Quilt As You Go (QAYG) Part 2 - Beginner Quilting Tutorial with Leah Day

Learn how to QAYG or Quilt-As-You-Go and connect quilted blocks together easily in this beginner quilting tutorial with Leah Day. Find Leah's patterns you can easily QAYG right here: leahday.com/products/2017-mac...
This video was created for the Machine Quilting Block Party, an interactive quilt along where you can learn how to make your first quilt one block at a time!
Each month Leah will release a new block pattern for you to follow along piecing and quilting. The patterns include both piecing AND machine quilting designs and templates for you to use to mark your quilt blocks. You'll also find new quilting video tutorials to guide you every step of the way.
At the end of the year we'll trim down our blocks and bind them together to create a beautiful Flower Festival quilt! This Quilt-as-you-Go technique is perfect for beginner level quilters with small home sewing machines.
Leah teaches quilting online through free KZbin videos uploaded weekly. Subscribe to our channel so you don't miss out on any of the new videos on patchwork and machine quilting uploaded weekly: / lcvday
Learn more about the Machine Quilting Block Party and find patterns for each monthy block right here: leahday.com/products/2017-mac...
Find tools and supplies, plus video workshops to guide you through all the steps to creating beautiful quilts on Leah's website: leahday.com/
Join the Machine Quilting Block Party Facebook Group so you can easily post photos and ask questions about this project: / quiltingblockparty

[@deniselawrence7491]

I started this quilt 7 years ago. Four blocks are done, two went into a tote bag, the rest are in a tote waiting to be finished. Today I want to add sashings and cornerstones, borders to a different quilt I am making using QAYG and I remembered you doing that. A quick search here and there you are. Glad your still here on you tube.

[@tammydavidson7506]

so happy to wake up and find new tutorials from you! love love the bloopers at the end....its fun to be silly!

[@LeahDay]

Lol! Silly it is!

[@janetnyilas6385]

Leah, I can't find my question from below that I asked you this morning, but thank you for replying to me so quickly. Your recommendation of adding the inch around the 8 1/2 inch block is a brilliant idea. You are such an excellent quilter and teacher and through your videos a person can feel your genuine caring and sweet nature.

[@LeahDay]

You are so welcome!

[@joannedonovan9489]

Your "out takes" made my day!! Silly!! Thanks for what you do for us, Leah! I've learned a lot, and continue to do so!!!

[@LeahDay]

Aw! That's so sweet! Thank you for watching!

[@emds698]

Hi I came upon your channel yesterday evening and been hooked. I do everything from sewing to crocheting, crafts wood work but always wanted to do a quilt but haven't it just scary. Been watching videos but your videos are great very easy to follow and you do things the way I would. I also believe how you treat your fabric before you start your project gives you great results. Also I'm right handed so I understand the twisting and turning of things.

[@LeahDay]

Thank you Marisol! I agree, I think so much of a project's end result has to do with how it begins!

[@kathjacquier6635]

I enjoyed the humour, I was laughing with you, you brightened up my day.Thank you 🇳🇿

[@kathjacquier6635]

I have already watched this good-off but had to play it over on another day and it still made me laugh. Laughter is infectious thanks for sharing.

[@LeahDay]

Thank you for reminding me about that! I needed a watch too! LOL!

[@janetmcadamsbailey1874]

Thank you for updating this process, as you have mastered the new and improved process, albeit the same but better......Thank you for sharing, the goodness is in the details

[@LeahDay]

Yep, I've definitely been tweaking the process here and there and it's definitely improved. It still requires a lot of precision though and I'm working on new methods that don't require quite such perfectly cut pieces.

[@songbirddesigns6973]

Great way to start the day!! Thanks, Leah!

[@LeahDay]

Awesome!

[@marcomama1]

Thank you for this tutorial,excellent tutorial!

[@J9inCA]

that was cute. Thanks for sharing the out takes. And thanks too for the lesson in quilt as you go.

[@LeahDay]

LOL! That one was in a league of it's own!

[@jasminevanya5522]

Thanks a lot Leah. You are such a good teacher.This is very beautiful and useful video and technique. I will try it.

