How to Plan a Learning Sampler Quilt

A sampler quilt is made up of many different design blocks. The sampler quilt is often used as a teaching tool for beginner quilters. Beginners can learn how to make specific quilt blocks and then make the finished blocks into a full quilt. The sample blocks can be related in some way, or can be completely different.

Things You'll Need

• Scrap fabric
• Thread
• Needle
• Scissors
• Block patterns

Instructions

1. 

   Choose the size of your quilt. Once the blocks are assembled, what size do you want the finished quilt to be? Your sampler can be a made into a bed covering, a wall hanging, or a pillow sham.

2. 

   Select the colors of your overall quilt. Some quilters prefer to coordinate the colors of the blocks for overall effect in the finished quilt. Other quilters make sampler blocks of many different colors and then tie the blocks together colorwise with an appealing border. Ideally, you should choose one pale background color, one dark color and a third color to complement the dark one.

3. 

   Try out different block patterns. The sampler quilt is a great place to try out new techniques. Experiment with curves, points, appliques and strip patterns. The small block sampler pattern is a great place to practice new techniques.

4. 

   Piece together the finished sampler blocks. Add a border to each block, then sew the blocks together. Keep the borders on each block the same size so that the finished quilt appears symmetrical. Borders generally should be 2 to 4 inches wide. Borders are important because they provide an inviting frame for each sampler block.

5. Display your finished sampler quilt on a wall in your home or on your bed. You can also take unused blocks and make matching pillows for a bed-covering quilt or place a block in a picture frame and hang on the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider starting a quilting group. A group that meets once a month can learn together how to make specific block patterns. Then they sew together all the different blocks and auction off the quilt.

Resources

• Quilt Lover's Guide: Create a Sampler Quilt!
• Scrap Sampler (4 Block Patterns)
• Free Beginner Quilt Patterns
• Block of the Month Pattern