The Free Motion Quilting Project Week 7 and a Table Runner

In week 7 of the Free Motion Quilt Along at The Free Motion Quilting Project, we were connecting pieces and doing more stippling.


I have done many Quilt-as-you-go quilts. I only hand quilted until recently, and I did not like working on large quilts so I often did quilt-as-you-go projects. In fact, I learned a QAYG method in my very first quilt class in 1987. 


There are many QAYG methods. I have tried various ones. 


The very first one I learned and the one I use most often is
1. Quilt each piece.
2. Trim all edges of the pieces to include the 1/4 inch seam allowance.
3. Sew the top of two pieces right sides together being careful not to catch the batting or backing.
4. Press the seam open.
5. Working from the back of the quilt, carefully trim the batting so it just meets and hand stitch it together.
6. Working from the back, lay one seam allowance flat and fold the other one over it and pin.
7. Hand stitch the seam on the back of the quilt.
8. Finish any quilting.
I do not have any photos of this in progress but here is a photo where I used this method. I folded the quilt back on itself so you can see the front and the back. On the front, the seam is between the blue and the white on the left - you can see the hand sewn seam on the back.

I have done Cotton Theory where the quilt is reversible. Again I folded the quilt back on itself. I personally don't like the decorative stitches - I probably could have done this without them though.

I recently did a QAYG on a donation quilt that was similar to Cotton Theory. 
1. Quilt each block and border separately.
2. Carefully trim each piece with the 1/4" seam allowance BUT leave one inch of seam allowance on the backing fabric all the way around each piece. 
3. Sew the backs right sides together with an inch seam. I used a zipper foot and it was quite easy.
4. I trimmed the seam to 3/4"- you can leave it at 1".
5. Fold each side of the seam in half - I pressed the folded seams. 
6. Machine stitch each side down on the front of the quilt.

The red 'sashing' is the where I joined the pieces. The backing becomes the sashing on the front. You might notice the FMQ on this quilt - it was one of my early practice pieces.


Leah Day has another QAYG technique using binding or sashing pieces. I've used this method before but can't located any quilts right now!


Anyway, I did some FMQ this week - quite an accomplishment considering how tight time was! I made this  table runner and stippled the whole thing. No problems at all this week! I am now stippling with my machine at full speed so I am back to practicing getting my foot speed and hand speed to match. 

Ok, I have a little time today - so I need to quilt!