Making a quilt can be a fun and useful way to pass the time. You have the opportunity to indulge yourself in creating a blanket that will keep you warm on the coldest nights and then, in a few years, you can give to your children or grandchildren. Either way, it's a long and tiring job, so be prepared!
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Get the Supplies
Step 1. Choose your cutting tools
To make a quilt level and symmetrical, it is important to start by cutting equivalent pieces of fabric. Not only will having a tool that cuts well will make the product look more professional, it will also speed up the quilt making process and make everything easier for beginners. You can use simple sewing scissors, but rotary cutters are generally considered to be the simplest and fastest cutting tools.
- Rotary cutters are sold in different sizes, but the medium ones are the best to start with.
- If you choose to use regular scissors, make sure they are sharp and do not tear the fabric.
Step 2. Get a cutting mat
Cutting the fabric on a table may seem like the simplest solution, but you would risk scoring the furniture and not be able to get a straight line. To avoid this risk, get a self-healing cutting mat to cut on. They have a ruler printed on the top, allow you to align the fabric and easily obtain perfect edges.
Step 3. Use a ruler, but not just any one
An extra long and wide ruler will work best for quilting. Find a clear plastic ruler that is 12 x 60 centimeters. This will allow you to squeeze the fabric between the cutting mat and the ruler to always make perfect cuts. If you're working on a small quilt, a ruler of this size will do just fine too.
Step 4. Put the basic sewing items together
These are useful things for any sewing project, including pins, safety pins and a seam ripper. If you don't already have them, they are available at sewing supply stores. They will be needed to sew a quilt, so stock especially plenty of pins and safety pins.
Step 5. Choose the thread
It looks universal, but is actually available in different materials and colors. Avoid using the cheap one as it is more likely to break when sewing and lint when washed. Superior quality cotton thread is the best choice for a quilt. If you want to use the thread for multiple projects, buy a spool in a neutral color, such as white, beige or gray.
Step 6. Select the fabric
The most important step in making a quilt is preparing the fabric. With thousands of fabrics available on the market, this task can seem a little daunting. A basic quilt can be made more easily out of 100% cotton fabric, although polyester and cotton blended with polyester will work fine anyway. Choose different fabrics for the quilt front and border. For the back, choose a pair.
- Consider the colors and the chromatic scale you are using. How many different colors do you want to incorporate? How many different reasons? Try to compose a good mix of large and small motifs, as well as colors from the same family.
- Be creative with the fabric options. Look for vintage tablecloths or remnants at discount stores, rather than relying solely on the fabrics offered by your sewing shop.
- The fabric for the back will be larger than the front of your quilt and batting, so make sure you get enough.
Step 7. Take the cotton wool
Also called filling or batting, it is the soft material that adds warmth to your quilt. It is sandwiched between the front of the quilt and the back. It is available in different fibers, including cotton, cotton blend, polyester, bamboo fiber and thermo adhesive. It is sold in different "lofts" or thicknesses; a smaller loft is thinner, while a larger loft is thicker.
- The polyester wadding is more likely to spread towards the edges of the quilt over time and the thermo-adhesive one will easily wrinkle. Therefore, beginners should consider cotton, cotton blend, or bamboo fiber.
- If you are making a large quilt, such as a duvet for the bed, it may be best to use a larger loft. Smaller quilts may not require such a thickness of wadding, unless you want an extra warm blanket.
Step 8. Use a sewing machine
While a quilt can be sewn by hand, the process is much more expensive and a little more daunting for the beginner. Using a sewing machine to make the quilt might be easier; any machine that can make a straight line will do just fine! Make sure you have plenty of spare needles to keep the machine running smoothly.
Step 9. Get an iron
You will need to iron the quilt at several points in the process, so get an iron (preferably a steam iron) to use for this purpose. Don't worry about using an over-equipped and expensive one - a trip to your supermarket will be more than enough.
Step 10. Consider a model
Even if you don't need a design to make a quilt, it is sometimes helpful to have a basic pattern to work with. There are many free quilt patterns available online, or you can purchase a pattern book at a sewing shop. If you prefer to design your model based on your personal needs and measurements, you will only need a pencil and paper.
- Even if you cannot purchase or make a model, it is highly recommended that you draw a rough sketch before starting.
- The simplest quilt for starters is a blanket made of rows with quilted squares. Using larger pieces for each square will be easier than making a lot of small pieces.
Part 2 of 4: Starting the Quilt
Step 1. Pre-wash the fabric
While not everyone chooses to do this, prewashing will shrink the fabric and rinse off any dyes - washing the quilt only after you're done with these factors would risk ruining it. Higher quality fabrics will not lose color or shrink so much, but it is still best to wash the fabric, regardless of quality, also to remove all the dirt deposited on it.
