Quilt-as-you-go without sashing
Quilt-as-you-go is a vintage technique that allows you to work on small sections of a quilt with ease prior to joining the blocks. Your quilt can sport squares, rectangles or even panels. In addition, my favorite method of joining QAYG blocks does not require hand sewing or sashing. Another benefit of this technique is that there is no need to wrestle with a large quilt when free motion quilting. This in itself supports a better outcome, particularly if you are new to free motion quilting.
The back of two joined blocks. No Sashing or hand sewing required.
The supplies required for QAYG are minimal. For best results I prefer to use my walking foot when joining the blocks and rows, low loft batting that won’t flatten under your iron, a Frixion pen, SAS2 and batting joining tape. The SAS2 and batting joining tape are not necessary but make the job easier, less time intensive and overall more enjoyable.
Begin by drawing a 2″ border around each side of the front of your block using a Frixion pen. Complete the top design of your block… applique, hand stitching, trapunto, etc… without crossing into the 2″ border. Sandwich your block with low loft batting and backing using the same dimensions as the quilt block.
**tip: in designing your block, it helps to arrange the blocks so the grain lines are aligned.
Quilt the block using free motion quilting or your walking foot. Again, do not quilt into the 2″ border.
Trim and square your blocks.
Sewing the top fabric: Arrange blocks in a row. Sew together only the top layers using a 3/8″ seam allowance being certain to secure the beginnings and endings of your seams with a few backstitches. Iron seams in alternate directions. Ensure iron does not touch batting if there is a possibility your fibers may melt.
Joining the batting: Turn blocks over. Open layers. Batting will be overlapping. Trim 3/4 from one side of batting. I prefer to trim the batting facing away from the seams I ironed. The batting needs to be secured at this point which can be achieved in one of two ways:
- hand stitching similar to the blind stitch used with binding or even a zig zag stitch
- batting joining tape, my personal favorite. Batting joining tape is made of nylon with fusible on one side. The rough side of the tape holds the fusible. Place the fusible side down centering it over the edges of the batting. Lightly dampen the tape by spraying it with water or using a damp paper towel. Close the backing fabric over the batting joining tape to protect your iron when pressing.
The backing:
- Lay one edge of the backing fabric flat. Fold the edge of the second backing 3/8″ and press.
- The edges of the backing fabric need to be secured by either hand stitching or a thin strip of SAS2. I have had continued success with SAS2 both in securing the seam and in saving time. **tip: If choosing to hand stitch the seam, lay a playing card under the beginning and ending edges of the seam to ensure you don’t sew the batting into the seam.
- Quilt the remaining area using the same method you used on the body of the quilt block. This will unify the quilt and secure the SAS2’d seams.
- Check the seams for any open areas. Hand stitch any you find.
- Join the blocks into rows.
- Join the rows in the same manner to create the quilt.
- Iron away the Frixion pen markings and bind your quilt.
**Note: Any borders you choose to add will need to be sewn using the QAYG technique as well.
I hope you’ll give this technique a try. Depending on the size of your block, this technique allows for greater control over free motion stitching.
Happy quilting,
Kathy