from design wall to machine

[Bonnie in Ok]

I want to know how others move the the peices from the design wall to the sewing machine with out getting them all confused? My wall is not next to the machine so I have to get up to go get them which doesn't help. It never fails that there is always one that I get turned around and have to take apart and resew. I am sure there is a method to the madness someone came up with.

[juliagraves]

I pin little pieces of paper to the top right corner that have the row and column number - so the top left corner block is 1A, the next one in that row is 1B, etc, across the top. The next row is 2A, then 2B, etc. You can buy pins that are labeled like this, or make your own.

Julia

[Sylvia]

Hello

I mark my squares with masking tape bits. I call the first row A, then number the squares 1,2,3,etc. I do the whole quilt this way while it is on the wall or, for a large quilt, on the floor. The masking tape bit always goes on the top left corner. I pick up a whole row at a time and piece A1, A2, A3 and on . The position of the masking tape helps with directionality. Then it is B1, B2, B3 etc. This seems to work for me but I am anxious to see if someone has a different plan to keep things straight.

Good luck with future piecing.

Sylvia

[jeri]

I always try post-it notes but end up pinning them cause they always fall off. My current "design wall" is my living room floor! As I am re-doing my basement I will have 7 foot by 8 foot design wall.

[meg_marsh]

I have a small cutting board I lift my block pieces onto making sure I know top from bottom/left to right. The top of this cutting board is marked. When I get to moving the completed blocks for making a row, I pin the top left corner of the left block and then pick up from left to right (left block on top). These are then placed on my smaller cutting board making sure the top block is in keeping with the "top" marking on the board. Once the block or row is done, it goes straight back to the design board to make sure all looks right visually. Since I have used this method for so long, it seems to work and I rarely goof up any more. I have learned never to change my method - disaster!!!! So, I guess, whatever method you decide on, stick with it.

[Busy Quilting]

I have numbered all my white lower head pins. I pin the left hand side block of each row.

Pick up blocks from right to left for each row, then sew a row at a time. Leaving the row marker pin in.

I used to put 1 pin, 2 pins etc. writing on the pin heads is so much easier.

I even have a set numbered with letters I use when cutting out pieces for different blocks.

Lyn

[Neher-in-law5]

I get my exercise!! I use my bed as the layout then take a couple blocks or sets of blocks at a time to the machine, holding on to the seam that needs to be stitched (or pin if needed). then I take the sewn blocks back, and pick up the next ones. (helps the quilter's spread on my back side!)

[meg]

i am a slowpoke, but here's how i do it.

i place a pin in the upper left hand corner of the first block of each row. this way i always know which end to leave unconnected. i go one block at a time - place them right sides together at the wall and pin sitting at my bernina. after i sew them together, i head back to the wall for the next block. its alot of up and down, but i like to get moving anyway so i dont get stiff. nad as you can probably surmise, i just dont rush.

i love peicing!

[GrandmaLKB]

I put a pin in the edge to be stitiched. For keeping rows/blocks in order, I pin numbers to them. Takes time, but better than ripping out or finding a mistake in the middle of a quilt (which I have also done!!)

[Ferret]

I hold a few really carefully and often get them wrong My design wall is the bed and on the other floor of the house, and well, I'm lazy

Ferret

[Bonnie in Ok]

Thanks for all the great ideas and now I don't feel like I am doing things the hard way. Yes I keep my design wall away from the sewing machine so I have to get some exercise while sewing.

[Janette]

I pin a paper number in the first block on the left of each row, and then I put one on top of the other in the order they need sewing and take a row at a time to my sewing machine (the rest are on the floor at this stage !!!) then I put the completed row on the floor and take the next row, then I attach row 1 to row 2, that way, I can put it all away if I need to and the rows are attached. I leave the number one label on all of the time so that I know where the top left corner of the quilt is at all times, continue in this way until all done (I do make mistakes sometimes though !! )

Happy piecing !!!

[victoriasews]

Here is how to remove all the blocks from your design wall and take them to your machine in one small stack. Be patient as I am posting lots of pictures and hope you can make sense of it. I have done as large as a full sized quilt using this method. First I'll post the drawing, then some real blocks.

First, take E and place it RST (right sides together) on top of A.

2nd, take F and place it RST on B

Then put G on C and then H on D

[victoriasews]

Here is the real block picture

[victoriasews]

Next stack AE on top of BF

Then AEBF on CG

Then AEBFCG on DH

[victoriasews]

AEBF on CG

[victoriasews]

Next, take the 1st row you stacked on top of each other and stack them on the 1st block of the next row. AEBFCGDH will go on top of I.

[victoriasews]

Start stacking the pile on the block below it and then that stack on the one below that. When you finish row 2, start stacking on row 3, etc. until all the blocks are in one pile.

[victoriasews]

Last row done.

[JustSewSimple]

I label only the top row and then stack the others under it in order. I like to use sticky envelope lables that I get at the office supply. I get the small ones in a box and they last for years and years.

[victoriasews]

Now take the pile to your machine. Be careful not to disorient your pile. Pick up the first two blocks and sew along the right edge. Do not cut apart. Pick up next 2 blocks and sew. Keep doing this until you come to a Right Side Up block instead of a Wrong side up block. You are now done with the first row. Open the blocks, and sew the next block in the stack to the first pair of blocks. Continue until you reach the end of the pairs.

Open the "threes" and sew the next block to the first set of 3's. Continue until you run of of 3's. Continue in this manner until all blocks are sewn. You can now hold up the whole quilt. Take to the ironing board and press the first row of seams to the right, the next row to the left, next to the right, etc. Now you can sew the horizontal rows .