6 Ways to Make a Quilt (for Beginners)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

A quilt is an artistic work. Sewing it involves putting together many pieces of fabric forming a design. Sewing a quilt can therefore be a rewarding hobby that can be done alone or in a group. Here's how to get started!

Steps

Method 1 of 6: Preparation

Step 1. Find everything you will need

For your first quilt you will need to have everything you need close at hand. Prepare your workspace and get the following materials:

• Wheel cutter.
• Scissors.
• Meter or line.
• Various threads.
• Cutting mat.
• Unscrew thread.
• Brooches.

Step 2. Choose the fabric

Different fabrics behave differently over time, so don't mix them and use cotton. Plus, think about colors and shades or you may end up with a flat or overly colorful quilt.

• Keep the same color family without using perfect shades, or you'll sew a boring, monochromatic quilt. Think bright and bright or dense and dark colors, and avoid the in-between lives.
• Do not choose fabrics with all large or small patterns. A good variety of both will create a perfect result. Choose a base fabric and the rest with a specific pattern.

• Consider a shiny fabric. It will be significantly brighter than the others and thus make your quilt stand out.

  • You will also need fabric for the back, hem, seams and batting.
  • If you choose 100% cotton fabrics from trusted stores, you shouldn't have any problems with fading or anything else. If the fabric is old or low quality, have it washed before cutting.

  

  Step 3. Get a quilt kit

  A beginner needs it to learn more easily. Quilt sewing kits include a set of materials for making one, usually a pattern, ready-made fabric cuts, and instructions. However, they do not include the thread, backing fabric and batting.

  Make sure the kit is right for your skill level. In fact, most have a label that indicates who it is intended for. Some are suitable for total beginners, usually for making a wall quilt. An alternative may be to buy a roll of matching fabrics; from one of these rolls a small wall quilt is usually obtained

  Method 2 of 6: Adjust the Fabric

  

  Step 1. Choose a reason

  You will need to know how big you want your quilt to be and how to arrange the various pieces. At this point it will be easier to work with squares.

  You can think of large squares or small ones to build large squares. Look for the materials you have on hand to understand what you can get out of them

  

  Step 2. Start cutting the fabrics

  Grab the roller cutter and go. You'll also need a cutting mat, and don't forget to allow for extra fabric for the hems.

  Calculate 5-6mm on each side of each piece. So, if you want a 10cm square, cut it out about 11.2cm. If you want four small squares to make a 10cm picture, each piece should have sides of about 6.2cm

  

  Step 3. Arrange the pieces

  It will be easier to try on the entire quilt before you start sewing it together. Assemble it and take a look at the result.

  You have to observe how each piece of fabric approaches the other. Pinning the entire piece will avoid overlapping fabric. By doing this you will also understand how great the final product will turn out

  Method 3 of 6: Sew the Quilt

  

  Step 1. Start sewing rows

  Take the pieces of fabric you arranged and pile them up from left to right. To indicate which row it is, you can use a piece of tape.

  • Take the square on top and arrange it with the colored side up. Then take the second and place it face down on top of the first. Tip them together.
  • With the sewing machine, join them using the 6 mm hem you have left. You will likely need to line up the edge of the material with the presser foot. Adjust the needle if necessary. Remember that it is better to stay tight rather than loose.
  • Open the pair of squares with the "good" side up. Take the third square and pin it facing the number two square. Sew as you just did. Repeat for the rest of the row and for several consecutive rows, but don't join the rows together yet!

  

  Step 2. Press the fabric

  It will seem boring and useless, but then you will be glad you did. And yes, there is a difference between pressing and ironing: the first method is a little gentler. If you use steam, then, the fabric will become more frizzy. Then press the seams to one side and not open.

  • Press the left seams one way and right seams the other. Continue for each row.
  • Once you've made two rows, match the seams. Do they touch directly? Great. Tip with pins so that the squares also match.

  

  Step 3. Merge the rows

  Now that the seams are aligned, it will be very easy to sew them. Follow the lines you created with the sewing machine.

  If it doesn't come out perfectly, don't fret. This is a skill that takes practice. The patchwork of your quilt will hide imperfections

  Method 4 of 6: Making the Border

  

  Step 1. Make four strips of fabric

  It doesn't have to be the fabric used in this quilt, but also a different or opposite color. Each strip should be one side in length and a few centimeters wider (at least 7.5cm).

  

  Step 2. Find the length

  There are many ways to do this, but the simplest one is the following:

  • Even out the hems (that part at the edge of the fabric that prevents fraying). Place two strips in the middle of the quilt by aligning one side with the edge. The others will stick out.
  • Place a pin where the edges of the strips end relative to the hem of the quilt. Then, with a tape measure and the cutter, carefully cut where the pin is.

  

  Step 3. Shape the edges with the pins

  Fold the strips in half to find the center. Place the center of the border in the center of the side of the quilt and pin the entire length.

  Space the pins apart to make sure the strip stays in place. It's okay if the strip is slightly smaller than the piece it needs to go on (the others will be longer) - that's why starting in the center and going to the sides with pins is important

  

  Step 4. Sew the border

  Point the opposite side of the quilt and sew both edges of the basted portion. Press them until they are flat from the front.

