I have been asked to do some instructions for the quilt as you go that I use...it is easy and takes little space and produces lovely results...I am still experimenting and so I will add the fun stuff as I test it...but here are the basics...

1. assemble your supplies

This would look pretty in the middle of a quilt square.

1.Assemble all the supplies you will need...nothing like running out when you are on a run... ask me how I know.

2. For me I get two fabrics for the squares..one pattern and one solid.. the solid ones I do the embroidery on. for a twin size quilt it is 48 .... 6.5 inch squares...praise the Lord for a rotary cutter and mat. I will ,Lord willing, never be without them... you will also need 48 of the batting and 48 of the backing...the remain backing ing fabric can be cut into 6.5 inch strips...and the sashing material also...and a strip of batting for the sashing one for each strip... and 4 to 5 double fold bias color packages to do the squares... or a fabric cut into 2 inch strips with the sides pressed under...I have used both ways...the bias tape is faster..just finding enough of what you need and the cost are the drawbacks...

3. stack your squares ....top,batting and backing until you have 48 sandwiches of this... put near the machine... it might help if you seperate the solid from the print... while your solids are being embroidered... start top stitching about 1/4 " frome the edge of your patterned square sandwiches to hold them in place...when embroidery do not put the batting with the top...it causes the sides to draw in and then you have to go back and recut ALL your squares to a smaller size...after embroidery...I only tear away the stablilzer a little bit... then put the batting and backing on and topstich these squares...the stack them alternately...pattern, solid, pattern, solid...you get the picture.

4. putting the first two squares (a solid and a pattern) with the backs facing each other...stitch down one side edge...on the TOP of the fabric..on the topside... when you fold these two squares open...your raw edge will be on the top..trim this just a little if need be...the seam untrimmed should only be about 1/4 inch... take a piece of bias about 6.5 inches long and CENTER it over this raw seam and then topstitch both sides down near the edges... you have your first two quilted squares... do this until you have six squares in all put together for a strip...

2. Put squares together and start stitching your sandwiches together in a row..

3. Cover the raw edges with bias tape.

4. First completed row

5. Once you have your second strip done you can begin to make your quilt grow...lay the backs together, pinning at the seams to match up the bias strips...then sew 1/4 inch seam along the top edge (will be the bottom edge of the row above...)... lay flat and trim if you need to..then put a piece of bias tape the length of the row, CENTERING it over the raw edge and stitch down both sides... Continue doing this with every row... making sure you cover your raw edge as you go...this eliminates the need to sew in the middle of the quilt later on...this is a true QUILT AS YOU GO...

6. Once you have all the rows attached and all the bias tape covering all the raw edges..(except your outside edge) then you are ready to do the shashing... sew your sashing and backing strips to make long continuous strips... then pin the sashing and batting and backing together to form long padded strips...you need four of these... two the length and two the width plus 6.5 inches.. then top stitch the edges on one side all the way down the strips... then smoothing as you go and sewing slowly... do the other edge... if you want to do any fancy stitches to the strips...do this now...you can pencil trace in the design and then free arm stitch...but go slow so that you can ease any extra in...once the strips are smooth and securely quilted...then attach the side sashing strips the same way you did the rows... and cover the raw edges with bias as before...then put on your top sashing the same way and cover the raw edges with bias...

6. now again making long strips of sashing and backing... and batting...but do not sew as before...instead... pin the long strips across the top first by pinning the backing and batting to the back...and pinning the sashing to the front, front sides together... after stitching then fold the front and the back pieces over the raw edge to incase it... then pin and baste in place, smoothing as you go...then machine stitch close to the inner edge...then do spaced lines of stitching to quilt and anchor the pieces together...do the same for the sides... you should now only have the outer edges left... make binding strips and apply as you would any other quilt... that is the only part done the old way...

this is half the rows attached...notice the last row has not had the bias applied yet