[@LeahDay]

Excellent! I'm so glad you found it helpful!

[@everybodysnana]

Enjoyed the end! This stuff is pretty intense for all of us. You making the videos and us stitching the quilts. We love you!

[@LeahDay]

LOL! I'm glad you enjoyed it. It can get intense making the videos and sometimes I have to lighten up a bit. I'm glad you enjoyed that!

[@debjacobson9800]

Thank you Leah.

[@judevucovich7068]

Thank you for the giggles and laughs. My new Quilting Friend. This was a good lesson.

[@LeahDay]

You're welcome Jude! Enjoy!

[@embsew8006]

Now as you start cannot help but laugh. Thanks for the fun at the end.

[@LeahDay]

LOL! Me too!

[@PeggyDieu]

Thank you so much for this video! You made it so simple to connect the blocks and I love your videos. :)

[@LeahDay]

Excellent! I'm so happy that worked well for you.

[@leighlidgard3817]

Thank you, Leah. Looks simple enough. My sister-in-law and I about to try this for the first time very soon. Hope we can do it as well as you. ;-)

[@LeahDay]

Good luck! Just take your time with each step. No need to rush and use extra tables to support the quilt once it starts getting big.

[@karentzn]

Hello Leah. I just love listening and seeing your videos. You work so carefully and speak so clearly. Watching you makes me feel as a new FMQ quilter that it is possible to do your projects. I have just received your Dresden rulers and chosen my fabrics. I am behind but wanted to do it with the right tools. I am still looking for a quilting foot for my Bernina and hoping to buy a cheaper version . Thanks for sharing your skills with us all. Karen RSA

[@LeahDay]

Thank you so much for supporting our shop and trying out the Dresden Templates! You still have plenty of time to catch up with the videos and I'm sure you will learn so much along the way. Ruler feet are unfortunately expensive so take your time testing the feet to find one that fits properly so the needle is in center position and you have 1/4 inch all around the foot.

[@karentzn]

Thanks Leah. You are correct. In this case it is probably best that I stick to my machines brand as damage to the machine will be way more!!!!! Have a super week.

[@beanixdorf6977]

You make this so easy, thanks

[@debmpd]

thanks for this tutorial. I'll be using it on my next quilt.

[@LeahDay]

Wonderful!

[@lindawulfkoenig4907]

Best QAYG videos I've ever seen (and I've seen a bunch). I'm still fighting the idea of starching my fabric, because my throat always gets very irritated when using sprays, and I'm afraid to use liquid starch in my temperamental washing machine.. But I can certainly see what a difference it makes in the accuracy of your strips and blocks.

[@LeahDay]

Thank you! You could wear a respirator while spraying and starch dissolves completely in water so you could always soak the quilt in your bathtub before washing in the washer. I can't make a quilt without it!

[@evelynbaezlindecamp2074]

Thank you for your videos and time.

[@LeahDay]

You're super welcome!

[@laurajeanrusin5524]

*GASP* *giggle* *snort* LEAH, YOU MADE MY DAY!!! Thank you.

[@LeahDay]

LOL! So happy!

[@rachel5288]

I couldn't stop but laugh along with you at the end! Great video!

[@LeahDay]

I'm so glad you enjoyed that part! LOL!

[@jenniferfarsh675]

Beaver Leah, you are a goof :)

[@LeahDay]

You have no idea ;-)

[@janetmcadamsbailey1874]

This method will allow me to do a queen or king on my domestic rather than avoiding them or sending out to a long armer.....I am doing a queen for my daughter right now, and it has negative space every other block....so much fun a head, I can use some of your intense patterns............thank you again

[@LeahDay]

That's great Janet! I'm so happy to be helping you!

[@pabormom]

I love it! Giggles are so good for your soul :-)

[@LeahDay]

Yes! More please!

[@bettyryan6529]

Thanks for the reply.

[@LeahDay]

You're welcome!

[@carletarowland2830]

You are so inspiring I haven’t made a quilt as of yet but when I get the nerve I will use your technique

[@LeahDay]

Give it a go! It's really not that scary. It's just fabric and thread and batting after all!

