two different qayg methods-which is better?
 

I am planning a queen size qayg project. I have two options that I like.

fun & done-this method means I have to make the backing pieces an inch bigger all around, and faux sashing on the front will have to be the same color as the backing and will be about 1" wide which means it might encroach a bit on my block designs.

ditter's method-this method means I can use any backings I want, even patchwork style, but I will have to cut and deal with narrow strips for the back and the front. I would swap out the back strips for the front (so the ones on the back will be the doubled strips covering the seams) so the faux sashing would be only 1/2" wide, which will not encroach on my block design at all (since it will only cover the seam allowance).

Has anyone done both and have any feedback? I'm leaning toward ditter's method (to see how it is with the back and front strips swapped out see this post-but I would double the covering strip like ditter did on the front rather than the way it shows on this one) but am nervous about using such narrow strips. Not so much between blocks but between rows.

I use stripping between my blocks
front and back

http://www.queenofstitching.com/quil...ing-techniques

Another method with videos. There ar 4 vids in this series.

I've done both ways. You can adjust your blocks for space for sashing.

I have done both. I had a great deal of difficulty lining up my blocks with the fun & done. The pattern I chose needed the blocks to be aligned, so it may have been the pattern choice. My sister did a different pattern & didn't seem to have as much of an issue as I did. I liked the strip method a lot. The look of the 2 methods is quite different, the fun & done has a very wide sashing as compared to the method that Ditter used. So there's not really a 'better' method, but what you like in an overall look. The other thing with the Ditter method is that you really don't need to quilt each individual block and then join. I did a cluster of 6 (2X3) or 9 (3X3) blocks, joined them with 1/2" sashing, quilted that section, then joined the next group using the same 1/2" sashing.

The way I do mine is probably unacceptable by the Quilt Police but it works for me. I quilt all my blocks individually with just the block & batting--no backing. After the blocks are all quilted, I add the sashing between the blocks and join them together to make the top. I then use one piece for my backing, spray basting the quilted top to the backing. I then quilt all the sashing strips. This attached the backing to the quilt top. When you look at my quilt from the back the only quilting you see is what's been done in the sashing. I've done this with different size blocks from 6" to 12" and I've had no problems with the batting shifting or anything.

I like the idea of being able to do it in clusters rather than each block. Plus don't like the idea of having trouble lining up (I was wondering about that myself). Thanks for the input!

There are numerous methods that can achieve the QAYG method. You must choose which is the easiest and simplest way for you. Good Luck

Yes, I know there are numerous methods. I was asking for actual real life experience with these two, which I have narrowed down my choices to. That is how I will determine the easiest and simplest way for me without me actually having to make one to determine that. But thanks.

yep, right now I have two quilts going with the same method. On one I joined four blocks together and am quilting each section. The other, quilting individual blocks. So far so goid and no messing with adding extra strips. The only thing I'm doing different is adding muslin on the back of the batting so the batting doesn't get caught in the feed dogs.

I cannot remember where I saw a method which basically kept the backing whole but allowed you to quilt a row of the quilt to the backing (with batting of course) then you sewed the next row to the previous row to the top of the quilt -add strip of batting then quilt it - and so on until you had it completed. Wish I could find the link - it was explained so much better than i could.

I guess I did the ditters's method. I recently made a Linus quilt and did QAYG and I was amazed at how easy it was and when I put the last row together, I was finished except for the binding!!! The quilting was easy because I just used whatever pattern was in the block to make the quilt pattern; like, moon (circles), stars (stars), wavy lines (wavy lines), planets with rings (circle with rings). Hope that makes sense. I will try to post a picture on the pictures thread.
I really like QAYG method. I had a whole set of Georgia Bonesteel books but after reading them and not have room for all the books I have, I took them to the Guild for the freebie table.

I have done this method but instead of a one-piece backing, I put backing strips on at the same time as the next top row, fold both strips down, add a strip of batting between them, quilt, and repeat with the next row. It works for me but I only stitch in the ditch or some type of straight line design for the quilting. Working your way down the quilt this way makes it easier, but you are still wrestling with the whole quilt at the bottom. I could never get the sashing or the blocks to match up when trying the strip joining method. So I started just adding row by row and it works better for me. I also use washable glue on both sides of batting strip to keep the strip of batting solidly in place between the two folded down top and backing rows so I can quilt the row without things shifting around.

http://quilting.wonderhowto.com/how-...achine-423636/
This looks easy and NO strips to sew in between each block, line up front and sew right sided together, no stip, turn over and trim batting and fold larger size backing one straight overlapping where batting meets, then fold other side over and fold edge under and sew by machine.

Has anyone seen or tried Nancy Zieman's Column Quilts. I bought the 1st book but haven't tried it yet. Seems like you could use it on almost any quilt

thanks! Off to check it out. :)

I have not used the "sashing methods", but have used Georgia Bonsteel's methods. Pretty quick and easy to do and no extra sashing. Don't know how to post a link yet but it's on you tube.

So many ideas.... this is what makes this board such a great place.

I've quilted in 4 sections and hand stitched the backing to the top. No sashes were used either front or back. I used the front was pieced and the back was whole. If you are interested in this method I'll find the site I learned from and give it to you. I was very happy with the results.

If you google "How to Quilt in Sections without Sashing" it will bring up a site Venus de Hilo. There is a wonderful step by step tutorial by Stephanie Serrano explaining her way of quilting in sections. This is the one I used and found it to work wonderfully.