How to Make a Window Quilt

Window quilts are used as a money-saving device. The thickness of a quilt over a window keeps the warm air from escaping in the winter time. It is also beneficial in the summer by keeping the sun's heat out. A window quilt can be made with a decorative pieced effect on the front. However, for the purposes of these instructions, we will be using just one piece of fabric on the front and a second piece on the back.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Thread
• Fabric
• Quilt batting

Instructions

1. Measure the window. Add 6 inches to the width and 6 inches to the length when purchasing your fabric. This will assure that the window quilt completely covers the window with some overhang on all sides.

2. Cut the top fabric to size. With a yardstick, draw a line diagonally from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. Continue drawing lines in the same direction above and below the center line, 1 inch apart. Then draw lines in the other directions, giving diamond shapes to the entire surface of the quilt top. This can be done with a pencil (lightly) or with a special quilter's pencil.

3. Sandwich the window quilt.
   To accomplish this, find a flat surface. After cutting your back fabric to size, place the backing on your work area, right side up. Put the top fabric, right side down, on top of the backing. And then lay the batting on the top. Pin all around the edges and then sew a 1/4-inch seam, leaving an open space of approximately 6 inches.

4. Turn the window quilt right sides out through the opening. Push out all the corners, trimming the seam if needed. Hand sew the opening shut.

5. Baste the three pieces together. Starting in the center of the window quilt, use long running stitches and attach the three pieces together toward the right side. Baste from the center to the left side, then from center to the top and bottom. Continue making basting rows, 5 inches apart, until the entire quilt is basted together. Smooth all layers as you go so as not to have any bunching.

6. Quilt over the lines on the top of the lines on the window quilt top. Use a slightly larger stitch than normal to make your quilting stitches. Remove all basting threads.

7. Cut a strip of fabric from your backing material. It should be the width of your quilt and 2 inches wide. You may need to adjust the width according to the circumference of your curtain rod. Fold and press 1/4 inch on each side of the fabric length.

8. Pin the fabric strip, which will form your curtain tube, to the top of the window quilt, 1 inch from the top on the back side. Be sure to fold under the two shorter ends to form neat edges. Hand sew across the bottom and top of the fabric strip.

Tips & Warnings

• A quilter's pencil makes a light blue marking. Within a short time, the mark will disappear.

Resources

• Quilting Basics