I have been using Crafty Bear's birthing technique for small projects such as tablerunners and table toppers (the method is to put the right sides of the backing and the pieced top together with the batting on either side, sewing all around it with an opening to turn the piece right side out like a pillowcase). It works really well and doesn't seem to present a problem with FMQ (I was worried that I might end up with the fabric billowing).

I was wondering if anyone has tried this with a larger quilt? I just did it with a 48 x 60 baby quilt and it worked very well but not sure how it would work with a larger piece. I am getting ready to start another D9P that will be 72 x 72.

This is how we do charity quilts, using about a 12" gap. We do twins and fulls, however, we tie them, but they lay pretty flat and could be quilted. If you want a small-ish gap, a helper is needed! We roll the sides first, then roll from the bottom as tightly as we can. Once the quilt is turned, we use yard sticks to poke the corners out and make sure the batting lays flat.

Eleanor Burns, who I first saw do this, does it on large quilts. So it should work fine. She machine quilts after turning.

I think you could do it.

Wow, thanks for posting this. I never knew u could do it with small projects. I will be sure to give it a try.

Its excellent for small projects. They go very quickly because you don't have to bind the project and it provides a nice finish. Run a search on Crafty Bear - she showed some of her table runners around Christmas and used the method (thats how I learned).

I have done this on size 44 X 72 a lot when making the pillow quilts love them and am making some for Christmas for brother and sister.

We call it the "envelope" method and use it a lot on our charity 'Angel wraps' ... those tiny quilts that go to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Many a little one has gone home with one ... and, unfortunately, many a little one has been buried in one.

Personally, I prefer to see a binding on my larger quilts as I think the binding can add a design element to make the quilt whole.

ali

Ali I agree on the binding but conversely a binding can sometimes detract from the design. So I wanted to be sure I had a method that would work if I didn't want a binding.

Ali I agree on the binding but conversely a binding can sometimes detract from the design. So I wanted to be sure I had a method that would work if I didn't want a binding.