This is my first quilt! made for my lovely daughter, katie! I think quilting is one of those amazing art forms that takes a bunch of pieces and creates something useful as well as meaningful. I figure it's a skill that could really help in saving from wasting down the line, I already don't like throwing away scraps and now i have a reason to hold on to them. :)As a beginner I needed a simple plan. I knew I wanted six inch squares in printed fabrics, so I drew my plan on some graph paper. I figured three inch bordering, or 'sashing', would look good and add to size. I planned the dimension of this blanket to be 39" x 48" with 1/2" seams to allow for ironing. To make this blanket I cut:
20 7"x7" squares ( I used 6 different prints for this)
24 7"x4" rectangles (in the sashing)
5 49"x4" rectangular strips (in the sashing)
1 49"x40" rectangle for the backing fabric (I used fleece but you may want to use a piece of interfacing as well, especially if you're using a thinner fabric)
After I cut my squares I laid them all out to make sure I had them facing the directions I wanted and that they were in the right order by verticle rows. ( I apologize if this seems like I'm going into too much detail past common sense, but as I mentioned above this is my first quilt and I figure it couldn't hurt) Next, I sewed the verticle rows (shown horizontally : P) and ironed. Then, the long sashing was sewn in between the sewn rows, and ironed.
Since I didn't make a border I just sewed the quilt top to the back panel, right sides together and left about 9" open, on a long side, to turn it out. I clipped the corners so they would be neater. After the turning it right side out, I hand sewed the opening.
To secure the front and back and give it a 'quilted' look I top stitched a simple diamond pattern using clear thread. I used a regular sewing machine for this. As I've never made a quilt or taken a class for it, I dont know what real quilters do to achieve their top stitching. I used a piece of cardstock alligned with my squares on a diagnal to guide my stitches straight.
The quilt came together so fast and easily anyone can do it if they can cut and do some simple sewing. I do understand why people use charm packs to quilt though.... I spent a few hours picking coordinating fabric. : ) BUT it's personal for it and I will be making another very soon for my little guy who is due in two months. Now when I make something it will be in variable duplicate having two lovelies! Twice the joy! : ) And btw, my daughter loves her new blanket!!! What's nice is it is big enough for her to use for years to come too...... i'm thinking a new project is in line for the scraps left from this!
To secure the front and back and give it a 'quilted' look I top stitched a simple diamond pattern using clear thread. I used a regular sewing machine for this. As I've never made a quilt or taken a class for it, I dont know what real quilters do to achieve their top stitching. I used a piece of cardstock alligned with my squares on a diagnal to guide my stitches straight.
The quilt came together so fast and easily anyone can do it if they can cut and do some simple sewing. I do understand why people use charm packs to quilt though.... I spent a few hours picking coordinating fabric. : ) BUT it's personal for it and I will be making another very soon for my little guy who is due in two months. Now when I make something it will be in variable duplicate having two lovelies! Twice the joy! : ) And btw, my daughter loves her new blanket!!! What's nice is it is big enough for her to use for years to come too...... i'm thinking a new project is in line for the scraps left from this!
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