Squares in a Snap The JAYGO Method - Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step-by-Step Guide to the JAYGO Method Step 1: Prepare Your Squares or Blocks Start by preparing your squares, blocks, or pieces that you’ll be joining together. Whether you're quilting or crocheting, make sure your pieces are all the same size. If you're quilting, ensure that your fabric is cut to the desired dimensions for each block. For crochet or knitting projects, make sure you complete each square or block entirely, including the borders if needed. This ensures a smooth joining process. Step 2: Position Your First Square Lay out your first square in the position you’d like it to appear. If you are working on a quilt, the first block will be the starting point. In crochet or knitting, this will be the first piece you’ll join other squares to. If you’re joining crochet pieces, for instance, line up the edges of two squares to connect them as you go. This can be done by holding the squares together with pins or stitch markers to ensure they don’t shift during the joining process. Step 3: Begin Joining Pieces Now comes the exciting part: Joining As You Go! For Crochet: Hold the first square and the next square together, ensuring their edges align. With a slip stitch or single crochet stitch, begin joining the edges. Work your way through the entire edge, joining both squares together. Repeat this process for each new square as you go along, joining them one at a time. Tip: For a cleaner finish, try using a whip stitch or a slip stitch join for crochet squares. The join will appear neat and seamless. For Quilting: When working with fabric squares, the joining technique can vary, but one of the most common methods is to use a quarter-inch seam allowance. Use a sewing machine to stitch the squares together. Align the edges carefully and start stitching from one corner to the other. After you sew one block to another, move on to the next one, continuing the process until the quilt top is finished.