Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Tuesday is for sewing ...

Penny from Sewtakeahike recently completed an awesome quilt using the "Quilt as You Go" technique.  Not only did Penny document her progress but also provided several informative tutorials detailing how to "quilt as you go".


Of course, I had to try it for myself.


And I have fallen in love with this (new to me) technique.  Each block is quilted as it is constructed, which gives me the freedom to quilt exactly as I have always wanted without carrying the bulk of the entire quilt.  


The blocks are wonderfully big at 14.5 inches, which makes a nice change from small HSTs.  Choosing fabrics for these blocks has been fun and relaxing in an otherwise busy week (so far). 

You can check out Penny's Quilt-Along: - Quilt as You Go Tutorials here:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Thank you Penny!

37 comments:

  1. This quilt's definitely on my (very long) to-do list... I fell in love with it in Patchwork Style and when I saw the one Penny made, I was totally sold. Can't wait to see yours done! :)

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  2. Cool, thanks for the links! I've been reluctant to machine quilt because I've got a tiny sewing machine, but I just heard about this method recently and plan to give it a go.

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  3. This is going to be an amazing quilt Rita. Loving the blue block!

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  4. LOVE your blocks! Will definitely have to try this technique. Thank You for sharing.

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  5. I feel in love with Penny's quilt immediately and really wanted to make one but was up to my ears in other projects. Earlier today I was telling myself that I really didn't want to quilt as you go anyway (trying to talk myself out of instead of into a project for once), but now here you are getting me excited about it all over again. Maybe this summer.... Your version is exceptional! I love your blocks!

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  6. Love your blocks, Rita! Have fun with the qayg - it is quite addictive...
    ; )

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  7. Love your work ... as always.
    But .. is that a Happy Birthday for you???
    Amazing cake.
    And happy birthday to the birthday person, whoever they may be.
    Andi :-)

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  8. I love this - have been wanting to make one for myself too! Your version is amazing!!

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  9. This looks amazing. will have to try the quilt as you go method myself.

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  10. Hi Rita,
    I'm so glad you're enjoying the qayg process. When I saw the idea in "Patchwork Style", I started daydreaming of all the possibilities this method would allow for in the size of quilt any quilter can do on their home machine. totally loving the way you're making your blocks by color, your quilt is going to be stunning!

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  11. These are beautiful, Rita and what a brilliant idea to quilt as going along. (I would never have been able to join in this conversation more than a week ago!)

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  12. Thanks for the links... I love the big blocks. Can't wait to see the finished work!

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  13. I've done this! It was over several posts. The quilt was comprised of small 4" blocks so I quilted it in quadrants. You can see a pic of the quadrants here. And the post on sewing it all together is here.

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  14. I love the idea of doing a quilt in sections...here is a link to the last one I did that way...
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/29893965@N08/4016659357/in/set-72157618644826592/

    I have mostly been doing lapsized or smaller quilts but the next time I do a larger one I am definitely doing it like that!:)

    So...was it your birthday? Mine is tomorrow!;)
    Hippo Birdie Two Ewes!!xo

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  15. Thankyou for showing this technique. I am off to Pennys now, to find out how to do it. Best wishes from England

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  17. Glad you shared. I really think I am going to start this today! I like so many only have a regular machine and would never even dream of making such a large quilt 'till now. Excited to try it!
    I am a big fan of your quilts, by the way.

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  18. I love that idea. Without a long-arm machine, this will be a great technique for people like me that has a regular sewing machine but still wants to do the bigger quilts.

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  19. Brilliant idea! Especially with ones that have a busy schedule! :)

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  20. I've been aware of this technique for a long time, but have never tried it. Your beautiful blocks make me want to give it a go! Thanks for sharing!

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  21. Thanks for sharing. Have you completed your back yet? I'm curious about how you will do it. I have a bunch of log cabin blocks from my VQB and I might just do this with them!

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  22. I've been doing it too and love love love it!

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  23. I haven't done a 'quilt-as-you-go quilt' in forever. When we did them, you had a backing square, too, but just didn't quilt all the way to the edges. Then when you joined the blocks, you only joined the tops and batting of the two blocks by machine, leaving the backs free. Next you turned the edge of one block's back under, and stitched it over the edge of the other block back, for a finished edge (confusing?), and sewed the rows together the same way. When you were done, you had a quilt with the quilting showing on the back too, and only had to bind the entire thing at once.
    It's so funny how all of these things make circles, being new again, with new methods.
    Have a ball......it's fun to see you excited about a project.

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  24. I've never tried this technique, but I think I've found what I'll do for my next scrap project! Brilliant!

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  25. Rita, these look fabulous! I have been watching Penny's quilt along since the beginning, wanting to give it a shot - but timing kept me from starting. Also tres hesitant about the finishing technique, so kind of held off to see how that worked out. Am eager to see how your finished one looks on the back cuz these are just so fun!!

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  26. your blocks look amazing. I really wanted to participate in this quilt along when it was happening, but was way to busy at the time. It is still on my (very long) list of things I want to try!!

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  27. I really wanted to start during the quilt along , too - Penny's quilt is so awesome. Now I am inspired again! Not that I need any more projects, but after seeing your blocks I had an idea to take apart some abandoned log cabins I made last year and started bringing them back to life this morning. So fun!

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  28. it seems very interesting, thanks for sharing. Your blocks are amazing.

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  29. I've been following along with Sew Take a Hike too... really drawn to the quilt-as-you-go idea, and it'll be a great way to use up excess strips of batting. I love your fabric choices, they are perfect, those first two blocks are particularly awesome.

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  30. why why why did you have to show me that technique? it totally blew my mind! I've been seeking some sort of 'new' technique to try, felt like I needed a bit of a challenge - I think I've found it!

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  31. those lines are beautiful! thanks for the tip!

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  32. Thanks for sharing. I have a queen quilt for our bed in the vague stage of planning, so this is new and good food for thought for me!

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  33. This method definitely makes for a fun quilt.

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  34. i've done one quilt as you go quilt but not a log cabin! must go and check it out!

    Corrie:)

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  35. can't wait to see it all done! Love it

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  36. I love the crisp look you are so good at getting - what is your secret?!

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