Step 2. Iron the material
To remove any wrinkles and make cutting easier, use an iron. Use the steam setting if available. You do not need to iron the padding - only the front and back of the quilt will suffice.
Step 3. Take your measurements
If you know how big you want the quilt, you need to measure the size of each of the individual pieces to be assembled. The trickiest part of measuring is remembering the seam allowance; each side of the fabric will be sewn to another using a five millimeter seam allowance. This means that you need to add five millimeters to the sides of each piece. For example, if you want your quilt to be made from four-inch squares, you will need to measure and cut each square to be 10.5 x 10.5cm. The extra half centimeter will need to be sewn as a seam allowance.
- The size of the quilt and each piece is quite arbitrary, unless a specific pattern is used. For this reason, make your favorite size pieces based on your skill level.
- If it helps, you can use a washable fabric marker to mark the measurements on the fabric before cutting.
Step 4. Cut the pieces
Focus on the front of the quilt for now; cut all the small pieces of fabric that you will sew together. Lay each piece on your cutting shelf and place your clear ruler over the top. Use the wheel cutter to move through the fabric exactly along the lines. Follow the old saying "measure twice, cut once" to make sure you don't accidentally make a mistake in your cut.
Step 5. Roll out your quilt
This part of the process is enjoyable - now you get to designing your own quilt! Roll out all the small pieces you just cut according to the pattern you want. This is easiest to do on a shelf with plenty of room to work. Make sure the model is exactly the way you want it, even if you have to rearrange everything several times.
- At this point you may find that you want to add a few extra pieces of fabric in a different color or pattern. Simply replace some of your pre-cut squares with new ones in different prints.
- Track the lines of the fabric using post-its or chalk to mark each piece.
Step 6. Stack the rows
It's a little awkward to have a giant quilt pattern spread out on the floor, so you'd better stack the pieces in order. Work from left to right going between the rows, stacking each piece on top of the previous one. Then mark the beginning of each line with a post-it to know which order they should go in.
Part 3 of 4: Make the Quilt
Step 1. Sew the lines
Start the quilt by sewing every single row of pieces together. Work from one end of your row with two of your fabric squares. Place the two squares with the motifs facing each other. After that, use a straight stitch on the sewing machine that is six millimeters internally. Then add the next square in the row to the previous one, using the same process. Work along each row so they are all sewn together in long thin strips.
- Before sewing, pin each square to the one previously sewn to help keep them in line.
- Achieving a similar take on all pieces is vital to making sure the pattern lines up on the finished quilt. Make sure you sew exactly six millimeters for each piece of fabric.
Step 2. Straighten the lines
After sewing each piece together, the back will be left with the visible and overhead filming. To flatten the quilt and make it more finished, press these overlaps with the flat iron. Iron each row in the opposite direction; stretch all the shots in the first row to the right, in the second to the left, in the third back to the right and so on.
Step 3. Sew the rows together
To join all the lines of the fabric, use the same procedure used to sew each square of fabric together. Take two adjacent lines and turn them inwards so that the motifs are facing each other. Sew all the way using a six-millimeter take-up. Repeat this process for each additional row, until you have a complete quilt front.
If the lines and pieces don't line up, don't worry! The quilt will look beautiful even with those little mistakes
Step 4. Iron the front of the quilt
Turn the quilt over so that the back is exposed. To iron the entire back of the quilt, use the technique used for each individual row. Flatten the overlap points in opposite directions - the first row on the left, the second on the right, the third on the left, etc. Doing a good job when ironing the fabric will make it much easier to sew everything together.
Part 4 of 4: Putting It All Together
Step 1. Cut the rest of the fabric
After finishing the top of the quilt, the padding and the back must also be cut. They should be slightly larger than the front quilt, to allow for any fabric curling that may occur during the sewing process. Measure and cut the padding and the back 5-8 centimeters wider than the front.
Step 2. Baste the quilt
Basting is the process of overlapping the pieces that are pinned in place before being sewn. There are two options for basting - use safety pins to hold the pieces in place or a spray adhesive for basting. Arrange your pieces of fabric in the order you want them to appear on the quilt - first put the back with the motifs down, then the batting and finally the front facing up. Line up all edges and smooth out any wrinkles. Work on the latter starting from the center and going outwards.
- If you use a basting spray, lightly mist it on each layer before adding the next one on top. Smooth out the fabric after the spray has set the layers in place.
- If you want to join the quilt parts together, use safety pins in the center of each piece. Work from the center outwards.
- If you want to be more than cautious, you can use classic basting along with spray to secure the quilt pieces. This will ensure that the setting of your quilt is more than perfect before moving on to sewing it.
