differnt methods to do it doesnt look to hard .
here is the site if you want to checkmit out.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_quilting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3298_1507325,00.html

I have done the quilting in sections, I started by reading and watching the (Cotton Theory Quilting) Then I tried her Theory, I really like it but got confused on her concept of intersections and roads. So with using her idea I went off on my own, and came up with my own solution. I like it alot better, because your right about it being easier to quilt on the machine, and easier to hand quilt as well, because I hand quilt as I go. As I've gotton more comfortable with her techinque, I've tried and thought of other things. So I for one found it to be great.

Ceanna,

Thanks for your input. I'll make note of the website. The more info the better!

Fondly, Norma

Becky,

Thanks for your input. The more positive input I get, the more I really want to try this, and everyone I have heard from has had good results. Wonder why I hadn't heard about this in any of the quilting classes I've taken? The article I read said that 20 yrs. ago when the idea was "invented", it came out a little "rough", so decided it wasn't quite the way they wanted to have a quilt look. Now there are several books out on it and sounds like the authors have really refined the method. If anyone is interested in the books, I'd be glad to let you know the names and authors.

Norma

Norma

Yes I would like the name of those books. And please give it a try. I've been making my quilts this way now for about a year, and I just find it so much easier for me, since I don't have a long-arm and I've never been one to make small quilts. And up until about a year or more ago, I did all my quilting by hand, And it took so long to finish a quilt. And I'm finishing alot faster now. I love the hand-quilting, and I believe it is an art, But now that I can combine both machine and hand quilting I enjoy it even more. Thanks for you time and your reply, I'm looking forward to those titles of those books. I agree they have refined it and you can see that they have put alot of effort into it, Thank Sweet Jesus there are alot of Quilters that like to share.

Hi! I think the technique you are trying to find is taught by a woman named Betty Cotton. She is a nationally known teacher and using her methods you can do quilts with different color schemes on the top and the bottom. She has a book out called "The Cotton Theory" and she also has a video or a cd with the instructions on how to make these quilts. You have to use a batting that is 20% polyester and 80% cotton. I believe the batting is made by the Warm and Natural company. Her techniques use a fold and finish technique and they are really beautiful. She also publishes patterns using her theory. I work for the Pfaff dealer in Salt Lake City and we had her teach for our store a year ago. She is coming again in the spring because we had such a great response to her classes.

I am familiar with the Cotton Theory, And I've seen her work and her technique, But their are few others out there that have a different technique, but the same theory. Why do you have to use a certain batting?

I have been following this thread. I only have one machine in a cabinet, the rest sit on top of a table,so I haven't machine quilted a large quilt. I for one am going to give it a try. thanks everyone for all the tips. :D

Hi Becky, I'm not sure why Betty Cotton uses the batting she uses. I think it has to do with the polyester. Unfortunately, when she came to teach I had to work the store and wasn't able to be in her class. Sorry I'm not more help.

Kim

Thanks for your reply, if at a later time you find out why your suppose to use a certain batting, Please let me know.

I am new to quilting -- so far I just tie my quilts because I tried machine quilting with a regular machine and it always bunches and then the rows are off and you can tell. I am interested in this new way of quilting in sections. Can you please recommend a good book to get that has step by step directions so I can make my quilts look better. I will take any suggestions you have.

Thanks
Diana

Try Cotton Theory Quilting, By Betty Cotton, Thats just one title, there are several others,

Diana

Also go to this site and look into it. (www.quiltuniversity.com) I think you mite find some things you may be interested in Just trying to help

No worries, right now I am like a sponge -- trying to soak up everything in site to make a better quilt. I will take any advise you are willing to give. I appreciate it. :)

Hi Becky,

The names of the books I got from Amazon.com are "Divide & Conquer! Quilt it your Way by Nancy Smith & Lynda Milligan, and Block by Block, New Techniques for Machine Quilting & Assembly by Beth Donaldson. There is also another one which looks very good called Quilting in Sections by Michele Marti and Reversible Quilts: 2 @ a Time by Sharon Pederson and she has a new one out called More Reversible Quilts.

Boy, there are so many good books out there on this procedure...I'd love to have them all! Will buy them one at a time or else I'll go broke!! I will also look up the book by Ms. Cotton and see what it is all about.

I'm thinking this is going to be a lot more fun than the usual way of making quilt tops and trying to fit that whole mess put together in that little bitty area in a regular sewing machine. Makes you want to save your pennies and buy a long-arm quilting machine but I'm not going to hold my breath for that one!!

Nice talking with you...Norma

Hi, again, Becky,

You were asking why certain kind of batting had to be used. The book I mentioned previously, Reversible Quilts by Sharon Pederson, has a section she wrote about preferred batting for these types of quilts. She prefers Hobbs Heirloom cotton and polyester which is 80% ctn., and 20% poly. She uses this kind for heavy or stiple quilting because it will stay put easier and is also has a little more bulk to it than just 100% ctn. For minimal quilting, 8-10" apart, she uses Hobbs Organic Cotton w/Scrim which is a fine layer attached to the cotton that helps it keep its shape better and has a little more bulk than just 100% ctn. She always presoaks and dries on low heat. She said she never uses 100% poly. batting because you have to baste it or it will shift in your machine while quilting and won't stay put with safety pins.

If you get on Amazon.com, you can bring up her book and it allows you to read sections of it that are really interesting and informative.

Bye, again, Norma

Norma

Thanks so much for your reply and info, I will check it out,Happy quilting.

Norma .
Was reading what you said about the books I think I'll check them out also.

Also saw what you said about the long arm machine. I got my Juki TL98QE a lot sooner than I though.
Every time I bought something at the store I would break a bill, at the end of the day I dumped all the change in a jar. You'd be suprised how fast it adds up.

