How to Make a Wedding Quilt
Young women in America during the 1800s made quilts as part of their preparation to set up their own households when they married. In an era before insulated houses and central heat, quilts were vital for keeping warm on cold winter nights. According to Susan Meeske of Rutgers University, traditionally, a girl would make 12 quilts to bring to her marriage, and start a 13th, to be quilted with friends, to adorn the bridal bed. Sometimes mothers or other female relatives would make the wedding quilt, which often featured a special design of entwined rings, roses or doves to symbolize romance and future happiness.
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Things You'll Need
- Quilt pattern
- Quilt fabric
- Quilt batting
- Rotary cutter
- Self-healing mat
- Ruler
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Safety pins
- Quilt binding
- Label
Instructions
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Choose your pattern. Traditional wedding quilt patterns include Double Wedding Ring, Lover's Knot, Wedding Roses and Wedding Wishes. Modern wedding quilts may feature the couple's wedding colors or even photographs from the couple's romance. Hearts, flowers and birds are also popular wedding quilt motifs.
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2
Buy fabric to complete the pattern. Choose colors that coordinate with the couple's bedroom decor or the wedding colors. You'll also need quilt batting and fabric for the quilt backing.
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3
Cut out the pieces of the quilt, following the directions for the quilt pattern. Most modern quilters cut quilt fabric using a rotary cutter, a self-healing mat and ruler. This allows you to cut uniform pieces quickly.
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4
Sew the quilt pieces together in blocks or strips, according to the directions with the pattern you're making. Sew on a machine, using 1/4-inch seams. Iron the seams flat.
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Sew the quilt blocks or strips together, along with any sashing or border pieces.
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Layer the quilt backing, the quilt batting and the pieced quilt top. Pin with safety pins or baste the layers together.
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Quilt the layers together. You may quilt by hand, using a sewing machine or you may send the quilt out to a professional quilter. You can quilt following the lines of the pattern, in a random pattern, or in a fancy design such as feathers or hearts.
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Sew the binding to the edges of the quilt. Fold the binding over the raw edges and hand stitch in place.
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Make a label for the back of the quilt and sew this in one corner. You can embroider a label onto a square of fabric or write a label with permanent marker. Note the date, the occasion, the name of the bride and groom and your name. You can also include the name of the pattern if you like.
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Tips & Warnings
Plain muslin makes an inexpensive and attractive backing for the quilt.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Blue and coral quilt block background image by Bluebird from Fotolia.com
