This fun quilt-as-you-go block uses foundation piecing to create flying geese. Give it a try!
I’ve said it before, but I think quilt-as-you-go (QAYG) gets a bad rap. People tend to think it’s only for log-cabin style blocks (which can be amazing in their own right), but I’ve been playing around with other techniques. I’ve written two tutorials so far, the Bloomin’ Quilt-As-You-Go Panel Tutorial and the Easy Big Stripes Quilt-As-You-Go Panel Tutorial. If you’ve never done QAYG, I recommend starting with the Easy Big Stripes tutorial before attempting either the Bloomin’ or North West tutorials.
This technique creates sort of a flying-geese effect without the normal piecing required. If you have any questions about my tutorial, just leave them in the comments and I’ll try and help you out and/or modify the tutorial so it makes more sense.
Supply List:
- Quilting fabric in two color ranges
- Coordinating thread (I prefer 50wt Aurifil
for quilting)
- 20″ square of batting
- 20″ square of backing fabric
- Basting spray
- Rotary cutter, ruler
, and cutting mat
- Sewing machine and all the regular sewing supplies
Note about supplies: You can make this in whatever size and whatever colors you’d like. I had to choose one size and a set of colors for the sake of this tutorial. But the options are endless — be creative!
Directions:
There will be three layers to the North West quilt block panel. A backing fabric, the batting, and the top with the two colors of fabric. Unlike a normal quilt sandwich, the back of your panel will be not so pretty because of the QAYG quilting. So it’s perfect for making things with a lining — pouches, bags, pillows, etc. It doesn’t work so well for an actual quilt.
I find it handy to have my cutting mat, rotary cutter, and ruler, as well as my iron close by so I don’t have to get up between each step.
Step 1: Cut Your Fabric, Backing Fabric, and Batting
For this tutorial, I am making an 18″ x 18″ panel. Because QAYG tends to go a little wonky, I’m starting with 20″ x 20″ pieces of batting and backing fabric, giving me plenty of room to trim if it gets a little shifty.
For Color A (gray in my tutorial), cut 2.5″ wide strips. For Color B (yellow), cut rectangles 4″ tall by 7″ wide. The number of scraps depends on the size you are making. Your longest Color A strips should be the length of your batting (in this case, 20″).
Step 2: Make a Quilt Sandwich
Spray baste the back of your batting and press the backing fabric to the batting. Spray basting should help the fabric shift less.
Step 3: Start Quilting
Set up your machine to quilt. Lengthen your stitch a bit, and use high-quality thread like Aurifil because it can get linty up in here. This is a thread-intensive project, so you might want to wind an extra bobbin or two.
This may go against your instincts, but quilt a 4″ x 4″ square of Color B to the corner of your batting right side up. I use simple straight-line quilting at a 45 degree angle to the piece, but you could do some FMQ if you’re so inclined. I find using some spray basting helps keep things from shifting.
To save thread, when I come to the end of the fabric, I turn the panel, stitch three stiches down, and then stitch back the other way across the fabric. It actually goes pretty quickly once you get the hang of it.
Here’s a quick video I made of how to do the turning: QAYG Video Tutorial. You will get to see my seriously mad video-making skillz here (BAH!). This is from the Bloomin’ panel, but you get the effect.
Here is what you should have when you’re done:
Step 4: Add Your Second Color
Add a strip of Color A to each side of the first square of Color B. To do this, lay a piece of Color A down on top of Color B, lining up the edges.
Stitch close to the edge of the fabrics (I use a 1/8″ seam allowance). Open up the two pieces and press the Color B piece away from the Color A piece. If you’d like, us a little spray basting to keep the piece from shifting.
Quilt the new Color B piece using the same technique you used on the Color A piece, but quilt along the length of the strip instead of at an angle.
Repeat on the other side of the first block, quilting along the length of the strip:
Helpful Tip: If you find that your presser foot is a little sticky because of the spray basting, stick a scrap of fabric behind your foot — it will keep everything moving smoothly. Just make sure you don’t quilt it to your batting!