[@kimtaylor4751]

thanks leah I will have a look 😁😁

[@elisabethvanderklugt1031]

You are so funny,but a great teacher.

[@LeahDay]

Lol! Seriously goofy!

[@ai1sa]

Thankyou, wonderfully clear. I've had blocks made for my daughters 21st that I hadnt worked out how to join and quilt. Thanks to your youtube clip she's likely to get it this year, maybe for her 26th!!! Is this technique ok for a queen size quilt?

[@LeahDay]

Yes, this will definitely work for a queen sized quilt. I once created huge blocks and connected them together to make a king sized quilt using this method. It works great!

[@0JReynolds]

Hahaha, I loved the video. Math is not a strong point for me, so its a little scary. Thanks for making me laugh at the end, that was great. I'm sure if I was making videos or should I say attempting to make a video it would be an epic fail. You do wonderfully and you are a great teacher. I think its best for me to try this on a very small project first to experiment.

[@LeahDay]

LOL! Sharing exact numbers in a video is always challenging so I try not to. I always end up saying something wrong!

[@0JReynolds]

Leah Day No, I like the numbers, like I said math was never my strong point. It's easier to adjust something a little than to try and do all the figuring

[@audreyderby5926]

Just like getting giddy in church.....can’t stop laughing...

[@LeahDay]

Once the giggles start, they don't stop!

[@mwest4607]

I sure wish I had learned this technique a long time ago! LOL! But am grateful I learned it now, thank you! A silly basic question I'm sure, what is a scrap charger for? I've never seen that as I am new to these helpful videos.

[@LeahDay]

I'm so glad you've found the videos and are enjoying them now! The scrap charger does a few different things: it keeps the thread tails organized so you stay in stitching mode, if they gag on you right at the beginning of a seam you have that ugly stitching on the scrap instead of your quilt, and it wastes less bobbin thread because you're only stitching short lengths between the scrap and the next piece.

[@sarasnead4096]

Love your technique! What's the width of the folded front binding piece?

[@pamelafloyd5131]

I love your videos so much! I am trying my first QAYG but not sure of the sashing strip width. Could you clarify what width the front and back are cut before folding? Thank you so much! :)

[@LeahDay]

The instructions for this video are specific to the quilt we're working on for this video. You can find the pattern with cutting instructions and exact amounts here: leahday.com/products/2017-machine-quilting-block-party?variant=26918423184

[@karenhigham8395]

Maybe I missed it but I don't remember you saying anything about a victory lap and how and when we do it. I guess you would do it before you do the trim that we will learn later or in a video from your 2016 quilt that I was not able to do.

[@LeahDay]

This is Part 2 of the Quilt As You Go technique. You can find the victory lap step in part 1 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3OxYaGQlJaefcU

[@judynewell413]

Hi Leah,My name is Judy Newell and I've never qayg before. Should you wash and starch your binding fabric if you did not prewash the fabric you used in the quilt? By the way I love your tutorials, you explain everything so well.

[@LeahDay]

Hmm...it depends on the color of your binding fabric. If it's red, blue, purple, or black I would definitely prewash as those colors are really prone to bleeding. I mostly prewash to remove loose dyes, not really to preshrink the fabric as quilts always tend to go a little crinkly after they are washed.

[@judynewell413]

But what I'm wondering is if you wash the binding and the quilt fabric hasn't been washed won't it make a difference when the quilt is washed after as it may shrink more than the binding strips.

[@LeahDay]

No, I don't think you'll see a significant shrinking issue. When I first started quilting I'd wash some fabrics and not wash others and I never noticed issues in how the fabrics shrank in relation to one another.

[@judynewell413]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help.

[@susannipp9822]

So funny.

