How to Design a Quilt Using Panels
Designing with printed quilt panels is more than a quick way to stitch up an impromptu gift. With the wealth of whimsical and topical panels available--from Mary Engelbreit designs to Flintstones prints--you can get creative and produce a quilt that expresses your own individual style. By using panels, you can save the time you would spend cutting, piecing and pressing quilt blocks. By adding coordinating borders and setting the panels in original ways you can design a work of art, especially with some skilled machine or hand quilting to finish your masterpiece.
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Things You'll Need
- Graph paper
- Ruler
- Quilt panel(s)
- Quilt fabric
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Quilting ruler
- Sewing machine
- Thread
Instructions
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1
Draw the dimensions of the size quilt you want to make onto graph paper, using a scale of 3 inches per square, equaling four squares per foot. A wall hanging can be whatever size you wish; the standard size for a baby quilt is 45 by 60 inches, A twin sized quilt measures 63 by 87 inches.
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2
Select the quantity and size of the quilt panels you will incorporate in your design. You may cut your panel into smaller pieces or use panels in their entirety, depending on their design. For example, a panel such as "Words to Live By" contains several different mottoes which lend themselves to being divided into separate blocks. Beatrix Potter panels each portray an integrated scene, so you will want to use each panel as a whole.
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3
Experiment with the placement of your panels on the graph paper to determine the arrangement you like best. For example, set the panels on point--diamonds rather than squares--to create a different look. Or arrange them with a large panel in the center and smaller panels in the corners.
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Decide how you will connect the panels. Draw any connecting fabric such as lattice--strips sewn to the edges of each block and joined with contrasting squares at block corners--on your graph paper drawing.
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5
Add outer borders to you graph paper quilt. To determine the width and number of borders you desire, subtract the current quilt measurement (using the ratio of four graph squares to 1 foot) from the finished quilt size you want to make. If you need to add 12 inches in length and 12 in width, for example, you can add a first and second border of 4 and 8 inches, respectively.
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Use your completed panel quilt design to convert panel, lattice and border measurements to actual size. Calculate yardages of the fabrics you will need for your design, adding 1/4 inch seam allowances to the fabric and panel pieces.
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7
Cut your pieces using a rotary cutter, quilt ruler and mat and sew your creation, using the graph paper drawing as a guide.
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Tips & Warnings
When designing your own quilt, look at other quilts and publications for ideas.
