Square then quilt, or quilt then square?
 

What do you do?
Or square, quilt, and square again?

I do a little bit of both. I have to put a caveat here. I am not sure I am doing it right in the first place so I will be watching this thread for more info. Thank you for posting the question.

I quilt and then square. I only do it once right before I put on the binding.

I quilt then square. I make sure the top is square first (since I long arm and want it to be square when I quilt) then quilt then square

I quilt then square. I also check to see that it is pretty square before loading on the machine.

I do a little of both because I want my blocks to line up first, but mainly when the binding goes on I want it all straight and lined up after the quilting does what it is going to do that way my finished project is square.

Quilt then square.

Here's the earlier thread on this same subject
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/need-opinion-squaring-up-quilting-table-runner-t200078.html

I square each block/piece as I go ... then it's minimal squaring at the end before quilting. And if needed, some more after quilting.

Same rationale as I gave in the other thread.

Yup, me too. I square each block as I go so they fit together easily. I square the top before I quilt it so I don't quilt in any 'skewedness'. And I square it after quilting because quilting can change the shape and size slightly and also to insure that my binding is as full and even as it can possibly be. Can't be sure enough that every step is square as far as I'm concerned.

this is what i do... just a tad out of square does not seem to matter on the frame... it needs adjusting as it rolls anyway

Face it .......... sometimes it's good to be SQUARE! :D

This is what I do as well. A little extra time making it square seems to work for me.

OOPS..never square mine, whatever that means!!

I square every block as I go - sometimes while the block is in progress like a Log Cabin, then my quilts are square and they stay that way.

I used to square and then quilt but that was when I was limited to SID. Now that I moved into FMQ, I saw on one of the videos that denser quilting can distort the edge and it is recommended to square after quilting.

I make sure the blocks are square. Measure my quilts through the center for borders by laying the border strip ontop of quilt and gently smoothing out cut borders to that size. When I fold the finished quilt the corners match up.
Short answer is I do not square up. I'm sure someone will be along to say I don't do it right. It works for me.

I free motion quilt on my Juki and before sandwiching check the top that it is basically squared, then I quilt and then I square it up before binding. I usually isn't off very much at all, but there have been a vew times that I had an inch or so that had to be trimmed. I think that was when I was working with lots of biases.

I square my quilt when sewing on borders and again when I get back from LAr (I also add about 1/2 " into the width of the last border to allow for squaring). I think that's the difference for most who do their own quilting and those that send it out. I want to be sure it's squared for the LAr and if I was doing the LAing myself I would already know and wouldn't square it until its quilted.

I quilt, then square. This way all blocks are even before attaching them to each other.

This is how I do it since I'm so new to quilting. I still have a little "wiggle room" when I'm finished quilting, so I'm doing pretty good so far.........:o

This is what I do also.

Quilt and then square.

I just learned to square a few months ago....I never knew I had to!!!! I had my friend come and help me, she is a beautiful quilter and very precise. She really had to use alot of patience because I am not a perfectionist and I just wanted to GET IT DONE!

Thanks also for this thread. I have learned alot!

I square as I piece and sew, so each block is square then each row is square then
recheck when I put the borders on. Then quilt and then do final square before the
bindings......that way I have no surprises .......
and a nicely finished quilt.....
I do believe it all starts with the blocks, and good cutting of your pieces, good sewing
of your seams....otherwise everything that was just a little off....grows and grows to
be major off.....I think the little things can add up, and multiply and get out of hand....

You can say that again!!!!!!!!!
I'm right with you on squaring up right from cutting the fabric/pieces accurately and then throughout the whole process ......

:D

I too, am one that squares up each block, sew them together, square it up, have it quilted and so a final square it up....

I square my blocks as I finished them and square again once I have finished the quilting...

I square, then quilt. The blocks seem to fit better if they're squared up before being sewn together.

Same with me, I square each block as it is made, then square the top before I put the whole quilt together, then quilt.

I tend to do things, shall we be kind and say differently. I try very hard to keep each block square. Then when they are together, I measure the quilt top and find a size that works. By that, I mean average height and width. I cut the borders to that exact measurement and make them fit. . . Maybe a it of easing or stretching. (I am talking 1/4 or 3/8" tops.) from there I sandwich the quilt, cut to size, put the the binding on and then quilt. They do come out square. Well, it works for me.

Gosh, I never thought to square AFTER quilting. Thought if it was squared up before quilting, it would just be alright. Now I will be more aware. I've always noticed that the corners all matched up when I folded it up after quilting and binding,so guess I've been lucky for a lot of years. Thanks for putting up the questions.

............... actually if it is wonky, wavy, or uneven before you start to quilt, it's more likely to be even more so afer quilting!
For sure, it will NOT get better! :)

ok so if I measure my quilt top after it is all done and it is off by say a 1/2 inch at the top and the botton ..do you leave it?

I do square my blocks but sometimes my finished quilt is a little off ..what do you do cut that little bit off?

This is my method as well.

Are you all talking about squaring it up with a rotary cutter? Or blocking the quilt (damp spray?) to be sure all corners are 90 degrees? Or???