Monday 20 August 2007

A quiet week !

I am generally a healthy person - no more than my fair share of coughs and colds etc. But one thing I am plaqued with is migraines. The proper ones with nausea, disturbed vision, endless vomiting and a head that feels like it's made of glass. They are getting easier as I get older - I haven't had one for ages ( touch wood ) but I am prone to less severe headaches and these come in batches. Last week was one of those weeks where my head did not feel like it belonged to me and was basically a wasted week as I did not feel up to anything. Things have improved and I am raring to get back to my quilts :-) Thats why I've been so quiet.
Anyway I did manage to get some more mile a minute blocks done and have decided that I will make a quilt that will live in my car ! If we go for long days out the kids always feel sleepy on the way back and I think this quilt will have a useful life as something to snuggle under when they're tired. And at least it will have a purpose - lol !
Instead of joining all the blocks together and struggling to quilt it with my domestic machine I have decided to make it quilt-as-you-go. I have done this several times and love the method. Here is a quick few photos to show how I do it.
Because the blocks I made are only 6 inches I decided to first make them bigger by sewing groups of 4 together seperating by sashing. The sashing strips are cut 1 inch. Repeat with other blocks.
Layer each block with wadding and backing fabric and quilt how you like. Then trim wadding and backing level with block.




Next I cut 2 strips in the same fabric as I used for the sashing. These measure 1 inch and 1.5 inch. Both by the length of the block. So these were 12 iches long. Fold the wider strip - wrong sides together and press.
Place the 1 inch strip - right side together with the block you want to join and place the folded strip on the back of the block so all raw edges are together. Sew along here.





Then line up the other raw edge of the 1 inch strip along the new block you want to join on and sew along here making sure you don't catch the folded strip on the back in your stitches.
The front will look like this




And the back will look like this
You just need to flip down the strip and slip stitch in place - just like doing binding.
I usually do all my rows first and then do the same again - joining the rows together obviously with longer strips. You just need to keep measuring.
I have made 2 really big quilts using this method and it works well for me as I hate wrestling a huge quilt through my machine. All this will of course be abandoned when I get a long arm machine in about 20 years time - lol!
You can also add borders - just keep using the same method. You can either use a contrasting fabric that will stand out or one that blends in. I have used red in this to seperate the blocks a bit and to add even more brightness - as if it needs it !!

23 comments:

JanJ said...

Hi! I just wanted to tell you that I love your mile a minute blocks and will have to give that a try soon! I also think the Sister's Choice baby quilt a few posts back is just gorgeous! You do beautiful work.

Laurie Ann said...

Love your MAM blocks! I've done a couple quilt as you go blankets too and there's definately something to be said for it!!

sewkalico said...

Well I hope you're feeling better. That's going to be a cute quilt.

Joyce said...

I tried a couple of quilt as you go. THe first one turned out great. The second one wasn't very good. It was all lumpy on the front. I also didn't like all the hand stitching on the back. I really like your mile a minute blocks.

Debi said...

Great MOM blocks and I really am intrigued by your quilt as you go method. I might have to do this with all of my string blocks.

mereth said...

I've finished quilts with a similar method, and it's nice to work on smaller sections for a change. They seem to stand up to wear the same,and you can't tell they were constructed differently when thay're done.
Keryn and I had awful migraines from the time we were in our teens,so we can sympathise with you. I hate the wasted time, there's so much you could be doing instead of feeling ill.

Pam said...

I've always planned to make one of those "quilt as you go" quilts. Once I even cut a bunch of 9 inch square of left over batting (wadding). These mile a minute blocks would be a great idea to quilt up like that. And with baby fabric they would make pretty quick little baby quilts. Another great idea from Wales :)))

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh I LOVE them! I like how you put them together! Sorry to hear about the headaches, that stinks.

Doodlebug Gail said...

What pretty blocks! Sorry about your headaches - I can sympathise. It is a terrible waste of time to have to be still when your head doesn't feel right isn't it?

Your blog is so full of inspiration that I find myself bookmarking your entries on a regular basis. More ideas and not enough time.

Unknown said...

Glad your head is starting to get back to normal - migraines are vile - people who have never suffered them think they are just a bad headache but they really are all-encompassing and as you say you just have to write off the time when you're affected. Love the mile a minute blocks and the QAYG method. Good plan to keep a quilt in the car if only for picnics and late journeys home

Belvie said...

Thanks for sharing your quilt as you go method. I have a charity quilt to make and I think I may do it that way.

Sorry to hear about your migraines. I use to have them about every 6 months, but not anymore. I noticed they stopped after I had to have a hysterectomy. Now I can't see how that would have an effect unless it has something to do with hormones. At any rate, I haven't had one in 9 years and I'm so thankful! It was awful being unable to function and sick.

swooze said...

I am tempted by this method but feel so allergic to all that hand work!

Jeanne said...

I hope your headaches are very few and far between, if at all. Your MAM blocks are so bright and cheery. They will make a wonderful quilt. Thanks for detailing your method of putting them all together.

Bea said...

Great work in that blocks and a fine quilt as you go method. Love that happy colours. And thnaks für aour comment on my blog.
Sorry for your headache. I´m so glad, that I miss all this pain.
Wish you a happy week and no migraines.

Unknown said...

I am so sorry to hear about your headaches/migraine, my sister has migraine and I have seen how sick you get when it strikes.

Helen in the UK said...

Hope your head clears soon and lets you get back to your sewing. Love the look of our mile a minute quilt - great idea for the car. Don't leave it on show though or someone else might take a fancy to it and nick it :)

Libby said...

Thanks for the info on "quilt as you go" - as a beginning machine quilter it seems like it might be something worth trying!

Colleen said...

I have never done a mile a minute quilt pattern yet. I haven't tried the quilt as you go either but have wanted to. I thought yours looked so fun, you've inspired me to try it out.

Wendy said...

Your quilt blocks look fantastic, that looks like a very good method.

I hope your head is feeling better, it's hard to do anything when in pain. Take care.

Rose Marie said...

Good idea for doing them in groups of four. I've made one of these type quilts but the blocks are smaller and they were each assembled separately and I found that it was a lot of work to do that way. Your way, I like!

Luísa Silva said...

I never tried the quilt as you go but it is a very interesting technique and easy to follow with your tutorial. I love the red sashing, nice choice :)

Lynda said...

I too am besotted with the mile a minute blocks. Your quilt as you go idea is great, as is the red sashing. What a lovely fun quilt!

Hedgehog said...

This is really helpful, thanks!! Just a couple questions... Do you even have a gap between the battings from each block? Do they ever overlap each other? How do you avoid this? Do you feel like the quilt is strong enough? Do you quilt over the seams once you're finished? Thanks again - love you blog!