How to Make Quilts Using Crayons
Create a crayon designed quilt with a group for a fund raising project, or as a going away or get well gift. A quilt project can also be combined with a study on early colonial America. The quilt squares can be given as a homework assignment that combines art and history. The quilt squares can be worked on individually and then sewn together. Highlight children's artwork, or make a customized theme using pages from a coloring book for younger children.
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Things You'll Need
- White fabric
- Freezer paper
- Crayons
- Permanent marker (optional)
- Masking tape
- Embroidery hoop (optional)
- Ironing board
- Iron
- Sewing machine
- Flat sheet
- Batting
- Needle
- Ribbon
- Straight pins
- Thread
Instructions
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Wash and dry the 100% cotton fabric. Avoid using any fabric softener or dryer sheets. Cut fabric into twelve-inch quilt squares. If using a twin flat sheet backing for the finished product, you will need approximately 40 quilt squares.
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Iron the fabric on a piece of freezer paper cut the same size as the quilt square. Place the fabric over the freezer paper and then press your iron on the fabric to bond. This is a temporary step that will help stabilize the fabric.
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3
Sketch a design on the fabric with a pencil. Freehand sketch, or trace an image from a coloring book. Outline the outer edges of the design with a permanent marker if desired.
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Color the designs with regular or fabric crayons. Tape the edges down to a table to tighten the fabric before coloring, or place sections in an embroidery hoop. Press hard when coloring. The excess wax will be eliminated while heat setting.
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Place finished sections on an ironing board covered with layers of newspaper. Cover the image with paper towels and then press the iron down on top to heat set the crayons. Set your iron on the wool or medium setting and do not run it back and forth, instead press gently for five to ten seconds and then release. Replace the paper towels as the wax builds up. Continue ironing until the wax stops transferring to the paper towel.
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Peel the freezer paper off once the fabric is cool. Apply a wash of clear textile medium over the crayon design to protect the finished product. Textile medium is a water-based product that is found in the paint section of a craft store. It helps control the bleeding of colors.
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Sew quilt squares together along the edges. Place the finished quilt squares over a layer of cotton batting with a sheet backing. Use a needle and thread to thread a piece of ribbon through the corner of each quilt square, going through all three layers. This highlights each square while securing the quilt top to the backing.
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Tips & Warnings
Wash the quilt in cold water on the gentle cycle.
Hang to dry rather than putting it in the dryer.
References
- Photo Credit crayons unit! image by Rich Johnson from Fotolia.com
