How to Make Handmade Quilts & Patterns

Quilting is a fun and interesting pastime, and the end result is usually treasured by the lucky recipient. There are many steps required in order to make a handmade quilt and pattern, and these include selecting or making a pattern, creating a quilt top, quilting the backing and the batting to the top, and sewing the binding on.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine
• Fabric
• Thread
• Rotary cutter
• Mat
• Acrylic ruler
• Scissors
• Needles
• Safety pins
• Seam ripper
• Quilt pattern

Instructions

Making a Handmade Quilt

1. Select or make a pattern. Patterns for complete quilts usually contain instructions for individual blocks, which are then sewed together in rows, and with an optional border attached. To select a pattern, browse your local quilt store, or online store. There are also many free quilt patterns available. If you want to make your own pattern, first decide what the core block will be. To do this, browse the internet for quilt block patterns, and see what the final dimension of each block is. Then determine how many rows and columns you will need in order to have a quilt be the desired size (for example, twin size, queen size, etc).

2. Purchase your fabrics. With the pattern in mind, decide what fabrics you want for the quilt. Purchased patterns will contain yardage information. In selecting fabrics, it is best to stay within a few color families, but to have variation in scale amongst the fabrics (both large and small scale prints). Select 100% cotton for your quilting fabric, unless you are making a specialty quilt with wool or silk. Also, make sure you buy fabric for the quilt backing.

3. Purchase batting. Quilt batting goes between the quilt top and the quilt backing. Select batting that will meet requirements of how closely together your final project will be quilted.

4. Cut the fabric. Using a rotary cutter and mat, cut the fabric according to the pattern instructions.

5. Sew the quilt top. Following the pattern, sew the individual blocks. Sew the blocks together into rows, and then sew each of the rows together. Add a border to all four edges if desired. Press all seams with an iron.

6. Quilt the project. Assemble your quilt sandwich by first laying your quilt backing material down on your table or floor, print side down. Tape the fabric to the table or floor, making sure that it is taut. Lay the quilt batting on top of this, and then place your quilt top over the batting, right side up. Use safety pins to attach all three layers together, spacing them every six inches. Quilt your project, either using the stitch in the ditch technique, or by free motion quilting.

7. Add the binding. Trim your project ¼ inch outside of your quilt top using the rotary cutter and mat. Calculate the amount of binding you will need by taking the dimensions of the perimeter of your quilt, and adding a foot. Create binding strips that are 2½ inches wide by the perimeter plus a foot. Iron the fabric in half, right side out. Sew the binding strip to the front of the quilt, flip around to the back, and hand stitch the back in place.

References

• How to Make a Quilt