Step 5: Start Your Triangles
Place your next Color A strip at a 45 degree angle across the edges of the two Color B strips. I place it right-side up just to see where I’m going.
To save yourself some extra quilting, you can trim off the corners of the rectangle to create a square. I’m not too precise here — the edges will be covered by the next strips.
Place the triangle face down and stitch along the long edge (the hypotenuse, thank-you-very-much-high-school-math-class). You’ll want to position it so that your seam hits right at the top right corner of the first Color B square. Stitch along the long edge of the triangle.
Open up the new piece and press it away from the others.
You can see how the corner of the square is right up against the bottom of the triangle. Hope that explains it well enough!
Helpful Tip: If your Color A fabric is light (you can see the honeycomb hexies through the yellow triangle above), put a piece (or two!) of white fabric underneath it when you quilt it down, so that the Color B fabric doesn’t show through.
Quilt that piece using the same technique you used before on the square. You should end up with this:
Step 6: Keep going!
Using the same technique, add two more Color B strips and quilt them down.
Then add a Color A piece and quilt it down.
You can see how you’ll be quilting the strips perpendicular to each other, and the triangles at a diagonal:
And then keep going!
Maybe try a pop of color (thanks Instagram friends for the lime inspiration!)
Repeat until you get to the size you’d like! You’ll notice I had more fabrics chosen in the beginning, but I didn’t use them all. Because I’m not so great at the maths (other than remembering the word “hypotenuse”) and I chose too many.
As you go, you’ll find that your batting and fabric may start to shift — that’s why I always make my batting and backing fabric a bit bigger than the finished panel size.
Trim down your edges and square up your block. You’re ready to use this panel when you make a bag or pillow!
Let me know if you give this North West Quilt-As-You-Go Panel a shot — I’d really like to see what you create with it!
Comments & Reviews
Diana says
Can’t wait to try this one! :)
Cori George says
Let me know what you make with it, Diana!
Kitty says
This is exactly like paper piecing-quilting! Soooo cool! I’ll be honest, I haven’t really been interested in trying the quilt as you go thing, but after reading this tutorial, I am absolutely going to try it! I have a bunch of black and white-to-grey fabrics left from my current project (or at least I think I will), so I am going to make a pillow with this pattern! I think I will do teal triangles with a pop of yellow. Thanks so much for sharing!
ps. Will it definitely fail without the use of spray basting? I’ve never tried it and really would kinda rather skip it if I don’t absolutely have to use it.
Cori George says
It IS pretty much paper-piecing quilting (without the paper, lol).
If you forgo the spray basting it’s not the end of the world. I just find it shifts more than I like. Just be ready to cut off a little more when you square up. :)
ellen says
I was thinking a bit of washable glue stick to the back of each strip may help. I also dislike the “overspray” & smell of spray baste.
Rochelle says
This is so cute and clever! Thanks for your tutorial. :)
Cori George says
Thanks Rochelle! You’re welcome :)
Rochelle says
This is so cute and clever! Thanks for your tutorial. :)
Laurelle C says
Great tutorial! I think your quilt as you go panels would be great in a sewing machine cover. Thanks for sharing :)
Cori George says
It would make a fabulous sewing machine cover!
Lori M. says
Hi Cori, I have made a few QAYG blocks and quilts. Love your tutorials,. I use a walking foot on my machine, and pin baste….No spray, no wiggle, no shifting. I know a walking foot for some machines are a large white box type foot(mine is), but I find it works pretty great. I make my blocks end at 12.5 and sash them together with another already quilted block to make a finished quilt, back and all. I love the look of the flying geese. Thank you for the lesson and love the blog name…….
Cori George says
You know, I have a walking foot and I’ve had THE WORST luck with it. So I never even think to use it! I’m sure most people would get the benefits you get! I like idea of your quilt, but the back is SO UGLY and I’m not sure how to get around that. :-/
Pam C. says
Love this! Going to try some QAYG!
Cori George says
Good luck! Let me know what you make!
