I teach this FMQ method all the time at quilt shops.

Piece blocks together to form a size that is comfortable for you as a quilter to move easily. Suggestion: Piece 12 inch blocks together--4 across and 4 down so that your piece is 48" x 48". You may find that 24" x 24" works better for you.

Cut your batting about 1" larger all the way around than the length and width of your pieced blocks. Lay the 48" piece on the batting. Smooth out the wrinkles. Place the quilt piece BATTING side down over the feed dogs. FMQ as desired leaving an area approximately 1/4" around the edge of the piece blank with no quilting. Do not stress over this. If you quilt a little too far to the edge, it is not a huge issue. Continue FMQ joined blocks until entire quilt top is FMQ.

If your quilt is going to have a border or borders, join the borders to each other, cut batting exactly the way you cut the batting for the blocks, one inch larger on all sides. FMQ the borders the same way you did the quilt top, leaving approximately 1/4" on all sides unquilted.

Using large scissors, grade batting on all edges. Grade means that you will lay the scissors at a 45 degree angle and carefully trim batting away from the edges of each FMQ piece leaving an uneven edge of batting. There will be less batting next to the stitching on the batting side and more batting on the cut edge next to your piecing.

Join the FMQ pieces. Then join borders to all sides of the quilt.

Lay your quilt top on a smooth surface. Lightly spray the batting side with Quilt Basting Spray. If using spray in the house, I place a big, deep box over the batting and put the spray can down in the box to spray. This limits the spray from getting into the air and on your surfaces. Moved the box over the surface until the entire area is covered.

Roll your quilt backing. Unroll the backing over the batting. Smooth out wrinkles.

Using a steam iron, press the backing side first, smoothing out wrinkles, flip the quilt over and press the pieced side. You will be glad that you didn't skip this step as the steam will hold the basting spray in place. Remember to press with an up and down motion. Do not iron meaning move the iron from side to side.

Use a walking foot to attach the backing to your quilt top by stitching in the ditch from the top to the bottom of the quilt approximately 2 inches apart in rows or whatever will work best with your particular quilt pattern.

Bind as usual.

If you followed the grading instructions, no one will ever know that your FMQ was done in sections. Enjoy!!

I will be happy to answer any questions. This really does work and opens up a whole new world for those of us who want to FMQ our own quilts or for those of us who can't afford to send our quilts out.

Blessings,

Jan