Brandvig - Quilt as-you-go made modern: fresh techniques for busy quilters

Publisher: Amy Marson Creative Director: Gailen Runge Art Director: Kristy Zacharias Editor: Karla Menaugh Technical Editors: Julie Waldman and Nanette S. Zeller Cover Designer: April Mostek Book Designer: Katie McIntosh Production Coordinator: Zinnia Heinzmann Production Editor: Joanna Burgarino Illustrator: Mary E. Flynn Photo Assistant: Mary Peyton Peppo Styled photography by Nissa Brehmer and instructional photography by Diane Pedersen, unless otherwise noted Dedication Dedicated to my husband, Ben, who bought me my first sewing machine even though I was terrified to use one. I dont think he knew what he was getting us into! Thank you for being encouraging, supportive, and loving for every step of the way, in both my quilting endeavors and life in general. Love you forever. Introduction Break free from following the rules and embrace your inner creativity to make a one-of-a-kind quilt! After having my son, the only time I had left to quilt was late at night, when the last thing I should be doing is handling a rotary cutter and making precise measurements.

When it is that late, Im just not all there, if you know what I mean. My style of quilting had to adapt to my lifestyle. Quilting as-you-go allows you to be truly creative and expressive with your quilting. Free yourself from following precise patterns and make your quilt your way! Take a break from maneuvering a large quilt sandwich through your sewing machine. This technique allows you to intricately quilt onto small and manageable blocks. It is a fresh, fun, and simpler-than-it-sounds technique that will change the way you quilt.

My philosophy on quilting has always been to keep it simple, yet creative, and to have fun during the whole process. When theres a step you dread or that intimidates you, that is when you end up with a pile of unfinished projects. The quilt as-you-go technique is great for the beginning quilter because it is a very forgiving technique, and it is also excellent for a seasoned quilter who wants to learn a fresh approach. You can thank my son for making me quilt outside the box. The quilt in this photo is Solstice Parade. Detail of Get ready to be creative and quilt outside the box! WHAT IS QUILT AS-YOU-GO? My style of quilting as-you-go is similar to foundation/paper piecing, except the fabric is pieced directly onto small batting blocks instead of paper.

This technique is a style of improvisational quilting, but you can use it to make quilts as abstract or structured as you want. Traditional Quilting vs. Quilting As-You-Go With traditional quilting, the first step involves precisely measuring and cutting your fabric, followed by piecing together your quilt top. Next, you baste the quilt by sandwiching the batting between the quilt top and quilt backing fabric; this is all held together by hundreds of pins you have meticulously placed to keep the layers of the quilt sandwich from shifting and falling apart. Lastly, you roll the quilt sandwich up as best as you can, and feed it through your sewing machine to quilt it. For many (myself included), maneuvering a large piece of material through a sewing machine can get frustrating and physically tiresome.

When you quilt as-you-go, you piece the quilt top together directly onto smaller pieces of batting, which allows you to bypass quilting a large quilt sandwich all at once. When you quilt directly onto small and manageable batting blocks, quilting is a completely differentand refreshingexperience! After you have finished quilting the blocks and assembling them, you need only add backing fabric and binding. Advantages of Quilting As-You-Go You work with small and manageable pieces, which means you can quilt more intricately without the physical strain and frustration of feeding a large quilt sandwich through a sewing machine. The improvisational style of quilting is mentally stimulating. You are creating something brand-new that is all you. I guarantee you that no two quilts will be the same! Quilt as-you-go is great for on-the-go moms or anyone with a busy schedule.

You can easily start and stop with this style of quilting. Anything left half done will already be quilted onto the batting, making it easy to pick up where you left off. You will complete a quilt in no time because you are literally quilting as-you-go directly onto the batting! This means fewer unfinished projects piling up! Easily finish your own quilts and save money on long-arm quilting services. Use all that money you saved to buy more fabric! Im absolutely thrilled to be sharing this with you, and I hope youll get as much creative inspiration and as many finished quilts as I have from this fresh and fun technique! Happy quilting as-you-go! Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist. AnonymousGetting Started SUPPLIES In addition to your sewing machine, you will need some other basic supplies. Cutting Mats 24 36 cutting mat Use this for cutting the batting and fabric. Cutting Mats 24 36 cutting mat Use this for cutting the batting and fabric.

I dont have a big crafting area, so I usually tuck my mat behind my sewing table. When I need it, I lay it out on my dining table or even the floor. It is not ideal (hey, not everyone has Martha Stewarts crafting room, right?), but it works! If you do have to stash your mat when its not in use, be sure to keep it flat against the wallor under your bedso it doesnt develop wobbles. 14 14 rotating cutting mat This mat rotates 360, which makes faster and prevents awkward cutting positions. It is one of the tools I use the most. Rotary Cutters 45mm rotary cutter Use this for cutting fabric. 60mm rotary cutter This large cutter is the right size for cutting batting. Cutting Rulers 3 24 or 6 24 ruler Use these longer rulers to cut batting and fabric. 9 or 12 square ruler Use these to quickly . Tabletop Ironing Board When you quilt as-you-go, you iron after sewing every seam, so it is helpful to have a small tabletop ironing board near your sewing machine. Even-feed walking foot TIP You may find that you can get away without using an even-feed walking foot when quilting your blocks. Even-feed walking foot TIP You may find that you can get away without using an even-feed walking foot when quilting your blocks.

Try it out; if you get puckering, then an even-feed walking foot will solve the problem. Even-Feed Walking Foot