I use a similar method.I discovered it many years ago from a book by Georgia Bonesteele, Lap Quilting. She has several books out on this method of lap quilting/quilt as you go. Works great - no big frame to set up, or having to send it off to a long arm quilter.

Deb,
Thanks for this tutorial. Well done. I have a dumb question about binding it.

Wouldn't you bind the outer edges the same way you did the sashings between the blocks? The way I see it, there will be a 1" border of backing around the entire quilt once all the rows are assembled that can be folded over and top stitched around.

I hope this makes sense.
Janie

Deb, thanks so much for the great tutorial!!! I do much better when I can see what's going on with the directions :)
Thanks again!! Sue

I can sew what you are saying, and it would be a continuation of what has already been done with the inner pieces and an easy way to end the quilt instead of trimming off the outer edged and attaching a different binding strip. Gee, Janie, thanks for YOUR tip!

Janie...........you make perfect sense. Yes, you will have that extra inch hanging out all around the quilt. Just take it and fold it over the edge to the top and stitch. This technique does look nice all turned and topstitched. And, yes, you can use some of the decorative stitches on your machine, but the topstitching is the neatest (I think).
Patty

You're welcome, Deb. I am keen to try this, you have inspired me to add one more project, cause I don't have enough to do yet . :D

Patty,
It's not often anyone tells me I make sense, let alone "perfect" sense, so you made my day! :mrgreen:

Thanks for the tute Deb.

Will give it a try! Looking forward to seeing more of your pictures! Thanks!!!

Deb, thank you for the tutorial. I have been hesitant to try actual quilting - I've only done a couple small projects but this looks like something I could handle. Your directions and photos really helped me to "see" the process. I can't wait to see more pictures when you are done with the project.

That is my question too. How do you join the blocks? The very first quilt I made was a QAUG, but I can't remember how I did it. I have been looking everwhere to find a pattern. Thanks Deb so much for posting this.

Thank you :D:D:D

Oh thank you so much for posting that, what a big help that will be. God bless. Penny

I was thinking BCT. Saw her on Sewing With Nancy show. I am going to try this. Thanks for the reminder.

Thanks for posting these directions. I had a site bookmarked on my computer for something similar, but when I tried to go back to it, the URL had been removed and I could not remember how to do it!

Thanks, Deb, will try this soon!!

does that make it very thick at the intersections, where four blocks come together??

I join the blocks together by putting the right sides of the backing of the blocks together (the top sides are on the outside, the backing sides are together on the 'inside') and sewing very very close to the edge of the block tops. When I open and lay them flat, the top and the batting meet together. I press them open and then top stitch the 'flaps' to their respective sides.

No. I sew very close to the block tops and when I open and lay them flat, I press them. The blocks lay right snug next to each other.
I am NOT sewing the blocks with 1/4 inch seam, just right next to the block tops.

Thanks, I like this method and will try to do it on my next quilt.

Oh this is great Deb! I've read instructions before, where you catch the batting edges and the edge of the block in the seam, and that seemed like a lot of bulk to me, but this i get! :) And i love your blocks, they look gorgeous :)

That does create alot of bulk, by stitching right next to the edges, the blocks lay snug and flat. I am almost done with mine, and will post pics as I get a little further.

Cool! Would never have thought to sew outside....raining here today but sounds like such a fun idea, sound of rain on Patio roof, nice breeze.....thanks, feels cooler just thinking about it. :thumbup:

Sounds like great fun. I love to sit outside and read. Will have to try sewing outside too.

Hey Deb.
Love the tutorial. I am wondering, did yu sew in 1" when you put both blocks together? and that 1" would then allow you to stitch in the ditch?

I have taken more pics with this, I am hoping they will clarify what I am doing. I have almost all of the blocks together, been working on this a good deal of the day. Hung it up on the design board, and realized that I skipped one entire row....had to rip it all out....what a pain.

Thank you so very much Deb. And I can't wait to see the final product.
I am going to try this one.
Hugs
marla

have you tried making the backing 1/2" bigger instead of 1" so that when folded the sashing is 1/4" on each side? Do you think that would work well to give you 1/2" sashing instead of 1" total?

The sashing on each block edge is just 1/2 inch. If I wanted larger sashings, I would cut the batting 14" to start, cut the backing to 17",(would this be large enough?)trim the batting to 13 when quilted, and trim the backing to 16 so there would be enough backing to fold over to catch the quilt top. Hmmmm, you have put another thought in my head....may have to play around with that as well!!

I was thinking of making it smaller so that it would be 1/4 inch on each block edge. Have you ever done that?

This is how I make my Tshirt quilts. Although I don't do any quilting on the individual blocks- just use this method to pull the backing up to become the sashing on the front, and then also have enough quilting to keep all layers together.

Thanks for taking the time to post this! You really did a nice job explaining the Cotton Theory method. Congratulations!

It is not Cotton Theory that I have looked at, in the sense that I don't quilt each strip as I go, it is one entire block, THEN it is quilted.

Thanks for sharing. I need to try this method.

Very nice tutorial! What a very vivid explination! Just what I needed! Thank you!
I am wondering what to do and how to do the blocks at the corners. What I am saying is if and when the individual block is done, and you add it to the next block, then now you got two blocks sewn together side by side. Now I want to add a second row,I understand it is done the same way, but, is their any bulk at the corners where the 4 blocks will be butted together? Is it possible for you to post a picture of the center of 4 blocks when they are joined? Thank you!

Thank you for this link, It looks like it is a lot of fun and I am thinking of purchasing the Batting buddy.
:wink:

One more question. I thought I understood this totally until the most recent pics. Once you have folded down the flaps and you top stitch, is the edge of the flap that is on the block left loose? By that I mean could you run your finger under it? I am thinking about a germent hem, you fold once, then twice, then stitch close to the folded edge, onto the garment. But, looking at your pics you are stitching the folded edge where the blocks are joined?! Am I correct or totally confused? Sorry, I just want to make sure I understand because I have two sets of blocks just calling to be completed this way :).
Thanks,
Jenna P in GA

No, the flap on the right side folds (double) to the right block. The flap on the left side folds (double) to the left block. Each block has a top, a batting and a backing. The flaps are the sides of the backing that you sew together. If you go back and enlarge the pics of the folds, you should see what I mean. I wish I could figure out how to do a video of this!

I GOT IT!!! I understood it all along, what messed me up was when I looked at the last pics posted I was getting the sashing strips and block fabric mixed up. That pic shows you stitching the fold to the block just like I thought. The joining seam is to the left of the fabric you are stitiching on. GREAT, now to cut backing blocks and get busy, lol. Thank you so much!!!

Deb,
I'm still unclear on one thing. I have some quilt blocks that I want to try this with. They are 12 1/2" square. But they have points at the 1/4" edges. It seems to me that I can do exactly your technique except I cut the backing fabric only 1/2" bigger all around instead of 1" all around, and that will give me 1/4" sashing on each flap which will allow the points to match the edges. Am I looking at this right, or am I missing something?
Thanks!