newbie

Welcome to you Sharon Yes, the method of completing individual blocks and sewing them together is quite a well-known one. There are several books on the subject. The ones I know of (without hunting too far in my pieces of paper with notes on!) are by Georgia Bonesteel. The one I have is called 'Lap Quilting Lives'; but I'm sure there is an earlier one. There are several methods of joining the blocks - there is no single correct way. I hope you'll get lots of help with online sites, from folk here, and have a great time making your first quilt. Start simple and small, and you have far less chance of getting frustrated. Have fun. . In message , Sharon & Jack writes

There are several methods of quilting as you go. Here are links that have descriptions of several methods. Please note that while I reseached this a while back, I have not tried all of them, nor do I have any of these books on the subject.

• With this method, individual blocks or sections of a quilt can be done. It does require some hand work on the back. Georgia Bonesteel's series of books, already mentiioned by Patti.
  formatting link

• A method that requires no hand sewing. The batting in one section is separate from the batting in another section. In the shown example, the quilting was done across strips of blocks that were sewn together.
  formatting link

• There is a variation on the previous one, but for some reason I cannot find the link for it this morning. First the blocks are sewn together in strips (width or length of the quilt). A single section is quilted, but not to the edges. The batting for the next section is sewn to the batting in the already quilted section. The top strip for the next section is sewn to the top of the already quilted section. The backing strip for the next section is sewn to the bottom of the already quilted section. The next section is smoothed, basted and quilted (if it is not the outer edge of the quilt, do not quilt to the edges). Repeat as needed.

• A sashing on the back covers the seams. This sashing is machine sewn and shows on the front.
  formatting link

• Betty Cotton developed a different method, as shown on her web site. The result is a reversible quilt, that has some three dimensional ridges. Betty appeared on "Sewing with Nancy". I think there were three episodes on her "Pinetree" quilt.
  formatting link

• Julie Olson has a method that uses Steam-a-Seam 2 and a bias tape maker that is described in her book.
  formatting link
  I'm sure there are others, as quilters tend to be so innovative.

Bev > Hi - my name is Sharon, and I've never made a quilt. My SIL and I tried,

Something like that is also described in Sharon Pederson's "Reversible Quilts" book, but I still haven't tried it (maybe you can find it at your local library). I will try it next month when I take a class with her though! When I first read your message, I read it a bit like an AA introduction, and had to laugh. I think a lot of us probably shopped and acquired a lot of books and supplies before we took the plunge and started quilting.

Lynn

Shar> Hi - my name is Sharon, and I've never made a quilt.

Welcome, Sharon! :) Once you start, you won't be able to stop, as most of us have happily discovered. As for the technique you describe, that's how I learned to quilt, too (though I've branched out a bit since then ). I used Georgia Bonesteel's books (she has at least four or five) on lap quilting to teach myself to quilt, and I loved it. :) See if you can find one of her earlier books, either at the library or online or at a bookstore; they're very easy to understand. HTH. :)

Sharon, there is a page with instructions for the quilt-as-you-go method at

Ithas many good pictures illustrating the technique, and doesn't requiremuch handsewing, if any. Maria in NE PA

Welcome Sharon, Where do you live? You might check at LQS (local quilt shops) for books or even a class. This group is great about giving advice and encouragement.

Kathleen in TX

Just read the message below about QNN and looked at their list of program. They have several "Quilt in a Day" programs on their list to watch. One is Christmas stockings, which would be a small project to start with. You might also try a baby quilt. If no ones having a baby you can always give it to a hospital, homeless shelter, children's home, a church's outreach, etc. Kathleen in TX

It is possible to make a quilt without any handwork; everything can be done on the sewing machine. Piecing and applique are, of course, done a block at a time. For your first quilt, start with something small and simple. Some of the Quilt in a Day books are good for beginners, because the instructions are very detailed. Their Log Cabin, Irish Chain, Trip Around the World, Rail Fence are all especially good for beginners.

You can quilt on your regular home machine, but large quilts do get bulky and hard to handle. There are a number of techniques for reducing the bulk. Besides the books & websites others have mentioned, you might want to take a look at "Machine Quilting in Sections" by Marti Mitchell. She's gives several techniques for reducing the bulk of a large quilt; most of the ideas are documented in other places, but I haven't seen anything else that describes all of them in one place. I've used a couple of her techniques -- before I bought the book. I've documented one such project at

Julia > Hi - my name is Sharon, and I've never made a quilt. My SIL and I tried,

Thanks for all the suggestions. Now I have several options to look into.

Sharon