Julie-Ann Searle says
I was wondering if this could used as a normal block. Would you join the strips like a log cabin block and then add square diaganally for triangle??
Cori George says
You probably could! I find I’m a really accurate when I use QAYG or paper piecing, but I’m sure you could do it quilting normally!
Kristian says
So great! If you don’t mind sharing what fabric did you use? (Specifically the greys…. Love them)
Thanks!!
Cori George says
Oh! That’s a good question. I’m not sure about all of them — I get a color stash bundle every month from Pink Castle fabrics and I rarely look at the selvages when I’m working. I know there is some Simply Color by V & Co (the big diamonds), Squared Elements by Art Gallery (the gray squares), some yellow pearl bracelets, some gray sketch…I’m not positive on the rest!
Heather says
Love the colors and layout Cori!
~Heather
Cori George says
Thanks Heather! :)
Kim says
Love your tutorial, one of the best I’ve seen.
Cori George says
Thanks Kim!
Jan says
I love this idea. Have been doing QAYG with strips only. I am going to use fusible batting and fuse the back and 1″ gridded pellon on top so that I keep squared up.
Cori George says
That’s such a good idea! Let me know how the gridded pellon goes — I’m super interested!
Marsha Lenocker says
Thank you for time doing the tutorial. I now have the knowledge to do QAYG. I finally understand paper piecing as well and will try it also.
Emily says
I am not really a quilter, but I LOVE this!! WOuld it take forever to make a big quilt? Maybe I can make a table runner? Pinned !!! also, featuring at my weekend Create Link Inspire features.. I’ve spread the news all around my social media and tagged you ;o) Would love a reshare or two ;o) Emily@nap-timecreations.com
Cori George says
Honestly, I’m not sure it would make a good big quilt. It’s so DENSE (so…not cuddly) and the back is not very pretty. It makes pillow and bag panels so much better than a quilt!
And thanks for all of the wonderful posts! I appreciate it so much :)
Pam @Threading My Way says
Love this block and can immediately see lots of possibilities. Thanks for such a comprehensive tutorial. Have pinned…
Cori George says
Thanks for pinning, Pam!
Karen says
Wow! Thanks for this easy way to sew and quilt at the same time! I am watching a lot of videos to learn! I think I am ready to start! Thanks!
Cori George says
I have a super easy tutorial if you want to get your feet wet — http://letseatgrandpa.com/2013/12/30/easy-big-stripes-quilt-go-tutorial/ :)
Kathryn says
This is lovely, I have been thinking about trying a Flying Geese pattern and this looks like a slightly easier way than others I have seen. How do you line up the rectangles for the geese though?
Cori George says
They aren’t rectangles. You’ll see in the tutorial, they are actually triangles, and the strips make the “rectangle” portion of the geese. :)
Kathryn says
Thank you – but what I meant was the 4″x7″ rectangle which becomes the triangle (the yellow pieces). How do you position these pieces so that the hypotenuses (is that a word?) all end up parallel? Thanks!
Cori George says
Ah ha! I use the very technical technique of “eyeballing” lol. I did sometimes use a quilting ruler to make sure the lines were parallel when I just couldn’t see it quite right. :)
Harriet Amacher says
I am trying to figure out how to connect each quilted block into one big throw or quilt. I am just beginning my quilting career at age 71 and lifting and holding onto a huge piece of quilt is very hard for me to do. Is there a way to attached the finished quilted square to others? Can’t seem to figure that out. I love this site and how helpful everyone is.
Thank you.
Cori George says
I haven’t figured it out yet! The back of this kind of QAYG is ugly, so I haven’t figured out a way to both combine the blocks and get a new backing (without having to quilt over the already heavily quilted front). This is really better for pillows and bags — things with linings.
Sylvia Anderson says
I am giving you a YouTube address, where you will find a wonderful lady from England, who is very good at describing how to attach the QAYG blocks. Hope you enjoy it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji8BLS2rNHA
Shron Vandeloo says
Fabulous tutorial! My sister and I have made dozens of quilt as you go for hospice quilts and sash them together. We always choose a very busy fabric for our back, and multitoned thread and do not quilt quite so heavily. We will give this block a try.
