onaemtnest

I'm ready to make the Over & Down Under quilt by Bonnie Sullivan and I've read and reread the pattern. If you have made the quilt how in the world did you organize the 40 stacks of 80 different 2.5" squares when constructing the center of the quilt? Also did you sew vertical or horizontal rows?

Thanks for taking a moment to read my request.

Tartan

​I have not made this pattern but anytime I have a lot to organize, I use stacks of 10 so they are easier to count. How about using styrofoam or paper plates and stack 10 rows of 10 squares each per plate?

DogHouseMom

I've not made it, but looking at the pattern (its gorgeous!!) the only way I would be able to keep track of the squares is to use a design wall.

In fact I would cut the pieces in the order in which they appear in the quilt. Cut all the pieces for the first vertical color and place all of them on the design wall - leaving room for the pieces you havent yet cut. Then I would cut all the pieces for the first horizontal color and place them. Continue with a vertical, then a horizontal color. By doing it this way you are always filling in the squares from the upper left corner down to the lower right corner, minimizing the number of "blank" spaces you have to leave open for uncut colors.

PaperPrincess

I would also use a design wall, and cut as I go. As mentioned, 10 is a good number so I would cut 10, then seam those 10, then check that strip for color accuracy, then join to the previous group of 10. I would work the shorter of the dimension, so probably horizontal rows.

NJ Quilter

I agree with the 10 count that Tartan suggested. I would probably use ziplock bags (cheapie ones for sure!) vs paper plates. And/or both come to think of it. You could make your 10 stacks onto paper plates and then stick in a ziplock. This way if it gets knocked over for some reason it's reasonably well contained. I also use 3x3 sticky notes either inside or pinned to the ziplocks when I have complicated patterns. Where they go as to row number and position within the row if possible.

I also agree with working in horizontal rows and initially smaller rows.

I tend to work from the inside out vs up to down or side to side. If you have the room to 'cut as you go' as well as piece as you go - that might be the best option for this quilt. I tend to do all/most of my cutting and then all/most of my piecing.

All of that said I did a quilt last year that was all green/brown/beige batiks in a softball field pattern. I did have to do quite a bit of cutting then piecing and back and forth with that one to get dimension/scale correct. This quilt might be one of those.

Good luck.

JanieH

Just wanted to say that that is a gorgeous quilt and I hope you post pictures when you are finished.

lwbuchholz

I don't know if this would help in this case but I used the boxes my checks came in and had the quilt organized with various parts in each box and wrote on the end what was in it. If I needed to I could put the tops on the box so they didn't spill if I knocked them around.
Lynda

pahega

I made this quilt and just got it back from the LAQ. I don't have the binding on it, otherwise I would post a picture. I didn't have any trouble keeping things in order. Here is what I did (I don't have a design wall). I pinned a small note on each strip that had the number of the fabric according to the pattern. (I used the pattern's layout of fabric). I cut each strip and kept them in their own stack with the number on top. Then I took a large tote lid, and lined all 40 stacks in numerical order. I laid out the first two rows first following the pattern layout and sewed each row. Then I laid out the next row making sure it was the correct number of fabric and sewed it. And so on..... As long as you keep your numbers pinned to each stack and follow the pattern, you should do fine. Individual square alternate, so sometimes it can get confusing. I didn't have to rip anything out, so I guess my system worked. I, too, fell in love with it when I saw it. Good luck!

onaemtnest

Thank-you everyone for posting suggestions! I do have a large design wall and because I have quilt 'helper' kitty I will need to use the small zip-lock bags to keep them in order! I realize I'm over thinking this pattern as I'm obsessing that I will make a wrong cut with the strips in the Jelly Roll a true splurge of $$$ to get the exact fabrics that are pictured on the pattern.

I do hope that I can follow pahega's lead and not have to rip any rows out...

I'm going to read each post again and again, thanks so much!

sushi

I can't wait to see your finished quilt!