How to Make a Doll Quilt Quilting Miniatures

Make a doll quilt for fun quilting

Make a doll quilt for fun or for that special child in your life. Miniature quilts and doll quilting are essentially the same, but these are not the same as wall quilts or lap quilts. Make a choice before you make a quilt. Choose whether you want to make a doll quilt miniature, or a lap quilt or wall quilt.

The difference is in the size of the squares or quilt blocks. A doll quilt or miniature will probably have about twenty squares with a completed size of about 16 inches by 20 inches. A lap quilt or wall quilt has standard size squares, but fewer of them than a bed quilt.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Scrap fabrics
• Needle and thread
• Backing fabric in about 20-by-24-inch size
• Scissors
• Embroidery hoop or needlework frame

1. Choose a pattern. Consider the size of the smallest pattern piece, and the work required to make a single block or square. The smaller pattern pieces will require more accuracy than larger ones.

2. Cut the patchwork pieces. Use small scraps of fabric for variety, and cut the pieces with about 3/16-inch seam allowance. One-fourth inch seam allowance is standard for quilting, but is too large for a doll quilt.

3. Make a sample quilt block. Assemble the first miniature block, either with machine sewing or hand sewing.

4. Check for size and accuracy. Measure the size of the sample block and be sure that it will make a doll quilt the size you want. Determine the size of the overall quilt by subtracting about 3/8 inch from the block. This is the 3/16-inch seam allowance on two sides. Multiply the resulting figure by the number of blocks on a side, and add the binding size -- usually about 3/4 inch or 3/8 inch on two sides.

5. Make all the blocks to complete the doll quilt. Make about twenty blocks, unless you add sashing between the blocks or a wide edging.

6. Assemble the blocks. Lay the blocks on a table to design the miniature quilt in an attractive arrangement with balance of color. Once the arrangement is suitable, assemble the blocks into a quilt top.

7. Cut the backing fabric and quilt binding. Cut the quilt back from a solid piece of fabric, and make the binding on the bias. Binding for a doll quilt or miniature needs to be about 2 inches wide for a double fold binding. Eighty inches of binding will probably be sufficient to complete a doll quilt.

8. Assemble the quilt. Place wrong sides together for the quilt top and the backing fabric. Batting is not necessary. Make basting stitches from the middle out to the edges, and all around the edge.

9. Use standard quilting techniques. Quilt the miniature with a hoop or small needlework frame, working from the center out. Once the quilting is completed on the miniature, trim the edges and add the binding.

10. Double fold the binding. Use double-fold binding techniques for best wear. Fold the binding in half and apply to the back side of the quilt. Fold forward, pin, and sew to the front of the quilt.

Tips & Warnings

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• copyright 2009 Linda Richard

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