  Repeat the same steps for the other edges. Arrange the two remaining strips on the remaining quilt. Pin to mark where to trim, then cut off the excess, pin and sew. Press once more to flatten

  Method 5 of 6: Stuff, Cover and Baste the Quilt

  

  Step 1. Choose the padding

  This is the part that fills the two sides of the fabric. The options in this case are innumerable, which can make the choice a bit difficult. Sticking to simplicity right now will ensure you success then. Above all, you will need to know weight and fiber.

  • Weight is a fancy term that refers to the thickness of the padding. A minimum weight implies a thin padding. A fabric of this type is easy to work but the finished product will be of little thickness.

  • Fiber is the material with which the padding is made. Polyester, 100% cotton, and a cotton / polyester blend are the three most common options, none of which necessarily better than the other. Wool and silk are two expensive choices. The latest novelty is bamboo, but it's a bit special.

    • Polyester. An affordable solution to a good handmade quilt with minimal weight. It does not have to be strictly sewn together with the fabric, although it tends to move and the fibers can move from edge to edge over time.
    • Cotton. It is a good option for machine sewing. It must be sewn very close to the fabric. It will tighten a little but shouldn't move. 100% is similar to flannel.
    • Cotton blend (usually 80% cotton and 20% polyester). It is probably the best option to choose. It doesn't cost too much and doesn't tighten as much as 100% cotton. And it also works well with the machine.

    

    Step 2. Cut the back lining

    It should be the largest cut. The filling will be small compared to the back of the quilt and larger than the front - which will be the smallest of all.

    As long as it stays larger on the sides by a few inches than the front, that's fine. The reason the lining needs to be looser is because you usually start sewing from the top and the padding can slip slightly. Those extra inches are your insurance policy in this sense

    

    Step 3. Arrange the layers

    Basting at this point is very important. As boring as it may be, it will give a professional look to the finished product. Baste is a temporary way to hold the three layers of the quilt together.

    • Iron the back of the fabric and place it face down. Smooth it out well (but don't stretch it) and tape it to a solid, flat surface.
    • Smooth out the batting and place the quilt over it. Press both layers to remove any creases; doing so will help the top to adhere well to the padding. When both are smooth and flat, roll them together.
    • Keeping them well together, unroll and smooth out the folds as you go. Make sure you see the lining fabric peeking out behind the four sides of the front.

    

    Step 4. Keep them together

    Here you have a few options: you can machine sew them, you can always baste them in the traditional way or use a special spray.

    • Pin the top every inch from the center. Use basting pins, they are curved and easier to use. When they are in place, remove the ribbon and check that the back of the quilt is taut and flat.

      If there are lumps or too much fabric, you need to fix the problems. If the fabric is loose when you start knitting the quilt, there will be creases and bumps. There is no way to fix the back once you start sewing without getting a headache - but using a patterned fabric for the lining will hide minor mistakes

    

    Step 5. Start basting

    There are many options for machine sewing a quilt. The first is to be guided by the fabric itself. Sewing alongside existing stitches is referred to as "topstitching". If you want to create a more interesting visual effect, sew in rows or following a pattern in different directions.

    It is a good idea to start sewing from the center. Since it is difficult for the machine due to the thickness, roll the sides inside. You can unroll the quilt as you go towards the edges. You will need to use a cut and sew foot: it is not mandatory but it helps to hold the fabrics together well

    Method 6 of 6: Join the Quilt

    

    Step 1. Start cutting to finish

    You will need to remove the excess padding and lining from the project. Use a roller cutter and ruler to get an exact, square edge. Then start cutting the strips to join the quilt.

    Refine the strips. You will need four strips equal in length to the edges but narrower: about 5-7 cm, depending on the size of the quilt

    

    Step 2. Sew the strips together to create a long one

    It may seem counterintuitive, but it is the easiest way to proceed. Press the seams and fold in half lengthwise. Press once more to have a line well engraved on the edge of the quilt.

    

    Step 3. Pin the joints

    Starting from the center of one side (the ends don't have to join near a corner as it gets more complicated), pin the edges of the strip to the edges on the BACK of the quilt.

    • When you get to the corner you will need to cut each one. To do it:

      • Fold the strip at 45 degrees when you reach the corner of the quilt. Pin the corner to hold it in place.
      • Fold the strip to match the edges of the side. The crease should be in line with the edge of the last side you pinned it to. You will have a small triangle: place another pin at 45 ° on the other side of the triangular flap.
    • When the strip ends, fold the end back so that the strips meet. Score a crease with the iron. Cut strips about 5-6mm away from the crease. Pin together and sew where you marked both strips. Press on the open seams.

    

    Step 4. Sew the quilt

    You're almost there! Sew the seam to the back of the quilt using the 6mm allowance (if you have a cut and sew foot, use it). When you get to the corner, stop 6mm from the end of the side. Raise the presser foot and rotate the quilt in another direction, adjusting the flap of the triangle in the direction you will start sewing again.

    • When all four sides are sewn to the back of the quilt, fold the folded edge of the seam in front of the quilt and pin it in place. The cut out corners should be accommodated. Prick with lots of pins to hold the joint in place as you prepare to sew.
    • Using both same-colored and invisible thread (okay if you don't want the stitches to show up on the lining), carefully sew the joint working from the front. When you get to the corners, turn the needle and continue sewing. Better to finish in the same place you started with a backstroke.