Hey everyone! Today you're going to learn the two ways QISS joins quilted blocks together, so you can pick the right one before you stitch a single join. Here we go.
What are the two QISS joining methods, in plain words?
Between the Blocks and Back to Back. Those are the two Quilt As You Go joining methods in Pauline Rogers' QISS system.
Pauline created QISS at Pauline's Quilters World in Australia. She also invented both of these joining techniques. One quilt. Two honest ways to put it together.
Both methods start the same way. You build a block sandwich. You quilt that block on your home machine. Then you join finished blocks, one at a time. No wrestling a whole quilt under the needle.
What is Between the Blocks?
Between the Blocks joins your blocks with a sashing strip in between them. Think of it like a frame between pictures.
That sashing is not just fabric. It carries its own thin piece of batting inside it. Cut that batting slightly smaller than the finished sashing size. That one detail prevents bulk. It also prevents distortion at the join.
The math is simple, and it repeats. Cut your sashing fabric twice the finished width. A 2 inch finished sashing starts at 4 inches wide. A 3 inch finished sashing starts at 6 inches wide. Then you fold it with the Sasher that matches the finished size.
We go deep on making those strips in Mastering QISS Sashing here on Linda's. Read that one alongside this one. It will save you trial and error.
Choose Between the Blocks when you want a clear grid. When you want contrast between blocks. Or when your blocks need a little breathing room to shine on their own.
What is Back to Back?
Back to Back joins quilted blocks directly to each other. No sashing strip sitting between them.
Your blocks meet edge to edge. The design flows straight across the join. One block hands off to the next.
Choose Back to Back when you want a more continuous look. When neighboring blocks should read as one bigger picture. Or when you simply prefer a cleaner, plainer join.
Neither method is the advanced one. Neither one is the beginner shortcut. They are two different finishes for two different quilts. Completely up to you.
How do you choose between them?
Ask yourself 3 questions.
- Do I want sashing to be part of the design? If yes, pick Between the Blocks. That strip can add color, contrast, and structure.
- Do my blocks need separation, or flow? Separation points to Between the Blocks. Flow points to Back to Back.
- How forgiving do I need this join to feel? A sashing strip gives you a visible, planned place for blocks to meet. A direct join asks for careful matching right at the edge.
My advice? Try both on practice blocks first. Join 2 blocks each way, and compare them side by side. Your eyes will tell you faster than I can.
Where do you learn the exact steps?
Here is what I use, and why. The Quilt As You Go Handbook is the road map for both methods.
It runs 62 pages. It has vivid color photos. It walks you step by step, in language written to be easy to understand. Pauline details Between the Blocks and Back to Back right there, so anyone can give it a go.
I keep my copy at the table while I join. Not on a shelf. At the table. When a join looks off, I check the photos before I reach for the seam ripper. Nine times out of 10, I skipped a small step. Just like that, found and fixed.
Your blocks also start stronger when the sandwich is right. Backing wrong side up, batting in the middle, top right side up, pressed flat with a hot, dry iron. If you missed it, read Building the QISS Block Sandwich: Press, Fuse, Quilt. Good joins start long before the joining.
Now hear me on this part. Your first join does not have to be perfect. You're your own worst critic, folks. Take your time. It's not a race. Ease the layers. Check the match. Stitch it steady. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Pick the method that fits this quilt. Learn it well. Then learn the other one next time. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Thanks for learning along with us. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Quilt As You Go Handbook at Linda's Electric Quilters.
For the batting at the heart of every block sandwich, see the Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Fusible Batting Package at Linda's Electric Quilters.
Browse the whole line in our QISS — Quilting Is Sew Simple collection at Linda's Electric Quilters.
