How to Sew a Tree of Life Quilt

The tree of life quilt is an heirloom quilt pattern common among Amish quilts and others in the American quilting tradition. If you enjoy quilting, the tree of life quilt can be a suitable project for creating your own heirloom piece.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sewing machine
• Assorted fabrics and thread
• Tissue paper
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Batting

1. Choose a color scheme for your tree of life quilt. As with any quilt, you should have a main background theme of colors and colors for the appliqué pieces. Most tree of life quilts have a background of cool colors and a tree composed of warmer tones like browns, reds and oranges.

2. Trace the pattern of the tree that you want to create onto the tissue paper, using several pieces if necessary. Cut out the pattern you have created, pin it to your fabric and cut out the shapes you will need. Also cut out as many blocks as you will need for the desired quilt size.

3. Assemble the background of the quilt as you would any basic quilt pattern, assembling the blocks before you add the tree. Add the tree as an appliqué, along with flowers, leaves and any other pieces you want to include.

4. Add any personal decorations you would like to make the tree of life quilt your own heirloom. You may want to embroider names of family members on the leaves or flowers, using a sewing machine or by hand.

5. Measure and cut the fabric for the inside of the quilt. Pin the fabric layers on either side of the batting and assemble using the sewing machine.

Tips & Warnings

• A tree of life quilt can also be assembled using a stained glass method, with larger blocked out leaves and tree sections, rather than as an appliqué. Sketch out a design ahead of time to experiment with the look you want to achieve.