How to Make a Half-Size Bed Quilt
A handmade quilt adds personality and warmth to any guest bedroom. No matter the size of the bed, you can create a lovely quilt to welcome your guests. Quilt batting comes in basic sizes to fit twin, full, queen and king size beds. Quilt patterns are also designed with these sizes in mind. Making a quilt for a half-size or other oddly sized bed is easy with proper preparation. To know the size of the quilt, you must first know the size of the bed. Proper measurement and planning take the guesswork out of developing the pattern for your half-size bed quilt.
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Material for the quilt top
- Material for the quilt back
- Quilt batting
Instructions
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Measure for Proper Size
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1
Make the bed with the blankets, sheets and pillows that will be used on the bed.
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2
Measure the width of the bed from side to side. Measure the length of the bed from the head to the foot. If the pillows will sit under the quilt, add another 16 inches to the length so that the quilt may be tucked under the pillows.
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3
Measure the "fall" of the quilt. If the quilt will be a comforter, measure to the top of the box spring or dust ruffle. If the quilt will be a bedspread, measure to the floor. Add this measurement to the total length and twice to the width (the quilt must fall on both sides of the bed).
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4
Determine the width of your border, if any, and the size of your quilt blocks. Subtract the border from your measurements and then divide by the size of your quilt block to determine the number of blocks you need. (For example, if your bed measures 60 inches wide and you have a 2-inch border and are using 8-inch blocks, you will need seven blocks across for the width of your quilt.) If you are making a solid color quilt (no piecing of blocks required), just use your measurements from the bed to determine your yardage of material. Your quilt back should be 1 to 2 inches longer and wider than your top.
Assembly and Quilting
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5
If you are making a patchwork quilt top, follow the pattern to assemble your quilt blocks and quilt top. Simple patterns are easily found (see link in Resources). Solid quilt tops are recommended for beginners.
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6
Iron your quilt backing and quilt top.
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7
Assemble the quilt by placing the quilt back wrong side up on a large surface. Place the batting on top of the back, centering it on the back. Place the quilt top right side up on top of the batting, centering it on the batting. Think of this as making a sandwich of the batting.
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8
Baste your quilt together using large safety pins.
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9
Quilt the sections together either by hand or machine. The quilt can easily be quilted by tying, particularly if you are using a lofty batting. Machine quilting is recommended for cotton batting. For machine quilting, you can simply stitch in straight lines across your quilt or use freehand sewing to create your own quilting pattern.
Finishing
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10
Trim excess batting so that the batting is even with the quilt top.
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11
Press the excess material from the back over the quilt top, tucking in raw edges.
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12
Bind the back to the top. Use a slip stitch or machine stitching.
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1
Tips & Warnings
You may want to measure your actual pillows rather than just adding 16 inches.
If you are using a heavy batting, place it on the bed as well before measuring.
When buying batting, choose a size closest to that of your measurements.
