QAYG Sampler - Week 4 - Nine Patch Block

   Week 4 of the Quilt As You Go Sampler has us to the quilting of the Nine Patch block you have pieced together this past month. As with block types, there are many ways to quilt your block but to begin we will start with a very easy way to quilt.

   Some quilters love the whole process of making a quilt while others love the piecing or quilting more. When hand quilting a quilt, I find I love the whole process but find the actual quilting a stress relieving exercise once I find my rhythm.  I know many a knitter who feel the same way.

   Week 3 of the Nine Patch block showed how to sandwich your block and should now look something like this.  Depending on the method you use to quilt, you may decide to use more basting lines but for this simple block, the bare minimum is fine.

QAYG Sampler - Week 3 - Nine Patch Block - Part 2

   First I think I should say a little bit about batting. I must admit I am not an expert as I have used old blankets, old flannel sheets, polyester batting and cotton batting.  I have even been known to cut up old flannel nightgowns, sewn together to make the inside of a lap quilt. That being said, there are some wonderful places on the web to find more detailed information such as Sew, Mama, Sew where I found a post about batting from Amy of Happythings.

Batting Guide from Amy of Happythings

   In the interest of keeping things from getting too overwhelming, the following are the basics to get you started.  

QAYG Sampler - Week 3 - Nine Patch Block - Part 1

   If you are on target in regards to your quilt block, you should have your Nine Patch Block pieced together. It is now time to press it.  I say pressed instead of ironed because when using an iron on a quilt block it is best to try not moving in a side to side motion. You finger pressed your seams to one side as you have been piecing and now you will press on the block over the seam divide to help it lay flat. 

   Why do you not let your iron sway? Because seams can be stretched out of alignment, especially when working with half squares (triangles). This stretching puts stress on a seam and if quilted, that seam will wear faster.  Remember that you want this quilt to be used as long as possible so give it every advantage that you can to assist in it's longevity.

   Pay special attention to the four corner areas of your block to make sure seams are laying opposite to each other forming a square fan.

QAYG Sampler - Week 2 - Nine Patch Block

   I'm actually going to back up a little now that I have got everyone started sewing their first block. For those not in my class, I cut the 4 1/2 inch squares out for my students but in this post I am going to back up a little and explain two ways of cutting blocks. In my humble opinion one is slightly faster than the other but not by much. When I first began I would sit in front of the TV with a TV tray and mark my squares to cut out of old clothes, sheets etc. My examples here are using a scrap of fabric I found in the remnant bin at JoAnn's fabric & craft store.

   As I previously explained, you have a choice to pre-wash or not pre-wash your fabric, but I am recommending that regardless of which you choose, you iron your fabric before you start to mark and cut up your squares. Any way manufacturers fold fabric will leave at the very least a semi-centered crease or fold lines. For a larger piece of fabric it is important to be able to accurately fold fabric in half. In the picture below I took a large towel and folded it in thirds to create a makeshift ironing board on my kitchen table.  

QAYG Sampler - Week 1 - Nine Patch Block

Quilt As You Go Sampler Quilt - Week 1

   Quilt as you go (QAYG) is a quilt making technique that allows you to quilt most of each block as you piece it. I like the fact that I can carry in my purse the makings of one block to work on in waiting rooms, in front of the television, sitting in the sun when the weather is nice. I am never overwhelmed by a big project as I am only working on and (mostly) finishing one entire quilt block at a time. One is a very easy number to work with.  In this case, I am making a very simple beginners quilt to be completely finished before Christmas. 
   
   The first two weeks of a four week rotation will consist of piecing the quilt block and various tips, the second two weeks will explain the quilting process for that block. Along the way I will show how to sew together the blocks we make. You can either sew them together as we make them or you can wait until the amount of blocks you wish to make for your size project is finished to begin the final step. Twelve blocks should take us 48 weeks. 

   Of course, you could opt to just make one quilt block and use it as a hot plate or wall hanging. Make a few of them for a table runner or baby quilt. I will be discussing how to complete all of these options. You may decide to use only one of the quilt block patterns to make an entire quilt of any size.  Those are all totally acceptable and doable goals.  My goal is to show you that this is something ANYONE can do quite easily and for "as little money as possible" to "the sky is the limit" budgets.

Nine Patch Block

Nine Patch Block

Before You Start Sewing or Quilting

Flying Geese Rainbow

   As with anything in life, there are a few guidelines you should know about when starting any new endeavor or before starting on the 'good parts' instructions.  These are not inclusive, nor are they everything you need to know on each item (I will attempt to further elaborate in future posts), it is simply a starting point.  The very basic necessities. Along the way I will inevitably discuss tools that might save time or increase accuracy once you have the basics down pat.

Are we there yet? No. Not yet, grasshopper.

In the Beginning

Kelly's Garden

    In the beginning there was very little time, very little money, and a whole lot of need. I think most people I know and from whom I've learned from started from exactly this situation. Now my own kids are nearing this stage in life and the many lessons I've learned may not be passed down to them because of time, money and distance.  There are so many times I wish I could just call up my mother in law to ask her a question, but she has long since passed on.  So for my own daughters I thought I would put together little projects and lessons here for a time when they are ready to learn. I hope anyone else visiting might also benefit.

   Since I am interested in teaching a beginners quilt class, I am throwing that in here as well as little projects like a needle case, sewing kit, lunch sack etc. None of these projects need for you to go out and buy any sewing machine or new fabric (unless you can afford such). They are not really a necessity. The only things really required is a willingness to learn and think outside the box, a pencil, ruler, needle (preferably a quilter's size 10), thread, old material (clothes, sheets, towels, tablecloths) that can be re-purposed. Over the years I have have used many things by necessity and sometimes just for curiosity to see what something might look like.

   In the interest of full disclosure, I have never taken a quilt class in my life, unless you count all the wonderful lessons by my mother in law.  The only sewing class I took was in Jr. High back in the late 1970s (yes, Methuselah and I are on a first name basis) and my mother's guidance on those projects required to pass that class. (I truly wish I had paid better attention).  However, I have had years of practical experience sewing, quilting, blogging and research. A little photography and teaching experience and a great desire to see others see what wonderful things they can create when they didn't think they were capable of it. So if this is something you can live with, read on. I have lots to share!