Step 3. Sew the layers together
Start at the center of the quilt and sew outward to push excess fabric to accumulate towards the edges, rather than the center. The easiest way to sew the layers of the quilt together is to sew the "pit", inside or near the seams already created between the pieces. You can also choose to sew the pieces along the diagonal or go over the seams with the sewing machine.
- If you want to make sure you are sewing in the right place, use a washable fabric marker to mark the exact places to pass.
- The more seams you make across the entire quilt, the better the finished product will be. The addition of additional seams will prevent the padding from moving or accumulating inside.
- You will be able to add a seam around the edge of the quilt after sewing the entire center of your blanket together.
Step 4. Cut the edging trim
It is a fabric border to put all around the duvet to protect the seams and make the look more finished. You can choose to cut the edging horizontally / vertically or on the bias, which allows for more flexibility. Cut the strips (you will most likely have to overlap some of them) so that they are 6.5 centimeters wide and long enough to go around the entire perimeter of the quilt. Sew the strips together so that you have four pieces equal to the length of the four sides of the blanket.
Step 5. Iron the finish
If you need to sew multiple pieces of fabric together to create a single length for the edge, press the seams well. Then fold the edge in half lengthwise and iron the fabric. This way you will have an ironed seam along the entire half of the entire border.
Step 6. Secure the edge with pins
Arrange the overlapping finish along the entire perimeter, well aligned, so that half is facing down and the other half is facing you. Use lots of pins to hold the fabric in place like this.
Step 7. Sew the front of the beading
Go along the edge of the quilt and the trim you just added and sew them together using a 6mm overlap. You should do this on both sides of the fabric, ending up with a quilt with two pieces of edging attached to the back. Then fold the fabric up and away from the center of the quilt, showing the printed side of the finish.
Step 8. Add the remaining border
Arrange two more strips along the open sides of the quilt. Use the same process by securing the trim around the perimeter with a six millimeter seam allowance. Then fold the fabric out and away from the center of the quilt, making sure that the pattern can be seen.
Step 9. Fold back the beading again
Turn the quilt over to expose the back. The trim should now show up all around the quilt. Start on one side by folding the edge until it meets the perimeter of the quilt. Then fold the rest of the piping so that it overlaps the back of the quilt. You can iron the edging to help keep it in place, adding lots of pins to secure it. Do this with all sides of the quilt.
Step 10. Finish the finishing beading
Sewing the piping to the back is dangerous, as you will see the stitches through the front. Then you will have two options to minimize the amount of thread in sight: use an invisible thread to sew the finish or secure it by hand with an overedge, i.e. a very dense sewing stitch or a ladder stitch, being careful to avoid passing through all three layers of the quilt. Go all the way around the edges of the quilt, making sure the corners are square and the seams are even.
Step 11. Finish the quilt
With the addition of the trim, the quilt is finished! Wash it again if you want to give it a soft, original vintage feel. In any case, the quilt is ready. Enjoy it!
Advice
- When washing a quilt, you may want to use the color catcher to absorb the excess color that is released from the various fabrics. Thanks to this product, the quilt will not take on a strange color.
- If you decide to use a stretch fabric, you could use a product that can be applied to remove the stretch effect. Don't try to make a quilt with stretch fabrics.
- Practice making a small quilt before working on a larger blanket.
- To make it easier to join the pieces, cut the back 5 centimeters larger than the front. Fold on the front, turn it under an inch and secure everything. Make the long edges first. Go over the top with a decorative seam. Then fold and sew the two ends, smoothing the corners.
- Muslin is great for the bottom sheet of quilts - it comes in very large sizes, so you won't have to sew several pieces together. In addition, it is a cotton fabric that you can color as you like to create the design you prefer.
- A quilt frame can be very useful. Basically, it is a large embroidery hoop that sits on a stand. Keeps the fabric taut so it doesn't crease and allows you to sew at knee height.
- When making a quilt by hand, you can use the knot trick: when you run out of thread, tie a knot and then insert the needle into the fabric until the knot touches the surface. At that point, give it a dry tug to make the knot penetrate the fabric. At this point, you can cut the unnecessary thread without worrying that it will come off.
Warnings
- By making the quilt in viscose or polyester you will not need to iron it. However, these fabrics do not allow the skin to breathe and those who sleep under that blanket may sweat and feel suffocated. It is advisable to use natural fabrics, such as cotton, while you could use viscose and polyester only for decorations.
- Take plenty of breaks while sewing, especially if you are making the quilt by hand. This way, you will avoid hurting your hands and back.
- It takes a long time to make a quilt, especially if you want to sew it by hand. You must be prepared to invest a lot of free time in this project or you could pay someone to finish the job.
- If you are using tailor's chalk to trace the lines on the quilt, test it in one corner, as some fabrics may be stained.
