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Have you wanted to Quilt Your Own quilts? As soon as I started making quilts I knew I'd want to quilt them as I'd be making a LOT of quilts. Over 600 quilts later I learned tips & tricks to help you. I know where the pitfalls are and how to over come them… we'll chat about those in my Quilt Your Own Quilt sew along!
The Details
Since I've written an entire teaching book on how to quilt your own quilt, we'll be using that as our tutorial.
My Grandma's Kitchen quilt is a perfect quilt to use as it's sewn in rows so you can quilt in sections which is very manageable
I know some of you would rather use a different project, which is totally ok! My book has 12 different projects you can make, or find a quilt top you already made, or a quilt panel to use.
I will have 6 assignments between today and Jan 20th 2018. I am out of town on business trips for a few of the days I'd normally have written an assignment, so we won't have them if I'm not available to answer questions. This gives you time to work on it too. The schedule is at the end.
My book covers both quilting with your walking foot and with your freemotion foot.
For this sew along we'll be using my walking foot section of the book. If you prefer to do the freemotion section go right ahead!
During Each assignment I'll tell you the page in the book where the tutorial, tips and notes are. I'll also share things I've learned by making mistakes, then tell you how to avoid doing the same.
PLUS I Have a BONUS tutorial for the last assignment! — When you quilt in sections you have to assemble them. There are many ways to cover the seams of the sections that you quilt individually. Quilting sections and then assembling them is commonly called 'Quilt as You Go' or QAYG for short. For my BONUS I'll show you ONE way to cover the seams. That is at the last assignment after we've quilted the sections.
What You Need now, discussion follows on some of this
- Purchase a copy of my book 'Teach Me to Machine Quilt' … A Physical Copy .. or a Kindle Version .. or a PDF from my publisher's website
- A Quilt Top or a Quilt Panel
- Batting
- Backing fabric
- Thread
- Basting Spray or Pins with a Kwik Klip
Assignment #1
Prep Your top
On Page 8 of my book I tell you how to prep the top. And for book owners, there is a BONUS Video you have access to. The link is right under the photo on page 8.
PITFALL/Solution – If you don't have a border on your quilt, your block seams are right at the outer edge. They could separate as you are working with your quilt. On Page 8 I give you my solution & that video shows you what I do to avoid that issue.
Batting
I'm going to use this blend of 80% cotton 20% poly.
Page 11 has a discussion on batting. If you are quilting in Sections you will need a bit more batting than I say in the book because you are actually quilting multiple quilts instead of one quilt.
PITFALL/Solution – Read the directions on your batting to see how close together they recommend your quilting to be. There are some old fashioned 100% cotton battings that are wonderful to quilt with, but require a much denser quilting than you may want to do.
Backing discussion
You want your backing to be larger than the top.
PITFALL/Solution - I try NOT to be frugal here.. because whenever I try to 'save fabric' by making my backing/batting only a little bigger than the top, I end up with problems lining up the 3 layers and have to redo things.
- Make your backing and batting at least 4" x 4" larger than the top. That is 2" larger than the top ON ALL SIDES.
- For a larger quilt I will make it 3" or 4" all the way around.
- 4" x 4" larger is plenty if you are quilting in sections. Below I have some photos.. keep going!
Page 9 and 10 in my book tell you how to sew your backing fabric if it's not wide enough.
Basting
Here is my top section of my Grandma's Kitchen quilt ready to baste.
For this sew along I'm going to spray baste mine because the units are not that wide and I have a lot of control over it when spraying.
Page 12 to 14 have the two types of basting explained along with a Book Owner's Bonus video link
PITFALL/Solution – I have this tip in the book, but it's important to say to be careful with over spray. If I am spraying inside, I do this
- start at one end of the top, spray about 12" on the batting and place top over it
- Smooth the top flat
- Lift top to the left of that and do another 12".
- Smooth the top flat again as you baste each portion
- Press with steam after the top is basted.
- BONUS TIP – Next I trim the batting and backing before I turn it over to spray the backing.
- Flip so the backing is facing you and repeat the spray basting here.
Border discussion
My Grandma's Kitchen has no border on it. But some of you want to put a border on AND Quilt as You go.
BONUS TIP –
- Attach the TOP border to the top two sections before basting.