Cori George says
That’s a great idea! I’d love to see a photo if you make a full quilt!
esther says
Gracias por hacer un tutorial tan sencillo, llevaba mucho tiempo buscandando, me gustaria hacerlo y ponerlo en mi blog, poniendo tu enlace , para que vean tu blog. y puedan seguir tus tutoriales. muchas gracias, mi blog es http://miyukadas.blogspt.com.es
Karen Hauser says
This is an amazing tutorial and a beautiful design. I am going to make it, but first I have a grandson who needs a new bigger quilt and a dtr-in-law that needs a couch quilt..then then this one will be for me..do you have a wondrous way to join blocks in a quilt as you go quilt..I would like to make at least 4 blocks. and thank you for sharing your talents with the world!
Cori George says
Honestly, I’m not sure it would make a good big quilt. It’s so DENSE (so…not cuddly) and the back is not very pretty. It makes pillow and bag panels so much better than a quilt. I don’t have a method of connecting them, but if you search “connecting quilt as you go blocks” you may be able to find a tutorial. Thanks for stopping by!
Corinnea says
This is a gorgeous tutorial! Thank you!
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ellen says
Going to try this, I’ve been looking for bold pillow covers and this just fits the bill!!
Thanks for making a complicated block look
so easy, I just love it!
Anja says
Thanks for sharing. That is so not how I thought the block would be pieced. I haven’t tried QAYG yet, but I think this will be the block I try.
Christina says
I know. I am a bit late to this party, but I love this tutorial! This would make a great pillow or bag side. I too would like to make this into a full quilt, too. I hope to figure out how to make it “prettier” on the back. ;). Thanks again!
Sandy@UpstairsHobbyRoom says
This is fantastic!! I will be trying this tutorial out in a scrappy version!! Have been looking for a way to you up my scraps!!
Elaine Riley says
thanks for the great tutorial. I think I will try this with that really stiff stablizer (think its called Tim-Tex) and make a good solid tote bag for groceries. Your fabrics are nice.
Paula says
I think your blog title needs a comma, since you are a quilter, not a cannibal.
Kristin says
Great looking block! What does the back of the block look like? How do you deal with the starts and stops of the quilting lines on the back?
Lynn Schwarzenbach says
This is my first attempt at quilting….I SO missed the instruction to spray fabric glue on the batting to backing connection….it is going wonky there…I’m over half-way through, so perhaps it won’t make it ripple too much, but pretty much everything else is turning out great! I’m so excited! I am using mine to cover the top of a peeling “leather” hassock in my living room. The general stiffness will be an asset here. Thank you so much for your instructions, and the pattern.
Lynn Schwarzenbach, Tampa Florida December 2015
Cathy says
Nicely done! :)
WendyDillon says
love this North-West Block–gonna try soon–thanks for the great tips
Misty says
Thanks for the inspriation. You mention not liking the back. You could use a ‘sacrificial’ back made of thin
muslin. Stitch as normal. Then, add a nice back before you sash together. If you elect not to sash it, you can directly sew the blocks together and then add a back when the blocks are all joined. I do both of these all the time since I sew on a pretty small vintage machine.
Ree says
If I want to make this as 8 1/2” block before joining with other 8 1/2 blocks (finishing 8” after joining), how wide should I cut my strips?
Crystal Summers says
Hi Ree,
Cori says she typically cut her strips ranging from 1.5″ to 2.5″ for this project. It’s sort of improvised and not following a pattern, so the size and number of strips needed always varies.
Hope this helps.
Happy crafting!
Crystal, HLMS Community Manager
Cindy says
I’m not a quilter but found this most informative and practical. Thank you for sharing.
Anne de la Harpe says
This is a great block & so easy for beginners. Thank you.
Kathy says
How do you print this Norwest
Crystal Summers says
Hi Kathy,
You can print from your internet browser. There should be a way to print from the header bar up top.
Hope this helps,
Crystal, HLMS Community Manager