How to Make a Block Quilt Using Chenille Trim Around the Blocks

Careful choosing of quilt fabric might lead to a selection of chenille.

Adding chenille fabric to a block quilt not only increases visual interest, but also adds a plush texture to run your fingers over. Manufacturers weave chenille fabric from individual strands of chenille yarn. Chenille yarn is made by sandwiching and twisting tiny pieces of fiber inside two long pieces of center fiber. The result is plush yarn with a pile almost like carpet. Chenille fabric is soft and has the appearance of velvet when used in the construction of a quilt.

Things You'll Need

• 1 yd. green cotton fabric
• 1 yd. cream chenille fabric
• 1 roll of batting
• Quilter's ruler
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting mat
• Pins
• 2 spools cream sewing thread
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Sewing needle

Instructions

Cut the Pieces

1. Cut nine 5-inch squares out of green cotton.

2. Cut four rectangular strips out of cream chenille, 1 1/2 inches wide by 16 inches long.

3. Cut six rectangular strips out of cream chenille 1 1/2 inches wide by 5 inches long.

4. Cut two rectangular strips out of cream chenille, 1 1/2 inches wide by 19 inches long.

5. Cut one 19 inch square out of green cotton.

6. Cut one 19 inch square out of batting.

7. Cut two rectangles out of cream chenille, 40 inches by 1 1/2 inches.

Lay out the Pieces

1. Place a green square on the table.

2. Put a small cream rectangle (horizontally) directly below the green square and line up the ends.

3. Put another green square and cream rectangle down just as you did the first time.

4. Put one more green square below the cream rectangle. You have finished the left column of pieces.

5. Put a long cream rectangle (vertically) on the right side of the left column of pieces.

6. Lay out the middle column of pieces and another vertical cream rectangle on the right side just as you did previously.

7. Add a third column of pieces on the right side of the second vertical cream rectangle.

8. Put the two 16-inch long cream rectangles horizontally on the top and bottom of the quilt layout.

9. Put the two 19 inch long cream rectangles vertically on the left and right sides of the quilt layout.

Sewing the Quilt

1. Fold the top left green square down onto the cream rectangle directly below the green square.

2. Match up and pin along the top edges of the two pieces.

3. Sew 1/4-inch away from the top edge of the pieces, using a sewing machine and straight stitch.

4. Trim excess thread with scissors and remove the pins.

5. Open the pieces and press the seam with an iron.

6. Continue to sew each piece onto the piece below it in the left column, just as you did previously, until all of the pieces are sewn together. Press the entire column.

7. Sew the middle and right columns of pieces just as you sewed the left column.

8. Go back to the left column. Fold the cream vertical rectangle, on the right side of the column, onto the left column of sewn pieces.

9. Match up and pin the right edges of the left column and the cream rectangle.

10. Sew 1/4-inch away from the right edge with a sewing machine and straight stitch.

11. Trim excess thread with scissors and remove the pins.

12. Open and press the seam with an iron.

13. Sew the other vertical cream rectangle onto the middle column of pieces the same way you sewed the first vertical cream rectangle.

14. Sew the seams between the middle column and left cream rectangle, and the right column and the right cream rectangle, just as you sewed the other vertical seams in the quilt.

15. Press the quilt with an iron.

Adding the Border

1. Fold the top and bottom cream rectangles onto the quilt.

2. Match up and pin the top edges, and the bottom edges, of the quilt and the two cream rectangles.

3. Sew 1/4 inch away from the top and bottom edges of the quilt using a sewing machine with straight stitch.

4. Remove the pins, open and press the top and bottom seams.

5. Fold the 19-inch cream rectangles on the left and right sides onto the quilt.

6. Match up and pin the left and right edges of the quilt and rectangles.

7. Sew 1/4-inch away from the left and right edges of the quilt using a sewing machine with straight stitch.

8. Remove the pins, open the pieces and press the left and right seams.

Finishing the Quilt

1. Sew the two 40-inch rectangles of cream chenille together, end to end, with a sewing machine and straight stitch. You now have one 80-inch-long rectangle.

2. Put the 19-inch green cotton square on the table.

3. Put the 19-inch square of batting on top of the green cotton square.

4. Put the quilt you pieced on top of the batting square. You now have the three layers of the quilt on top of one another.

5. Match up the edges of the three squares. Pin all three layers of the quilt together.

6. Sew through all three layers of the quilt, along each side of the two vertical cream rectangles of the quilt, with a sewing machine and a straight stitch.

7. Fold the 80-inch rectangle over each side of the quilt. Turn the rectangle 90 degrees at each corner to continue matching up the edges of the rectangle and quilt. Pin the rectangle to the quilt.

8. Sew 1/4-inch away along each side of the quilt to attach the rectangle with a sewing machine and straight stitch.

9. Fold the binding around the quilt's edge to the back of the quilt. Fold the raw end of the binding under 1/4 inch. Pin the binding in place.

10. Ladder stitch the binding to the back of the quilt by hand using a needle and thread.

11. Remove all of the pins from the quilt.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut all of the pieces for the quilt with a quilter's ruler, rotary cutter and cutting mat.

• All of the sizes for the pieces given include 1/4 inch seam allowances on all sides.

• Overstock.com suggests to, "Try placing your chenille throw in a pillowcase before you machine wash it or put it in the dryer. This will contain the shedding and reduce the amount of cleaning you may have to do later." This same advice would be advisable to follow for your quilt as well.

• Close the rotary cutter each time you are not using it, since rotary cutters have extremely sharp blades.

• Follow the pattern you already laid out when you sew the individual fabric pieces together.

• Wash the fabric before you cut or sew it, or the fabric (and quilt) may shrink later on and warp the pattern.

References

• Overstock.com: How to Clean a Chenille Throw

Resources

• textilesindepth: Chenille Fabric
• Embroiderers' Guild: Ladder Stitch