Remember this little patient stack of squares?
Well, last night I finally started piecing them together.
I laid them on the design wall – sorry, I forgot to take a picture to share – and when my husband walked into the room, he burst into a big smile when he laid eyes on the layout. I take that as a good sign.
Here are a couple of them pieced together.
I have to focus while piecing to make sure I keep the squares in the right order and direction. Here is my little system: post-its. I lay out the pieces in order and put numbered post-its on each stack.
That got me wondering how other folks keep track of the pieces as they sew. What’s your strategy?
Linking up to Freshly Pieced!
12 comments
Love the blocks! I pin them together, I have flat head pins that I've numbered in sharpie and do it that way. Otherwise, my usual method is chaos, really, you should see my sewing room right now – chaos.
It's raining and grey here today so your lovely piles of yummy colour made me smile. I use a number of systems for piecing – sometimes pieces go in envelopes, sometimes I have paper pinned on piles. Or sometimes I just have my laptop on hand and I look at photos I have taken of layout.
I love your blocks! I can't wait to see this quilt finished! To keep track of my pieces I use paper that I've numbered and pin it through the stack.
I'm excited to see what you've got going on with all those cute squares! I use post-its mostly; sometimes I write numbers(in pencil)on the back of the first block of each row to keep my rows in order…sometimes I just put stacks into an assembly line on my sewing table…it depends on the project, I guess!
Ah the million dollar question. I've often wondered how people organise their pieces. I shall read and learn!
I track mine with mini post-it labels and mini binder clips. For ones with varying patterns/layouts across blocks, I also either attach a little sketch, or keep a layout next to me. Oh, and I number them all. I may be a little anal ;o)
I track mine badly 😉 Normally with a tiny piece of numbered paper pinned to the stack, which will then somehow get out of order!
Hi Nicole….I just awlarded you with the Liebster Award Please check out my post to see what you are to do if you accept the award.
Nicole, you are the Tangerine Queen!! Beautiful!!:-)
post its are my fave way of organising and often pinned pieces of paper and polypockets x
I cut up index cards into about 2" squares, then punch with a single hole punch. Each is numbered, so then I pin each row or whatever with a safety pin through the hole. I kept getting the straight pins stuck on other blocks (or myself), so safety pins work well for me…
Barb Shie, owner of the 9-Patch quilt shop in Colorado Springs (years ago) taught me the best way to keep blocks in order. First, arrange your blocks on the design wall or floor. Starting in the upper left corner, on the second column from the upper left: flip second block from upper left onto top of upper left block. Continue down the column. Then starting at the top, pick up the blocks (still face-fo-face) from top to bottom. Carry the blocks to the machine with your hand holding the TOP of the blocks. (repeat top top top to yourself as you walk). Sew the seam of all blocks from top to bottom, do not cut apart. Next, pick up next column from top to bottom, carry to machine (top top top). Sew them to the first column of blocks from top to bottom — don't snip apart. Continue until all columns are sewn, then sew cross-wise seams. As long as you don't cut them apart, your blocks don't get mixed up!
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