[@kimtaylor4751]

hi I love your videos I'm a beginner and quilting a big quilt is very hard for me.can I ask can I use any size block and Patten this way thank you 😁😁

[@LeahDay]

Yes, you can use any block size, but if you'd like exact cutting instructions, you can find them in the Sashing and Cornerstones Pattern here: leahday.com/products/2017-machine-quilting-block-party?variant=26918423184

[@sylviamaldonado2009]

Thanks for the tutorial. I’m embarrassed to write, As I stood in front of my fabrics and supplies I don’t know how to line up the the backing and the top fabric.

[@LeahDay]

It once baffled me too!

[@kimness3445]

Am trying my first QAYG! I'm wanting my sashing finished size to be 1 1/2, would I do anything differently from what was explained in your tutorial?

[@LeahDay]

No, probably not. Thicker sashing will feel very different because there won't be any batting in that space. This method works so nicely and finishes flat and straight because the binding is only the thickness needed for the seam allowances. If you went wider, that area wouldn't have batting inside of it. Does that make sense?

[@jaclynmoylan1905]

Omg I am laughing so hard at the blooper at the end I’m snorting 😂

[@LeahDay]

That's what happens after a long day of filming introduction and exit segments. I start going wacky!

[@jaclynmoylan1905]

Leah Day now I’m gonna wonder every time you do your intro if the thought of a beaver pops in your head lol

[@LeahDay]

Every. Single. Time. LOL! I have to resist the urge to do the impression or the whole day will be shot completely out of the gate!

[@sophiawages7167]

Hi Leah, Would this type of binding work with a round Christmas Tree skirt that is in bargello form? It is made in 4 sections of 9 fabrics sewn together. The pattern instructions call for the typical quilting method and sewing the sections together. The onky drawback to the quilt as you go method would be the breaking up of the continual spiral pattern that is created by the 4 sections. I dont think it would look too bad with the bindings connecting these sections. What do you think. I will gladly take any suggestions!!

[@LeahDay]

I think that could be cool. It will definitely add a noticeable 1/2 inch of binding on both sides so you will be able to see it, but if you make it a design element that might look better. I would use the same color fabric as you use for the outer edge binding so it's consistent all around.

[@sophiawages7167]

Thank you Leah, sorry that my spelling was so terrible...was using my tablet and it doesn't seem to like my touch!! Yes, definitely, I was planning on using the same binding around the skirt as would bind. I am actually using a different colored backing, so I will make my 1" strips same color as the backing and the top's binding a different color... It is going to be really cool, I think! Thanks for your immediate response!

[@heatherschimke6107]

I am doing a design called Baltimore Bliss from Sindy Rodenmayer of Fatcat Designs. What would you recommend to use for the quilting around the many floral designs? I am not real good at quilting at the moment so can you please recommend an easy design. Thank you Lea for all your great quilting hints. Heather

[@LeahDay]

I would recommend a very simple design like Stippling that you can stitch very small around the flower shapes. I also advise practicing the designs many times on practice blocks so you feel confident as you begin quilting the real blocks. I hope that helps!

[@mlsutherland3821]

This cracked me up after a long day of stitching LOL - I have a batting question. I usually use cotton, which I LOVE even though I heard on one of your interviews you hate it (LOVE your podcast BTW), so I am doing this special quilt for my mom and using wool but it is so puffy and makes my fabric pucker. I practiced one sashing rectangle then pressed it and it flattened out and got all weird and stiff - lesson learned. Question is: best batting to show some definition but not be too puffy to handle? Or using wool, could I press around the edges only? It appears that once pressed, the batting is melting together. Also, I posted on the FB page last month I am doing this Sunbonnet Sue quilt for my mom. She made the squares over 20 years ago and I am surprising her by quilting it. Using the sashing and cornerstones pattern to join her squares. What's a good quilting design to use around Sue? They are on white blocks. I can do stippling but do you have suggestions? I have Googled this and only come up with Sue patterns which is not what I need. THANK YOU!!! Leah, you are the best teacher! I showed my daughter one of my sashing pieces and she couldn't believe I did it !!!

