How to Make a Patchwork Quilt for a Baby

Make a quilt and give a hug that lasts forever.

One of the most basic quilting patterns, a patchwork quilt is a creative way to use fabric remnants as well as re-purpose old clothing. A baby patchwork quilt is the perfect project for a first-time quilter. The size is less intimidating than a larger quilt and there are hundreds of fabrics from which to choose. This patchwork baby quilt, when finished, will be approximately 45 by 60 inches. It will contain 24 blocks--four blocks across and six blocks down plus an 8-inch border. Although this particular patchwork baby quilt calls for four different coordinating fabrics, you can use any number of fabrics.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• Pencil
• Stiff cardboard
• Scissors
• Fabric, 2 yards each of four different colors or patterns (two different colors for the blocks; one color for the border and one for the back of the quilt)
• Laundry soap and water
• Iron
• Straight pins
• Needle
• Thread
• Sewing Machine
• Batting, 2 yards
• Baby ribbon, 3 yards

Instructions

1. Choose fabric for quilt. Wash fabric before marking and cutting squares. This will ensure that the fabric is color-fast and prevent shrinkage after the quilt is finished. Iron the fabric.

2. Create a template for the quilt squares. Measure a 6 1/2 inch square with a ruler on a stiff piece of cardboard. Cut out template. A 6 1/2 inch square will make a 6 inch quilt square plus a seam allowance.

3. Trace blocks using the template and pencil on the wrong side of the fabric. Cut 24 blocks--12 blocks of each color.

4. Pin quilt blocks together right-side to right-side, alternating between the two different colors. Pin the blocks together with straight pins to make a row of six blocks. Sew the row of blocks together. Set the row aside and start a new row using the second color block to start a new row.

5. Assemble patchwork quilt top by sewing all the rows together. Start each new row with the alternate color so that the color blocks will line up correctly. When done sewing the quilt top, lightly press it with an iron. Turn the quilt top over and press seams open.

6. Create a border for the long sides of the quilt top. Measure and mark a piece of fabric 8 1/4 inches wide and the length of the quilt. Cut two. Pin the border to the side of the quilt top right-side to right-side with straight pins. Sew the border to the quilt top. Remove the pins. Repeat on the other side of the quilt.

7. Create a border for the top and bottom of the quilt top. Measure and mark a piece of fabric 8 1/4 inches wide and the width of the top of the quilt. Cut two. Pin the border to the top of the quilt, right-side to right-side with straight pins. Sew the border to the top of the quilt. Remove the pins. Repeat on the bottom of the quilt. Iron the quilt top.

8. Prepare batting by laying it on a flat surface. Pin the quilt top to the batting, right-side up. Cut batting slightly larger than quilt top.

9. Lay the fabric for the quilt back on a flat surface, right-side up. Place the quilt top with the batting pinned to it on top of the quilt back, right-side down. Remove pins from the quilt top and batting. Pin the quilt top, batting and quilt back together with straight pins.

10. Cut the quilt back by cutting around the edge of the quilt top/batting/quilt back. Sew all three together by sewing a straight stitch along the edge with a needle and thread or a sewing machine. Leave a small opening to allow enough room to turn the quilt right-side out.

11. Remove straight pins. Reach inside opening of quilt and pull quilt top so that it is right-side out. Close opening with tiny overcast stitches.

12. Tie off quilt to keep all three layers of the quilt together. "Tie off a quilt" means to tie all the layers of the quilt together so that the fiberfill batting inside the quilt does not shift when washed. Thread a large eyed needle with thin baby ribbon. Start at the front side of the quilt and pass the needle through the quilt and to the back side of the quilt. Leave 6-8 inches of ribbon on the quilt top side for tying a bow. Exit the needle and ribbon from the back side of the quilt to the quilt front. Exit the needle close to where it entered the quilt so that a bow can be tied. Tie bow and cut off any excess ribbon. Repeat at the corners and center of the quilt.

Tips & Warnings

• You can tie the quilt with small ribbons or just sew a few stitches throughout the quilt. Yarn ties are also a good choice for patchwork baby quilts.

• Do not tie off a baby quilt with buttons, as they are a choking hazard.

References

• Crafts and Fabrics: Baby Quilt
• Teach Street: Easy Baby Quilt

Resources

• Make Baby Stuff. Baby Quilt
• Quilter's Library: Easy Baby Quilt