- Attach the Bottom border to the bottom two sections before basting
- Quilt the side borders as separate units that you will sew to the top once all the rows are sewn together
REMINDER – Jan 20th is my 'Quilt As You Go' BONUS discussion
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Time to Baste!
Now prepare your quilt so it's ready!
What Do I need again?
- Purchase a copy of my book 'Teach Me to Machine Quilt' … A Physical Copy .. or a Kindle Version .. or a PDF from my publisher's website
- A Quilt Top or a Quilt Panel
- Batting
- Backing fabric
- Thread
- Basting Spray or Pins with a Kwik Klip
The Sew Along Schedule
- ALL Posts incase you missed one
- Dec 27 – Assignment 2 - Thread Selection, Walking foot, Securing sections with walking foot – ALSO baste your quilt if you didn't get a chance to do it yet
- Dec 30 – Assignment 3 - Designs – with Facebook live that I will upload to Youtube
- Jan 13 – Assignment 4 - Quilt next section
- Jan 17 – Assignment 5 - Quilt last section
- Jan 20 – BONUS Assignment 6 - How I cover seams of the sections. This is just one of many ways you can do that.
- With Video or FB live, not sure which
49 Responses
Hi Pat- Your book is arriving soon. I’m so glad to be doing this with you. I’ll be learning a lot of new techniques … things I need to know. It’s exciting.
I have the same question as Sandy and Pam and I don’t see the answer in the book.
I have my quilt top in sections. Do I trim the batting and backing for each section or do I keep them the size of the finished quilt. I am looking forward to completing my tops.
My machine has a very small neck/throat area and I have difficulty quilting even a lap throw with it. I am hoping QAYG will help.
I just injured my shoulder and will be out of commission for a few weeks. How long will your posts be active?
To catch your instructions, do I use facebook? or will you email when you are going live?
I am so sorry, but I am still confused. your picture of your quilt top looks like it is completely sewn together. But for some reason I think I am only suppose to sew the rows together basted and layered. Is this correct. I have already gifted my grandmothers kitchen , but I was going to work on my secret garden quilt that is still in just the block stages.
Merry Christmas! I’m so excited to get started on the QAYG! My question…..do we cut the backing for each section or keep it in one piece? I have seen videos of both ways. Thank you!
Merry Christmas to you and your family. I just downloaded the book and it is wonderful. I will be trying to start and keep up with the assignments. I have not been able to quilt in three years due to tremors and seizures. But I thought I could try with this project to see how I do. I am so looking forward to learning to machine quilt. This looks like an easy project. I will be using a panel I already had. Thanks a million for your group and you taking the time to teach so many people around the world.
Merry Christmas, Pat. I have the book, the batting and some smaller quilt tops to work on. Haven’t quite gotten my Grandma’s Kitchen done. Looking forward to the tutorial.
I am definitely going to be following along with this ~ except many months ago I “loaned” my book to someone who has yet to return it. Apparently she likes it, too!
I still don’t have all my blocks done, but am so excited to learn how to QAYG! I have the ebook and have started reading it. I need to get caught up so I can follow along. Thank you so much for everything you teach us. I greatly appreciate it!
Have supplies, Book ordered. Ready to try.
Thanks, for this opportunity. I’ve done the activities from your book and can’t wait to put the skills to use with my Grandma’s Kitchen quilt.
I’d really like to practice all this with sample fabric squares. Would that be okay? Due to “life” haven’t been able to keep up with the Grandma’s Kitchen blocks. Thank you so much for all your teaching. Very grateful and so much fun.
I am ready to go on this…have your book and ordered my batting the silky blend…I’m ready to roll with you. I want to learn how to quilt the quilt! Thank you Pat for doing this project.
Have fun everyone. Mine is still in block form, no rows together. I will load mine on my midarm when it’s turn comes in the ‘lineup’. These eyes and body just can’t do all the handwork of putting the row together after they’ve been quilted.
I ordered the book plus the e-book. Have already started reading it. Now, I need to piece together a quilt top. Currently all my projects are finished, except for an antique quilt my husband’s mother and grandmother pieced years ago and never quilted. But I’ll get to that later.
Did you put sashing between your first and second row?
Hi Pat,
I am so happy for the timing of this QAYG. I have your book and I am currently working on putting my rows together on my Grandma’k Kitchen quilt. This quilt is #12 on my UFO challenge list from APQ so the timing of your lessons is perfect.
