Patchwork quilts are delightful to look at, own and create. One of the first hand projects many young women learned in past generations was to do one. Getting started is really simple, and with each finished project, you will improve your creative skills.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part 1: Before Sewing
Step 1. Set aside some fabric scraps
They can come from other sewing projects, old clothes or fabrics from your family or friends. Set them aside for your patchwork quilt.
Depending on your tastes, they could all be the same size or different shapes and sizes. Think about how the pieces will fit together as a whole. Try to have at least 6 different patterns
Step 2. Find a pattern
Search the internet (Google Books is a good place to start) and do-it-yourself books to find a pattern that interests you or create your own by deciding what you would like to achieve when the quilt is finished.
The blanket designs are the result of the fusion of small pieces of fabric creating a sort of final collage. The pieces usually range from 5 cm to the size you want, it depends on the pattern you choose
Step 3. Decide which pattern you want to use for the blanket
Next, cut the pieces of fabric that will form the colors and pattern you need. A nice pair of scissors will work for you in this step.
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Make sure you leave a seam allowance of about 1.25 cm on all sides. If you want 2.5 cm squares, consider a total of about 3.75 cm on all sides.
Clearly, they don't need to be square. Rectangles and triangles also work great
- Shape your design on the floor. It is much easier to arrange the quilt when it is not yet sewn together. Arrange the pieces in the exact order you want them. In addition to seeing if you like the combination of colors, you will also see how big your blanket is and if the size fits you.
Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Creating the Quilt
Step 1. Sew the quilt pieces together
Go from line to line. You would need a sewing machine, but you can also do it by hand if you trust your stitches and if you have patience.
- Once you have all the lines sewn, you need to attach them together. It's easier to sew each row first than to haphazardly put them together.
- Make sure the sides of the fabric are all facing right! The printed sides must be together. If you are using a sewing machine, make sure the foot is positioned on 1/4 ".
Step 2. Press the top of the blanket with an iron
Point it to the right temperature for your fabric. Smooth the seams to make sure the quilt is straight when finished.
Step 3. Use a one-piece slipcover for your blanket
It must be wider and longer than the finished quilt, at least 20 cm. They will cut it for you at the fabric store, but you may need to buy two long pieces and sew them together.
- Put the lining in a place where you can comfortably accommodate your work. Place it face down on the floor. The beautiful side must face the floor.
- Place the slipcover on the floor or on a large, wide table. Place the beautiful part of the fabric face down. Spread out the fabric by ironing it well.
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Attach the fabric to the floor with masking tape, removing any creases you encounter as you go, before attaching the side to the floor. It is important to be able to spread it as evenly as possible and without creases, without pulling the fabric so that it loses its natural fold.
When you are satisfied with the result, take some basting spray and spray it generously on the fabric
Step 4. Spread the quilt batting over the fabric
The padding will tend to keep the crease marks, but since you've smoothed them out, don't worry if the crease lines still show (as above). The padding does not need to be ironed.
Spray another layer of basting spray on the batting
Step 5. Place the top of the quilt close, face up
It must be smooth, without creases. You will notice that the top of the blanket is smaller than the two layers below, this is intentional, otherwise it would be very difficult to line up the layers perfectly. Smooth out each fold until the top of your blanket is perfectly smooth.
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Pin the parts at a distance of about 15 cm. You can use as many pins as you want. Start arranging them from the center and work outward in concentric circles. This means that all excess fabric is pushed out of the blanket, rather than gathering in the center.
Having pins all over the place, remove the tape, freeing the blanket from the floor
Step 6. Start sewing everything together
How you stuff the layers is something that depends a lot on personal preference, and quilt veterans often use a freehand stitch that waves across the blanket in circles and swirls. However, by far the simplest method is 'stitch-in-the-ditch'. This simply means machine sewing along the blanket so that the stitches end as close as possible to the 'dip' that is created where the two fabrics were sewn together.
- Baste the pieces with pins or decorations around the blanket pattern with a contrasting thread that fits well with the fabric. You will also need to give two points in the center of each square to prevent the top and bottom from slipping off.
- As soon as the quilt is fully stuffed, you can square the blanket, cutting off any excess lining and padding that protrude from the edges.
Method 3 of 3: Part 3: The Closure Strips
Step 1. Cut closure strips
They depend on the size of your quilt. A good starting point is around 6cm wide. The strips will form a smooth border around the ends of the quilt.
- Cut enough strips to go around the whole quilt. The finished product needs to be a little longer than the blanket so that it overlaps on both sides.
- If you don't have four long strips, sew the ones you have together to make up the length of the quilt.
Step 2. Align the strips
With the right sides together (that is, face to face), line up the strips with the top edge of the quilt and then pin it along the edge.
Step 3. Sew exactly 2.5 cm from the long side
Sew from one end of the blanket to the other. When you get to the end, carefully trim the excess strips so that the edge of the strip is perfectly aligned with the edge of the quilt.
