Quilt As You Go: Methods, Joining Techniques and a Step-by-Step Tutorial
Quilt as you go, often shortened to QAYG, lets you quilt a project in small, manageable pieces instead of wrestling a whole quilt through your sewing machine. Each block or section is layered and quilted on its own, then the finished pieces are joined together. This quilt as you go tutorial covers the main methods, how to join quilt as you go blocks with or without sashing, and how to plan the layout so the finished quilt looks just as good as one quilted in one piece.
What is quilt as you go?
In traditional quilting, you finish the whole quilt top, layer it with batting and backing, and then quilt all three layers at once. With the quilt as you go method, you quilt each block or strip as a small “sandwich” first, then sew the quilted pieces together. The quilting is already done when the last seam is sewn.
Why quilters love it
- Easy on a home machine: small blocks fit under any sewing machine, so even a king quilt is manageable.
- Uses up batting scraps: each block needs only a small piece of batting.
- Portable: blocks can be quilted a few at a time, between other projects.
- Less basting: basting a small block takes minutes, not hours on the floor.
- Room to experiment: each block can have a different quilting design.
Quilt as you go methods
1. Quilted blocks joined with sashing
Each block is layered and quilted on its own, then the blocks are joined with sashing strips on the front and back. It is the most popular quilt as you go method and the easiest for beginners, because the sashing hides the joins and covers small size differences.
2. Quilted blocks joined without sashing
Blocks are quilted, trimmed and sewn directly to each other, then the seam on the back is covered with a narrow strip or folded backing. It gives a seamless look on the front, like a traditionally quilted quilt.
3. Stitch and flip (strip piecing onto batting)
Fabric strips are sewn straight onto a piece of batting and backing, so piecing and quilting happen in the same step. It works beautifully for log cabin blocks, table runners and placemats.
4. Quilting in sections
A large quilt is divided into two, three or four big sections. Each section is quilted, then the sections are joined. It suits large quilts and quilters who want fewer joining seams.
Quilt as you go joining techniques compared
| Method | Look on the front | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joined with sashing | Visible grid of strips | Easy | Beginners, sampler quilts |
| Joined without sashing | Seamless, like a regular quilt | Moderate | Blocks that form a larger pattern |
| Stitch and flip | Strip-pieced design | Easy | Log cabin, table runners, placemats |
| Sections | One or two joining seams | Moderate | Large and king-size quilts |
How to quilt as you go: step by step
- Plan the layout first. Decide the finished size, block size and layout before you quilt anything. Joined QAYG blocks are hard to rearrange later.
- Cut batting and backing larger than the block, about 1″ bigger on every side.
- Layer each block: backing face down, batting, then the block face up. Pin or spray baste.
- Quilt the block with straight lines, a walking foot pattern or free motion. Keep quilting about 1/2″ away from the edges so there is room to join.
- Trim the block to the same size, squaring it up through all three layers.
- Join the blocks into rows using one of the methods below, then join the rows.
- Bind the quilt as usual.
How to join quilt as you go blocks with sashing
- Cut a front sashing strip about 1″ wide and a back sashing strip about 1 3/4″ wide. Fold the back strip in half lengthwise and press.
- Place the front strip right sides together along the edge of the first block, and the folded back strip along the same edge on the back. Sew through everything with a 1/4″ seam.
- Sew the other edge of the front strip to the next block, right sides together.
- Bring the folded back strip over the seam on the back and hand stitch or machine stitch it down, like binding.
For wider sashing styles and color ideas, see our guide to quilt sashing.
How to join quilt as you go blocks without sashing
- Place two quilted blocks right sides together and sew through all layers with a 1/4″ seam.
- Trim the batting out of the seam allowance close to the stitching to reduce bulk.
- Press the seam open on the back.
- Cover the seam on the back with a folded 1″ strip of backing fabric, stitched down by hand or machine.
Plan your QAYG layout on a design wall
Because quilt as you go blocks are joined permanently once they are quilted, the layout has to be right before you start sewing them together. A quilt design wall lets you see every block at once and settle the arrangement first.
- Arrange the unquilted blocks on the wall and balance colors before you layer and quilt them. Flannel holds cotton blocks without pins.
- Take a photo and number the blocks, so you know exactly where each quilted block goes later.
- Audition sashing colors by laying strips between the blocks.
- Return quilted blocks to the wall to check the layout again before joining. Quilted blocks are heavier, so a pin at the top corners helps them stay put.
The large quilt design wall fits a full bed-size QAYG layout, and quilt design wall tiles suit table runners, placemats and baby quilts. For more layout ideas, see our guide to quilt layouts, and use the quilt sizes chart to work out how many blocks you need.
Quilt as you go project ideas for beginners
- Table runner: a single strip of stitch and flip piecing, finished in an afternoon.
- Placemats: a set of four is a great way to practice joining.
- Baby quilt: twelve 12″ blocks joined with sashing.
- Log cabin quilt: build each log cabin block directly onto batting.
- Large quilt: work in rows or sections, then join them, so you never handle the whole quilt under the machine.
Frequently asked questions
Is quilt as you go good for beginners?
Yes. Quilting small blocks is much easier than quilting a whole quilt on a home machine, and joining with sashing is forgiving of small differences in block size.
How do you join quilt as you go blocks?
The most common way is with sashing: a narrow strip on the front and a folded strip on the back, sewn in one seam and then stitched down like binding. Blocks can also be sewn directly together, with the seam on the back covered by a narrow strip.
Can you quilt as you go without sashing?
Yes. Sew the quilted blocks right sides together, trim the batting from the seam allowance, press the seam open and cover it on the back with a folded strip of fabric.
How do you quilt as you go a large quilt?
Quilt the blocks or sections individually, join them into rows, then join the rows. Splitting a large quilt into two to four sections keeps the number of joining seams low.
What batting is best for quilt as you go?
A thin, low-loft cotton or cotton blend batting works best, because the joining seams stay flat. Thicker batting makes the seams bulky.
Tags