Thank you for all the ways you encourage me. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas time with those you love.
Will this be on you tube or Facebook or as a blog post set out?
Quilting sections of the quilt and then assembling will be stretching my skills.
Thanks for all your books and for the fun classes I’ve been fortunate enough to attend.
Mary
I have your book and I’m ready to go! Have all my supplies, basted my sections… something I wouldn’t have done if I didn’t ready your book! Thanks for the tip!
Will be having guests until after the holidays and I still have two blocks to finish. Guess I will be boogyin at the sewing machine When everyone leaves. At least I have the book and can be reading up on quilting procedure .
thank you Phyllis!!
Thanks for joining the sew along Judy… get your book ready!
Thank you Tamara, Merry Christmas!
Joanne I’m only doing walking foot quilting and I have not decided yet how I’ll do this.. you can do whatever you like, I’ll show you each assignment what I decided.
I’ve been following you on Facebook, but don’t think I’ve sat in on any of your classes. I’m marking the schedule on my calendar and look forward to quilting along with you. I quilt on my home machine but would like to learn tips to get better at it. Thanks and looking forward to it.
Thank you Pat you are awesone. Your directions are so easy to understand. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas & a Happy New year. I bought your book & love it. Always look forward to all the sew alongs. Thanks again
I’m so excited to learn how to do quilting in sections. Will we be doing straight lines or all over quilting?
Thank you so much Pat, for giving us the opportunity to try this. I, also will be having company over the holidays, but will join in as soon as they leave. I’ve got my quilt top ready to go. I love, love, love, the quilt shown here. Thanks again!
Thank you Carol! Join when you can!
it’s fun to work together Dianne, thanks for joining me!
The best way to learn is to do it Barb. So get a quilt and join in!
Join in when You an Margarita!
Glad you are here Julie!
great plan leslie!
thank you for joining me Gwen!
You are so wonderful & giving to do this for us. Thank you. I am far behind so I hope I can come back to these instructions and quilt my own. Your quilt is so beautiful. I purchased 3 of your books which I recently received and they are fabulous! So happy I made the purchase. What beautiful photos to follow & detailed instructions. Thank you!
Thanks for offering this “mini class”. I am so excited about learning to quilt and know I need some instruction to do things right and possibly easier than I would on my own. Merry Christmas to you.
Pat,
Purchased your book this past year and have read it cover to cover but still haven’t applied any of the knowledge. I have 2 fairly large quilt tops. Can’t afford to send them out and don’t want to invest in a long arm either and really don’t have a place in my home for it.. I also really want to quilt in sections so any help you can give in this area will be appreciated. I am afraid to start these quilts for fear I will ruin them. I have quilted table runners and am getting better at the process. I really like your website and am glad I found you on the internet. Thanks for departing all your wisdom and knowledge to the rest of us.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Yo tengo familia que ha venido de fuera en casa. ¡No puedo seguir las fechas! Pat me es imposible! Feliz Navidad Pat Sloan. Saludos.
I’m so excited about learning how to QAYG because as Karen said I can’t send everything out to a LA. I appreciate all your help and knowledge you extend to us.Have a very Merry Christmas!
The Children’s Library quilt top sits, all joined waiting for some quilting attention. I already own your book and maybe I will try to apply some of what you teach to this venture and clear out my only UFO. I also have a king size quilt in my future and am wanting to quilt it in sections. I am looking forward to more learning. Thanks, Pat. And Merry Christmas!
Thanks Pat for these so easy to follow instructions. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be adding QAYG to my “quilting experience arsenal.” Thank you for the time you have put into this class.
Be safe on your travels.
Gwen
Thank you Cathie, Merry Christmas!
Thanks for joining in Gretchen!
Join in when you can Karen!
Pat, you go above and beyond to teach us all about quilting. You are a true teacher. Thank you so much! You are a blessing. Merry Christmas to you and your Shipping Department!!
This course/work along is such a great idea. So looking forward to it. Even if you have done a lot of quilting there are always new and perhaps better ways to do things. Really looking forward to this. Great idea.
We have out of town guests until 1/2 so will have some serious catching up to do after the holidays! I am really looking forward to this learning opportunity as I can’t afford to send everything to a longarmer to get finished! Than you so much for sharing your expertise Pat. Merry Christmas everyone!