Making quilts is a fun and rewarding way to pass the time. You can be as creative as you like, and you'll produce a blanket that keeps you warm at night and can be passed on to posterity. Follow the steps below to learn how to make a simple quilt, and then show off your work to friends and family!
Step
Part 1 of 4: Preparing the Equipment
Step 1. Select a cutting tool
To create a symmetrical patchwork quilt, it is important to cut pieces of fabric that are the same size. Having a good cutting tool not only makes the result look professional, it also speeds up the manufacturing process and adds convenience to beginners. Ordinary scissors can be used, but a rotary cutter is considered a faster and easier tool for cutting.
- Rotary cutters come in a variety of sizes, but the medium size is best for early use.
- If you choose regular scissors, make sure they are sharp and won't tear the fabric.
Step 2. Provide a base for cutting
Cutting the fabric on the table seems the easiest way, but you will likely scratch the surface of the furniture and you won't be able to get a straight line. To avoid this situation, provide a scratch-resistant base for cutting. The top of the base has a ruler printed on it, making the fabric easy to align and cut at perfect angles.
Step 3. Use a ruler
Not just any ruler, but a ruler that is longer and wider is the best for making quilts. Look for a ruler measuring 12.5 x 60 cm and made of see-through plastic. This ruler allows you to fold the fabric between the cutting board and ruler to make the perfect cut. If you are working on a small patchwork quilt, then just use a 12.5 x 30 cm ruler.
Step 4. Gather various sewing kits
The following are some of the types of equipment needed for any sewing activity, including pins, safety pins, and seam removers. If you don't have one, you can get one at craft and sewing supply stores. You'll need a lot of pins and pins to sew a patchwork quilt, so it's important to stock up on them in large quantities.
Step 5. Choose the yarn
The threads seem to be all the same, but are available in a wide variety of materials and colors. Avoid using cheap yarn because it will be easily damaged when sewn and will release fabric fibers when washed. High quality yarn is the best choice for patchwork quilts. If you're going to use yarn for different jobs, choose a bunch of yarn in a neutral color such as white, tan, or gray.
Step 6. Selecting materials
The most important step in making a patchwork quilt is preparing the material. With thousands of materials available in the market, this job seems terrible. Patchwork quilt bases can easily be made from 100 percent cotton, although polyester and polyester/cotton blends may also be an option. Choose several different fabrics for the front of the quilt, the edges of the blanket, and 1-2 main fabrics for the back of the quilt.
- Consider the colors and sizes you use. How many colors will you combine? How many patterns? Try to mix large and small patterns and colors from the same group.
- Be creative in choosing materials. Look for antique tablecloths or bed sheets from thrift stores instead of relying solely on material choices from your local sewing supply store.
- The back of the blanket will be larger than the front of the patchwork and filler, so make sure you have enough material to make the larger size.
Step 7. Prepare the filling material
The filling material, also known as cotton, is a light and soft material that is useful as a blanket to add warmth to the quilt. Filling material is inserted between the front and back of the patchwork blanket. These fillers are made from a variety of fibers, including cotton, polyester, cotton blends, bamboo fibers, and fusible. Sold in various thickness levels; some are thin and some are thick.
- Fillers derived from polyester are easier to spread to the edges of the patchwork and fillings derived from fusible are likely to clump together. So, beginners should choose the filling type of cotton, cotton blend, or bamboo fiber as the first choice.
- If you're making a large patchwork quilt, such as for a bed duvet, a thicker filling may be preferable. Small quilts don't need a thick filling, unless you want a blanket that's extra warm.
Step 8. Use a sewing machine
Although you can sew by hand, but the process will take a long time and for beginners will be quite scary. Use a sewing machine to make quilting easier; any type of sewing machine that runs in a straight line works! Make sure you have extra stash of sewing needles so that the sewing machine can run smoothly.
Step 9. Prepare the iron
It is necessary to press the patchwork several times during the manufacturing process, so prepare an iron (preferably one with an evaporation element) to do the pressing. Don't worry too much about using a sophisticated or expensive iron - an old iron can do that too.
Step 10. Consider the pattern
While you don't need a pattern to make a patchwork, sometimes it can be useful to have a basic pattern to serve as a guide. Samples of patchwork quilt patterns can be obtained online for free, or you can purchase a pattern book from a sewing supply store. If you choose to design your own pattern based on your measurements, then all you need is graph paper and a pencil.
- Even if you don't buy or create a pattern, it's highly recommended to draw a rough sketch of the design before you start.
- The easiest patchwork quilt for beginners is a blanket made of rows of squared pieces of material. Using large pieces is easier than using small pieces of material.
Part 2 of 4: Getting Started Making Quilts
Step 1. First wash the fabric
While not everyone chooses to go this way, washing it will shrink the fabric and remove excess color from the fabric - things that will ruin a quilt after it's done if you don't wash it beforehand. High quality material will not fade or shrink. But it's best if you wash it first. This will also remove any dirt adhering to the fabric.
Step 2. Flatten the fabric
To remove creases and make cutting easier, flatten the material with an iron. Use the steam setting on the iron if you have one. You don't need to iron the filling - only the surface and back of the quilt.