[@LeahDay]

LOL! I don't hate cotton batting, it's just not my favorite. Kind of like bananas. I'll eat it if I have to, but really I'd prefer not to. Lol! On the wool batting - yes, it tends to be very fluffy and has a squishy feel, at least to me as I'm quilting it and that can be distracting. My best advice would be to keep playing with it until you get used to the feel as it really is the best for great definition of your quilting. It also makes the warmest quilts, which is a nice bonus. But if you really want to keep experimenting Quilters Dream Puff is a puffy polyester. It's very fluffy too, but has less of a squishy feel as you're quilting so to me it feels a little less wild than wool. I'm not sure if this makes any sense or it's just me being way too sensitive to my materials! On your Sunbonnet Sue - I'd start drawing some different designs to see what you like best. Stippling is a great choice because it will allow you to wiggle around and through tight spaces with no problem. One of my favorites for adding movement is McTavishing and Paisley - two great designs for adding a heavy dose of texture to a quilt. I'll have to think about making a Sunbonnet myself and quilting a block. I've been quilting 12 years, you'd think I'd have made one by now!

[@mlsutherland3821]

Here's an update - after wrestling with the wool, I did one sashing rectangle on cotton batting. What a difference! The cotton batting does not do the beautiful feather design justice. It's just downright scraggly looking. Back to the wool I go. After washing out the two rectangles, the wool was gorgeous! Leah, I may be in your camp about cotton batting. I've never noticed before because all my quilts have been for grandkids and all about the fabric design. They were mostly hand tied with a bit of hand quilting. For FMQ and intricate stitching, the cotton just won't do. I am learning so much with your patterns and videos, Leah!!! Thank you!!!!! This is just addicting. I now have a dedicated sewing room and two machines set up - the Brother for piecing and the Juki QVP2200 Mini for FMQ. :) happy face!!!

[@carolynhamlin7559]

Good evening my quilting teacher.😂😂😂 Great ending to a great tutorial. I am wanting to us the binding strips to "frame" each component. Could you please let me know you'r finished binding size, so I can determine what measurements to cut mine to. As I want a 1" frame around each component .

[@LeahDay]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! The cut sizes for the binding strips can be found in the pattern here: leahday.com/collections/shop/products/2017-machine-quilting-block-party?variant=26918423184 On creating a 1 inch border - you'll need to do that with fabric first in the quilt block as the binding will only show up as a 1/2 inch strip on the front and back of the quilt. Changing this would require a total change to the technique and probably a lot more fiddling. Ask me how I know!

[@carolynhamlin7559]

I know it will require adjusting and fiddling. LOL Unfortunately, I do not have much of a choice. Some of my blocks were not 100% to size. So I was going to use the binding to cover the gaps. Since this is my first quilt it is indeed a learning quilt. LOL

[@nancyingram966]

You said the first one was 1" wide....what's the width on the folded piece? 1 1/2", then folded? Thanks!

[@ImGinaMarie]

Was great to see the FUN SILLY Leah Day!!! Thanks! You should consider doing a "Drinking wine and quilting with my "quilting friends" video! Your laugh is contagious, I was cracking up too!!! I always recommend your videos to FB groups!!

[@LeahDay]

Lol! Now that's an idea, except I gave up drinking this year. I'm working on a blooper reel with the best outtakes of the year in one video. Hard to keep track of them all!

[@maryfoshee6923]

I love your videos and Craftsy classes and would like to ask your opinion on two things please. 1. Is it possible to FMQ your quilt the quilt body and the borders not attached to each other then attach them using this method? The borders are normally about 35-50% of the total quilt size and by doing them separate you would not have as much bulk and weight to handle while trying to machine quilt. 2. Why don't you adhere the quilt sandwich with adhesive spray instead of pins? I do appreciate your help and opinions, thanks, Mary

[@LeahDay]

Great questions! Yes, you can definitely quilt your quilt, quilt your borders, then attach the two together. My best advice for doing this is to cut the fabric for your borders 4 inches bigger than needed and to quilt the entire length, then when the quilt is complete and all the border strips are completely, measure and cut them to fit together. If you cut the fabric exactly the correct length before quilting, it will shrink and not fit together properly. Now your second question about basting spray - I just hate the stuff. Really it's just my personal opinion, but I really don't like the adhesive spray glue, I worry that it's dangerous to use in the house, especially in confined spaces like our sewing rooms. So I pin and sometimes stitch baste with water soluble thread instead.

