Sewing Crossweave

on assembling quilts, row by row

What do you prefer? Quilts that go together in blocks or quilts that go together in rows?

It seems that quilts that are made up of individual blocks are by far the most popular type. I would guess that this is because a single block is quite approachable. It’s easy to teach and write patterns for block-based quilts. Plus, as a new quilter, each block is a natural way to break up the daunting task of sewing a quilt into a myriad little victories.

Still, there’s something to be said for quits that assemble in rows, rather than blocks. For one, the patchwork shapes can interlock in surprising ways, like these X’s and diamonds, but still be simple to sew.

I also like that with these types of quilts, each stage occurs in larger batches. I tend to choose the fabrics for the whole quilt at once, cut the fabrics for the whole quilt in a couple sittings, arrange everything and then sew the rows in batches.

For me, anyway, quilts that assemble in row often feel like they come together faster. By the time I actually start sewing, everything is ready to go, like a well-prepped recipe with all the ingredients measured and waiting on the counter.

Crossweave quilt has been a real pleasure to sew. If you’d like to stir my color ingredients into your next quilt, you can find the bundle of colorful prints for sale at Little Fabric Shop. Just add a few sprinkles of black to spice the mix (like this or this), and you’ll have the makings of a bright, beautiful project.