machine quilting in pieces
 

I have been reading your entries for months - and have learned so much - thank you all-

this is the first question I have ever submitting- I read on a thread about someone wanting to machine quilt in pieces and a recommendation of a book called machine quilting in pieces - by luck I was able to get it from my library system -but I'm not happy with doubling the batting as she recommends - I saw somewhere how to add a section with the batting overlapping in the seam but can't find it - I have made many quilts of various sizes but this is first attempt at a king - it will be a crazy quilt from batiks with sashing between the blocks to tone it down. I plan to make it in thirds - assuming I make the middle first and add on the sides - have you any ideas about how to do this? I have a Janome 6600 and no long arm.

I just realized I have a second question - I am piecing the squares on light weight interfacing as muslin will add too much weigh - have any of you done this? was it successful? what were the problems? did you prewash the interfacing?

Hi...I'm not quite sure of the technique you are describing but I have read of a method I thought I'd like to try next time I make a large quilt.
You make your entire top and have your entire backing prepared as you normally would. Then you take your batting and cut it into approximate thirds and place one third down the middle of your quilt. You then quilt this section, which means you aren't trying to fit so much bulk under your machine as the sides don't yet have batting. Then, you take your next third of batting and butt that batting up to your previous batting that you've already quilted into your quilt. You can join it with a serpentine type stitch, or I believe there are tapes you can use. Then you continue with your quilting on this section. Then, attached your last third of batting to the other side and then finish quilting on that side.
This way you aren't trying to fit all that bulk under your machine as you can turn your quilt as you do your two side sections and only ever have the current third of batting under your machine (does that make sense?..hope so..lol).
I've also seen it recommended that, when you cut your batting into thirds, that you cut it with a wavy line so that when you butt and join it, you don't have a straight line of join and it will blend in better.
Maybe someone here has already tried this method and can comment further

Thank you Miss Ticky2 for these instructions. I think I might actually be able to quilt a quilt this way.

Yes, thanks Miss Ticky2 for those instructions. Never thought of that.

Thanks for the tip. I think I will try that too. It should be alot easier.

Eleanor Burns of Quilt in a Day has a method of quilting each block separately and joining them with sashing. If you go to youtube.com, you can watch many videos on how to do this method of quilting.

Marti Michell's book, Machine Quilting in Sections, describes several different methods of quilting in sections. I don't remember any method that involved doubling the batting.

What you are discribing is a 'quilt as you go' method. It just means that you are not working with the full quilt, batt and/or backing. There are numerous techniques. If you do a search on 'quilt as you go' or QAYG, on this board, lots of links will come up. This is a good way to quilt a large quilt on a domestic machine. If you try one method and don't like it, try another, it's really worth the effort.

I have three king size quilts waiting in sections for me to finish them. A quilt as you go method.
also a good book is Sharon Pederson's Reversible Quilts. I wasn't fond of M. Mitchells Quilting In Sections but i do have it. just not great directions. have fun and good luck.