[@maryfoshee6923]

Leah Day Thank you I appreciate the response, I knew you would know how to do it 😄

[@carolparker3140]

I was under the impression you can make this quilt with or without the sashing and cornerstones-is that correct?--If so woud you also have a tutorial as how to do that as well? Thanks

[@LeahDay]

Yep, you can definitely put the blocks together without the sashing and cornerstones. The method works exactly the same and you just connect one block to another. You can find a full tutorial on how we did this with last year's quilt - freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/2016/09/quilt-as-you-go-connecting-sunshine.html

[@dsekins]

The quilt appears to be so stiff. Will washing the starch out make it softer and more malleable?

[@LeahDay]

This quilt did turn out stiffer than I liked. If you'd like a softer quilt along, check out the Friendship Sampler: leahday.com/products/friendship-sampler-block-of-the-month-quilt

[@bettyryan6529]

Why do you have a piece of fabric on your needle. Really enjoy your videos, very informative, and you are a good teacher.

[@LeahDay]

That's a scrap charger. It stops the threads from being sucked into the machine and reduces your bobbin thread waste.

[@jominvielle]

What type of batting are you using? I like the fact that it's so thin!

[@LeahDay]

I'm using Quilter's Dream Poly in the select thickness. It's very thin and is very easy to quilt over.

[@DyanTaber1]

Living in Florida, I would like to make my quilts light weight and cool. What is the best batting for this? Love your patterns and videos! Thank you for all you offer to us.

[@doraleesearcy7487]

Is there anyway to add a mitered border to a QAYG Quilt ?

[@LeahDay]

I've not attempted that so far. My first thought would be to attach the border strips, then stitch the binding over the miter as an appliqued strip. Honestly you can make things far more difficult than they have to be and a mitered QAYG quilt just sounds painful to me!

[@lindawulfkoenig4907]

...oh, forgot to mention, I've been too impatient (lazy?) to try starching in the sink or washpan. :) Obviously, that's what I need to do, to avoid throat irritation and washer problems.

[@LeahDay]

I've never tried a soaking method. It's definitely worth a try!

[@patsybecker7431]

``````````````I have watched this tutorial so many many times but I am still totally confused when joining the rows together. . I made all my blocks and put the sashing on to join the blocks a long while ago and now I want to join the rows. I do not know what I am doing wrong so need some clarification. Do I put the sashing front and back on just one of the rows or do I put row one and row 2 face's together then do the sashing. I again tried to join rows 1 & 2 but the back doesn't have the sashing showing just the seam allowance. Please Please can you show me or offer to help me figure this out???? Much appreciate your feedback. Well now to unsew the row I just did. Wishing for an answer soon/ Patsy Becker.

[@LeahDay]

I have another tutorial on this here - leahday.com/blogs/machinequilting/how-to-connect-supersized-quilt-blocks-quilt-as-you-go-tutorial You are watching Part 2 of this tutorial. Please go back to watch Part 1 here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3OxYaGQlJaefcU

[@rlafchieva]

I don't think it is a good idea to work with double strip. On the first seam there will gather 4 layers from the top, 4 layers from the back plus quilted piece ( batting + top + backing). If I calculate proper 10 layers fabric plus 1 layer batting. Too Heavy . And what happens when you add this row to upper or lower rows and have to place such double stripes on the "crossing point".? 14 layers fabric?...

[@LeahDay]

No, it's really not that thick. Doubling the top binding is 2 layers, the layers of the quilt, and the back binding - max is 5 layers of cotton fabric and the batting. I've used this method on over a dozen quilts and thousands of quilters have used it too. It works great and is accurate, but yes, there are other methods out there if this one is not for you.

[@rlafchieva]

@@LeahDay I meant circa 10 min of the video. The upper double stripe is folded - 4. the quilt and bottom - 2 ( I haven't seen well the bottom stripe is single). This makes 8. Thank you for the fast answer. I adore your quilting lessons. :)