How to Make a Basic Twin Quilt

A patchwork style pattern is an uncomplicated quilt to make.

A typical twin size quilt measures about 65 inches by 87 inches. While you can choose from a wide variety of patterns for a quilt top, one of the easiest for beginners is a patchwork quilt. A patchwork quilt uses simple squares of fabric and only straight stitches. Choose from a variety of fabric or make a pattern using squares of repeated fabric throughout the quilt. Cutting out your squares is a quick task if you use a roller cutter and a cutting mat.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Roller cutter with mat
• Ruler
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Iron
• Pins
• Scissors
• Batting
• Quilt backing fabric
• Safety pins
• Embroidery thread
• Needle

Instructions

1. Wash, dry and iron your fabrics before cutting them. This helps to prevent shrinkage later on when you wash the finished quilt.

2. Use the roller cutter, mat and ruler to remove any selvage edges (the uncut edges of the fabric).

3. Cut out enough squares to make a twin size quilt top. Cut out 308 four-inch squares, 165 six-inch squares or 63 10-inch squares.

4. Sew the squares into rows. When using four-inch squares sew 14 squares in each row. Sew 11 squares into each row for six-inch and seven squares per row for 10-inch squares. Iron the seams flat by pressing them to the right.

5. Attach two rows together by placing them with the right sides of the fabric together. Pin the two rows together at each seam. Make sure that the presses seams go in opposite directions to make your finished quilt top lay flat.

6. Sew down the length of the row, removing the pins as you go. Trim off any excess threads.

7. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to add the remainder of the rows. Press the seams.

8. Lay out your backing fabric, with the right side down, on a flat surface, such as the floor. Top with the quilt batting and then the quilt top, with the right side up.

9. Pin the three layers together using safety pins at the corners of the squares. Trim off any excess fabric along the edges of the quilt.

10. Tie the layers together using the embroidery thread and the needle. Poke the needle through the front of the quilt and then pull it back up through to the front. Tie the two ends of the embroidery thread. Trim, leaving about two inches of thread.

11. Continue tying the quilt, removing the safety pins as you work.

12. Turn the edges of the quilt to the inside, encasing the quilt batting, using pins to hold it in place. Stitch along the edge of the quilt to finish.

Tips & Warnings

• When sewing a quilt it is imperative that you iron after each sewing step. This helps to make the finished product look much better.

• Make use of scrap fabrics by cutting them up into the fabric squares.

References

• "Quick Method Quilts Galore"; Ann Van Wagner Childs, editor; 1995
• "Creative Scraps: Quilting With Bits and Pieces"; Jeanne Stauffer, editor; 2006
• "501 Quilt Blocks: A Treasury of Patterns and Patchwork to Enjoy"; Joan Lewis and Lynette Chiles; 2004