How to Make a Windowpane Quilt

The quilt with the dark blue borders on the lower left is an example of a windowpane quilt.

A windowpane quilt generally has colorful blocks of fabric outlined in bands of white or a solid color fabric. The colorful blocks in the center can be simple squares or very elaborate pieced blocks that resemble stained glass windows. If you are new to quilting, you might want to try a simple quilt block, such as a nine-patch or four-patch square, for the windows. Choose a complementary color for the borders of the squares to give the quilt the windowpane look. Choose fabrics made from the same fiber, such as all cotton or all wool, and choose fabrics in a similar weight.

Things You'll Need

• Colorful fabric for the windowpanes; about 4 yards of 36-inch-wide fabric
• Solid fabric for the borders; about 2 yards of 36-inch-wide fabric
• Batting
• Fabric for the backing of the quilt, about 4 1/2 yards of 45-inch-wide fabric

Instructions

1. Cut 256 squares of colorful printed fabric, each measuring 4 1/2 inches square. Divide them in four piles, by color or pattern. Take one square from each pile and sew these four squares together into a larger square, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Press the seams open. Take your time, and eventually you'll wind up with 64 windowpanes.

2. Cut 56 strips of the solid color fabric, each measuring 2 1/2 inches wide and 8 1/4 inches long. Sew one strip to one edge of a windowpane square, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Sew another block to the other long edge of the strip, so you have a strip between two blocks. Keep adding a strip then a block until you have a long column of 8 blocks divided by 7 strips. Repeat this with the remaining blocks and strips until you have 8 long columns with 8 blocks and 7 strips in each column.

3. Measure the length of the 8-block columns. Cut seven strips of solid fabric, each as long as the 8-block column and 2 1/2 inches wide. Put the quilt top together by sewing a column of blocks to a strip of solid fabric. Then sew on another column of blocks and another strip of solid fabric. Continue putting the quilt top together until you have completed it. This makes a generous twin-size quilt or a regular double/full-size quilt.

4. Cut the quilt backing in two pieces, each 41 1/4 inches wide and 82 inches long. Sew the two pieces together to make a large 82-inch square. Pin the quilt top, batting and quilt backing together with the batting sandwiched in the middle. Quilt the pieces together by hand or by sewing machine. Finally, fold the edges of the backing fabric over to the front of the quilt. Tuck in the raw edges, pin the fabric in place all around the quilt, and stitch along the folded edge of the backing fabric to make a border around the quilt.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your time, as you will have a better outcome if you are relaxed and put the pieces together at your leisure.

• You can buy patterns for windowpane quilts online or at fabric shops, if you want a more intricate design for your windowpanes.

• Look for quilting groups in your area and attend a few meetings. You'll get to know some interesting people who will help you learn how to quilt.

References

• Amish Loft: What Size Quilt Do I Need?
• Delaware Quilts: How Many Blocks Do I Need?

Resources

• "501 Quilt Blocks"; Better Homes and Gardens; 1994