I love my machine stll getting use to it but love it.

I think I will head for the local library, some of the books mentioned are available. We have a feature that allows you to check availably and have them ready when you get there.
I want to start a new project and thinking of a sunbonnet sue, any words of wisdom; machine stiching or hand?

Hi Ruthie,

Quilt in a Day's Eleanor Burns has a wonderful book (if you don't have it already!) on making a Sunbonnet Sue and Overalls Sam quilt. You can find it on the QIAD website. She also has lots of tools and notions, books, etc. for sale that are great and less than lots of stores I have visited.

Let me know how your quilt turns out. I have been thinking of trying one out, also. I'm taking a class in beginning applique in March, so maybe that's where I'll go to make my next quilt!

What a wonderful idea for saving for a long-arm. I'll have to find a pretty big jug!! What kind do you have?

Happy Quilting to you, too!

Norma

I used a big pickle jar . when it got half full I started rolling. Could't belive how much chage you have in a month. Remember you never spend the change always break a bill, Even if you only spending 25 cents.

Hi Norma,
Iam new here and read this article, I would be very interested in the title of these books and the authors names, I am diabled and this sounds like the quiting way for me.
Thank you for telling us about it.
Fondly, Gloria

PS... I found page two :D and see you've already posted what I needed and more..thank you I'm off to check them out..

hi, A wonam named Geirgia Bonesteel started doing 'quilting on the go" back in the late 70's. She did hand work and did a block at a time style. Cotten just took it one step further. I think they are OK for laps or utility but do not care for them as a craft or art quilt. To each his own, one of the things I like best about quilting is there ae no rules.lol.

Hi Ceanna,

Right you are, just happen to have one of those big jars from Costco!!

What kind of long-arm did you buy? I've looked at several on internet but would like to hear from you or anyone else as to their likes or dislikes of their long-arms.

I considered getting one of the racks that you can use your own machine with and saleslady at Viking told me unless your machine has a really big "throat", it's almost impossible to get the whole quilt inside it, unless it's a baby or lap quilt.

Talk to you later and thanks for any input.

Norma

Hi Gloria,

If I can help you with anything or suggestions, just let me know. We're all in this together!! I may not have all the answers...that's why this is such a great chat line, because somebody out there surely will!

Hang in there and keep on quilting!!

Norma

Hi Norma , I've been doing some quilting in sections for the past year and having great success with it. One pattern that works particularly well is "Trip Around the World" ,Its done in quarters and is just like doing a baby quilt.I find it much easier to handle the smaller pieces.

Hi Wilma,

Thanks for your suggestions and input. Will give it a try, for sure now.

Norma

I read your message about quilting as you go. I have just begun to start quilting. I am trying to learn how to do this type of quilting. I think I have it figured out. However,I may find I don't once I start!
My mother hand embroidered butterflies on 20 muslin squares. the squares are probably 9x9 inch. I want to make a quilt out of these squares. I want to make this a "quilt as you go quilt"..I also want to do it on the sewing machine..
As I said, quilting is new to me. Do you have any suggestions for making a quilt top by machine out of them. I would like to know the best and lighest weight batting to use. I will appreciate any information you can give me. ..Thanks, Addlee

Thanks for the link! My sister and I tried to do this using Betty Cotton's technique, but found it confusing. Maybe this will be an easier technique to try, at least for starters.

Hi Addlee,

Thanks for your messsage. Your squares should make a beautiful quilt. Just be sure you soak and rinse lightly your squares before quilting and making your "sandwich" (quilt top, batting and backing). Muslim will shrink, unless your mom washed the muslim before she used it to embroidery on.

Amazon.com has several books out on quilting in sections and I think I mentioned them in a message to Becky on Page 3, of this particular subject. There are lots of ladies that have written books on this way of quilting and I, too, am going to try it. Local quilt shop is even going to have a class on it so will try that first. Don't know where you live but if you have a quilt shop you go to you might ask if they have a class in this. I think other folks in this column have mentioned Betty Cotton, who sounds like she is very good, too. You can get her books on Amazon.com, too.

As for batting, a friend recommended using Warm and Natural, 100% cotton for 4 lap quilts I am making that I want to be light and yet comfortably warm. It seems to be just perfect on the ones I have finished so far. Just remember, if you want an antique look (crinkly) to your finished quilt, don't soak and dry your batting beforehand. If you want your finished quilt to look smooth after you finish, then pre-soak and lightly spin dry and dry on low heat. Smooth out and fold before using the batting .

Hobb's makes a wonderful batting that is 80% cotton and 20% polyester that is really nice, too, for regular sized quilts or ones that you want a little thicker. Washing before or after quilting is the same results with Hobb's. My personal favorite for all around is the Hobb's 80-20. Think I will stick with it from now on.

If you're looking for a marvelous, all-around excellent quilting booking that covers everything from A-Z about quilting, Better Homes and Gardens has a wonderful big, thick book that is easy to read and understand. Better than Quilting for Dummies!! I got mine at BooksaMillion but you can get a lot cheaper at Amazon.com under the new and used books.

Hope I was able to help you out a little. I'm no expert but have had some wonderful teachers, so glad to pass on any of the "good stuff" I have learned.

Good luck, Addlee! Norma

Would love to know the namesof those books also ,and where they can be purchased Thanks Wilma p.s I have one called " Machine Quilting in Sections" by Marti Mitchell

Hi - I have been thinking about quilting in sections, but cannot figure out how to sew the back together. Do you do it by hand? I am trying to learn how to machine quilt on my standard sewing machine and think that quilt sections would be much easier to learn on than trying a hugh quilt. Good luck - Marylou