Webbing Quilt Blocks, How Speed Piece Quilt Blocks with NO Pinning

That's right you can make almost any quilt block with almost no pinning.  Pinning each seam is the best way to get perfectly aligned seams.  But pinning requires a considerable amount of time.  So here's  little hack to help save time.  If you are one of those quilters who likes seams pressed open it takes a little more time but I believe it's still quicker than pinning.  Since I'm not a die hard open seam presser and because this is a simple quilt block, this tutorial is for the old fashion method of pressing the seams to the dark.  If you are like me and are very visual when it comes to learning I made a video of this method and have attached it to the bottom of this blog post.  So feel free to scroll down to the bottom.

The first thing to do is assemble the first column with the second, right sides together.

When feeding them through your sewing machine make sure you only take ONE stitch off of the end of the fabric. This is where the magic happens, so go slowly in order to make sure you only take one stitch off the fabric.  I'm using an open toe foot for your visibility.  

Then you will push the next set patches right up against the needle then stitch just as you did previously.  Only one stitch off the fabric.  Repeat this process until you have all of the first two rows assembled.

Once your first two columns are assemble remove them from under the presser foot and cut the thread from the needle but DO NOT cut them apart.  You'll want to leave them in the order you fed them into the machine.  Just slide them carefully to the left of your machine and press the seams to the darker fabric.  I always finger press when assembling quilt blocks.  Normally I heavily starch my fabrics.  However these have not been starched at all and they finger pressed very well much to my surprise.

Okay now that they are pressed we will continue to assemble the block in the same manner.

Here's what it looks like after my third column is added.

Just keep adding columns and pressing to the dark.  You'll end up with something that looks like this.  The rows are webbed together by one tiny magical little stitch.  

To assemble the rows turn the block to the right.  Flip the row on the far right on top of the next row.

If you're like me and have a pinning obsession, you'll want to place a pin in the top and one in the bottom.

The rest of the seams are already nested together for you.  No pinning needed!  YAH!

Assemble the rest of the rows in the same manner, finger pressing as you go.  If you want your seams pressed open you will need to clip each joining thread AFTER stitching the rows together, then press your seams open.  It sounds like it takes a lot of time but it's really quick and easy to slide your scissors along the seam to clip the threads.

Click on the video below for a speedy little tutorial.

Just a little reminder that you can still gt 20% off you entire purchase at The Purple Hobbies website using the code PodunkPrettiesJan20  

Offer ends February 29, 2020.   Make sure when adding the code to your shopping cart that you click APPLY.  You can see my review of the BladeSaver Thread cutter here.  And the Third hand Binding Folder Clip here.

50% OFF Sweet Sixteen PDF pattern

Expires 2-15-2020

#quiltvideotutorial #quiltingtips #webbingaquiltblock

Pin It

Setting up my assembly line

Every quilter has their own ways of doing things that makes the quilting process most efficient for them.  What may work for you may not work for me and 

vice versa.  But it's always nice to see how others do things so we can tweak our methods if needed.  So here's my system for this quilt, maybe you can find an idea or two that would work for you.  And even better you might have some advice to make my system better.  

Before cutting fabric for this quilt the first decision was should I strip piece or piece by piece.  Since most of my scraps are to small for strip piecing the decision was obvious ...the dreaded piece by piece.  However with a pattern this simple it really is going along quickly.  One block took 5 minutes to piece.  Putting each individual piece on the wall took FOREVER.  Making sure two of the same prints or color didn't touch or get to close to one another.  Cutting extra print pieces was very helpful with this process,  I could just grab a spare square and replace it.

The next decision was can I piece more than one block at a time.  For me that's a big ole fat NO.  Again the simple block is too simple and it would be to easy for my easily distracted brain to mix things up and then let the ripping begin.  

So my plan is to remove 4 blocks(one row) at a time from the design wall, immediately putting each block on it's own design board that has been label 1,2,3,or 4 with my little homemade number pins.  To keep the direction of the block correct  while piecing I put another pin sticking up in the top row of each block.  You can see it in the picture above.  This is very helpful once I start pressing.  It's also nice if those pins have glass heads so the iron doesn't melt them.  Well worth the extra money.  After years of melting pin heads I decided it was cheaper to buy the glass head.  Now I know what your thinking...why not just put the numbered pin directly in the block.   Pressing would melt my flower head pin.  

The boards are stacked by the sewing machine and ready to go.  My tiny block pressing table is on the other side of the sewing machine, you can see it in the first picture on this post. It's a sewing assembly line!

Even though I'm piecing using the Eleanor Burns no pin method, I want perfect matches every time so I'm pinning anyway. This no pin method also keeps my blocks in the correct layout .  Here's a tutorial I made for the no pin method.

If you're following along on my Podunk Posy quilt and want to make one of your own, this center section has (288) 2.5" scrappy print squares and (288) 2.5" white squares.  16 blocks total on a 4x4 grid.  You can start cutting in advance! I'll post a quicky tutorial for these blocks and middle section as soon as I get them all pieced.  

See you soon!

~ Lea Anne ~

Pin It

No pinning required tutorial(pic heavy)

I moved the furniture in the living and spread out my quilt pieces on the floor because my design wall can't handle this quilt.  I've also brought my sewing machine and cutting board to the dining room table.  The dining room and living room are one big room.  Makes for a great space when I need space.  My studio is just off the dining room, sew I can just pop in there for the pressing.  

The first couple of blocks went rather slow due to pinning. UGG!  Then it hit me I don't need to pin.  Why is it I always forget this nifty little trick.  So here goes the no pinning piecing.  Let me first say that these blocks were over sized and squared down using June Taylor Shape Cut Ruler.  Just line up the X and cut 2 sides, turn and do it again.  Perfect Quarter Square triangles.  

 Okay let's get this girl together, I've laid her out to the left of my sewing machine and lowered my stitch length on my sewing machine to 2.0.  

 ...flipped the center block over on top of the left row.   Working from the top down keeps your block in order.  So when you cut it off the machine it lays out just as it was sewn without cutting the units apart, that's the trick of this method.  Don't cut the units apart.  

 Because these were squared down to size they match up perfectly, no pinning.

 Only take one stitch off the fabric in between each unit. 

 The next unit down on your block will be butted right up against the needle and stitched, remember when you get to the bottom only take one stitch off the fabric then add the next unit.  For this block that 3 units.

 They should look like this when you take them off the machine. DON'T CUT THAT LITTLE STITCH, IT SERVES AS YOUR PIN.

 After cutting it from your machine it should line up perfectly with the last units.  DO NOT CUT APART THE UNITS YOU'VE SEWN TOGETHER ALREADY.  Flip the far right unit over on top of the middle unit.  

 You'll have the other units hanging down in your lap.

 Remember only make one stitch off the fabric in between.

 Due to bulky seams I've pressed my current seam open before .  If your block calls for pressing to the side then do that.  But DON'T cut the units apart.

 See still all together.  

 Flip the right unit on top of the middle unit.

 That one stitch holds the seams together perfectly, no pins!

 One last seam and this girl is done.

 Flip the left side unit onto the center and stitch.

 After your block is completely stitched together you'll need to cut that one stitch if your pressing the seam open.  If you press your seams to the side you do not need to clip this stitch.  

 My block is complete and perfect.  

 Look at that perfect point, and with no pins.  Isn't that a wonderful little trick?!

~Lea Anne~

Pin It