Once you have selected the pattern you want for your quilt, purchased your fabric and supplies, and carefully cut out each quilt piece, you are well on your way to having a beautiful handmade quilt. The next step will be to assemble your quilt top. For each step along the way from cutting out the first quilt piece to putting in the last stitch of the binding, quality workmanship will make the difference in the look of your finish quilt. The quilt top is what most people are going to notice and appreciate. Only dedicated quilters will turn your quilt over to check out the back of it. Therefore, you will want to take great care to assure it your quilt top is well put together. Following are some tips for the assembly of your quilt top.

Sewing your quilt top together by machine will be quicker, but you can also sew it together by hand. My grandmother put all of her quilt tops together by hand and they have lasted to pass down to great grandchildren.

Use regular all purpose sewing thread for your quilt top, but make sure it is a good quality of thread. This will make a difference in how well your quilt will withstand use.

Begin by laying your quilt pieces (right side up) on the floor or on a bed. This will give you an idea of how the fabric patterns and colors will look in your finished quilt. You may want to rearrange the pieces until they are exactly like you want them to be. If your pattern calls for sashing to be placed between the quilt blocks, be sure to lay that where it will be in the finished quilt top.

Pin the pieces together matching the corners. Sew one row together at a time, laying each finished row back in place before starting the next row.

It is absolutely essential that you use the correct seam allowance that the pattern calls for and that you use the same seam allowance for the entire quilt top. If your seam allowances are different, your seams will not match when you start sewing the rows or blocks together. Seams that do not line up will be noticeable in your finished quilt top.

Press each row after you have finished sewing it together. Press both seams in the same direction rather than pressing them open. Press the seams of the next row in the opposite direction as the row before it. This is called "nesting" and will reduce the amount of bulk that you will have to quilt through.

When sewing the rows together pin each row at the seams to make sure the seams match and you are sewing the seam allowance of each row in the opposite direction of the row next to it.

Once you are finished sewing all of the rows together, add any border you may want. Press the completed quilt top, and you will be ready to assemble the batting and back and begin your quilting.

Whether you have made dozens of beautiful handmade quilts, or this is your first attempt at quilting, putting forth the time and effort to make sure each step of the process is completed with care and quality workmanship will make the difference in having a mediocre looking quilt or having a beautiful quilt you are proud to say you made yourself. Happy quilting!