How to Sew a Self Lined Quilt

Make a self-lined quilt to eliminate the extra steps needed to make a backing. A scrap strip lap quilt is a good size to learn the technique, as it is easy to handle and keep the fabric flat as you sew. Once you master these simple steps, you can alter the dimensions for larger self-lined quilts. You can also create self-lined quilted potholders, place mats and table runners.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 1/4 yard lining fabric
• 1 1/4 yard quilt batting
• Measuring tape
• Large safety pins
• Scissors
• Scrap fabric
• Sewing machine
• Straight pins
• Iron

1. Cut the lining fabric and quilt batting 45 inches square. Place the lining fabric wrong side up on your work table. Position the quilt batting on top, matching the edges. Randomly space and pin the two layers together with multiple large safety pins. You will remove the pins, a few at a time, as you go.

2. Cut a variety of fabric scraps into strips that are 2 inches wide. Sew the strips together using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Alternate the fabrics for a more interesting design. Open the seams on the strips and iron them flat.

3. Lay a strip (right side up) across the batting diagonally, from corner to corner. Pin the strip on both long sides through all layers. Remove any safety pins that may be under the strip. Trim the fabric strip at the corners.

4. Place another strip with the wrong side down on top of the pinned strip. Match the edges and pin one long side together. Sew the pinned side of the strip, through all layers, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Open the strip and press it with an iron. Trim the strip even with the sides of the quilt.

5. Place another strip of fabric over the previously-sewn strip. Match the raw edge of the sewn strip to the new one and pin. Sew, press and trim as before. Continue adding strips in the same way to the corner of the quilt. Turn the quilt around and sew strips to the other half of the quilt. Trim and even up the edges of the quilt.

6. Fold the remaining 2-inch strips in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together. Press the strip. This strip will bind the edges of the quilt; you may need to cut and sew more strips together as you go. Fold one short end over 1/4 inch and press. Turn the self-lined quilt with the back side up. Match the raw edges with the strip and start pinning to the center bottom of the quilt. The 1/4 inch fold should be on top. Continue to pin around all the edges of the quilt. Overlap the ends a 1/4 inch, pin and cut.

7. Sew the binding strip to the quilt using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn the quilt right side up and flip the binding to the front of the self-lined quilt. Press the binding. Pin the binding and miter fold the corners. Top stitch the binding as close to the unsewn binding edge as possible.

References

• Cyndee Kromminga, Craft and Interior Designer; Kro Crafts; Winfield, Kansas