Thanks for the blocking advice Margo and Michelle. I've never really blocked a quilt before. Of course I've never entered one in a show before either. The ones I've made usually go in the washer at the end and once they're washed and dried they're good to go. I've hung a few small wallhangings before, but I just use straight pins to hold them in place on the wall! Usually if I take them down, you can't even see the pin holes.

You can also lay down insulation board (like you'd use for a design wall) and cover it with white cotton sheet. Then lay the damp quilt on it, pat it into shape and pin it in place. If more than one board is used, tape them together first so they stay together. Fans blowing on the damp quilt will help it dry faster. If you are concerned about the dampness effecting the boards, first lay a plastic sheet on it, then the cotton sheet, then the quilt.

Hi Debbie! I just pat the damp quilts on the floor and it dries pretty much where I leave it. However, I do have a confession to make!
This is the same floor that I use to spread out beach towels and starch my fabrics before I cut out my pattern, and there is always a slight residue of dried starch on the floor.


Because of that starch, my quilts pretty much stay in place, and I actually have to peel them off the floor when they are dry! :shock:
Of course, I've never had to make a quilt block up to a specific size because I make quilts to use, not to hang where the dimensions would be scrutinized. I do know that after they are dried like this they hang beautifully in shows!

If I were protecting a wood floor with a layer of plastic, and really wanted the quilt to be a specific size after it was dry, I would probably tape the plastic securely to the floor (painter's tape?) and mist a fine spray of starch over the plastic before I pat it into shape. I've never actually had to do this, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

If you try it, please let us know how it works!

Margo, once you pat the quilt into shape, do you use anything to hold it in place or do you just let it dry? Obviously you can't pin it to the wood floor! Does the quilt shrink up a bit when it dries?

kathiec1950, I have never blocked a quilt in carpeting, but just spread my damp (from the washer) quilt on the vinyl floor in my sewing room. It has a grid design that makes it easy for me to pat the damp quilt into shape.
If you are working on a wood floor, a clear plastic drop cloth (from the paint department of a home improvement or hardware store) will protect your floor from the damp quilt.

A fan will help dry the quilt faster, but the weather (humidity) has a lot to do with drying time.

I am curious about blocking a quilt. I have blocked needlepoint projects (a long time ago) but am not sure how blocking a quilt works. Alex Anderson talked about pinning a quilt to her carpet with T pins. I have hardwood floors and scattered area rugs, no wall to wall. It seems like this would be a good option. Please explain.