Step 3. Take measurements
If you already know how big your quilt is going to be, you'll need to measure each piece of patchwork to make it fit. The hardest part of measuring is remembering the allowance for hems; each side of the material will be sewn to the other side using a seam allowance of 0.6 cm. This means that you will need to add 0.6 cm to each side of the piece of fabric. For example, if your quilt is made of rectangular patchwork measuring 10 cm, you will need to measure and cut each rectangle in 11.25 x 11.25 cm. An additional 1.25 cm will be sewn as seam allowance.
- The size of the patchwork quilt and the size of each piece of patchwork are not fixed unless you use a special pattern. Therefore, make patchwork pieces as big or small as you need based on your skill level.
- If it helps, you can use an easy-to-erase marker to mark measurements on the fabric before cutting.
Step 4. Cut the pieces of fabric
For now, focus on the front side of the quilt; Cut each small piece of fabric to be joined together. Place each piece on a cutting board and place a see-through ruler over it. Use a rotary knife to cut along the line on the cutting mat. Follow the old adage "measure twice, cut once", to make sure you don't cut wrong.
Step 5. Arrange the patchwork
This process is the most fun part - now you can design your quilt! Arrange all the small patchwork pieces according to the pattern you want. The easiest is to do it on the floor because it will provide a large space to form a pattern. Make sure the pattern matches the one you drew, even if you have to rearrange it over and over again.
- At this stage, you may want to add pieces of fabric that have a different color or pattern. This can be done by simply replacing some pieces of fabric with other pieces of fabric that have a different pattern.
- Mark each piece of fabric as a reminder using sticky paper or chalk.
Step 6. Arrange the pieces in rows
It's a little inconvenient to have pieces of cloth scattered on the floor, so arrange the pieces in order. Work from left to right and stack each piece of fabric from the row. Then you mark the top of each row with a piece of sticky paper so you know the order.
Part 3 of 4: Sewing Fabric
Step 1. Sew the strips of fabric
Start sewing each row. Start at the end of the row containing the two strips of fabric. Place the two pieces of fabric following the pattern facing each other. Then, baste using a sewing machine to sew a 0.6 cm seam. Then, add the piece of fabric from the row to the previous piece of fabric, using the same process. Work row by row so that everything is sewn into a long, thin, straight sheet.
- Pin each square of fabric strip to the piece of fabric being sewn before sewing to keep it straight.
- Making a consistent hem on each piece of fabric is vital to keep the pattern straight in the final patchwork quilt. Therefore, make sure you sew exactly 0.6 cm in each piece of fabric.
Step 2. Flatten the row
With the strips of fabric sewn together, the back will have a prominent back hem. To create an even, beautiful patchwork quilt finish, smooth the seams with an iron. Iron each row in the opposite direction; iron the seams in the first row to the right, in the second row to the left, the third row to the right, and so on.
Step 3. Sew the rows of fabric
Use the same process as when you sew the strips of fabric. Take adjacent rows of fabric and turn them inward so that each pattern is facing the other. Sew around the edges using a 0.6 cm deep seam. Repeat this process for the next row, until you get a complete patchwork surface.
If the rows and pieces of fabric don't align, don't worry! Your patchwork blanket still looks beautiful even if there are a few mistakes
Step 4. Flatten the front of the patchwork quilt
Turn the front of the quilt over so the back is facing you. Use the same technique to iron each row of the back of the quilt. Align all the inner seams in opposite directions - the first row to the left, the second row to the right, the third row to the left, and so on. If you do the ironing process to evenly distribute the material with good quality, it will make it easier to sew the entire fabric.
Part 4 of 4: Uniting the Whole Fabric
Step 1. Cut the rest of the fabric
With the patchwork surface finished, the filling and backing will need to be trimmed as well. This needs to be slightly larger than the surface of the patchwork quilt, so that the material is kneaded in the sewing process. Measure and cut the filling and backing material 5, 1–7.6 cm larger than the front of the quilt.
Step 2. Trace the patchwork blanket
Straightening is the process of creating layers for the patchwork and pinning it in place before sewing. There are two options for basting - using a safety pin to attach the coating or using a special spray for basting. Spread the fabric as it will appear as the final result – a patchwork back pattern on the bottom, then the filling, then a patchwork pattern on top. Align the edges and smooth out any wrinkles. Smooth out the creases from the center of the fabric and then outwards.
- If you're using a basting spray, lightly spray each layer before adding another. Smooth out the fabric after the spray has adhered to the coating.
- If you are using a pin, use a pin in the center. Then from the middle it moves outwards.
- If you want to be more careful, you can use both techniques, namely using a spray and a needle at the same time to set the patchwork. By using these two techniques, the fabric will be in place before sewing.
Step 3. Sew the layers together
Start at the center of the patchwork quilt and sew outward by pushing the excess and piled material outward, rather than pushing it toward the center. The easiest way to sew a patchwork layer is to "sew the frame" or sew the inside or near the seam you've made between the strips of fabric. You can also choose to sew diagonally across the piece or remove the seam valve in a sewing machine.
- If you want to make sure you're sewing on the correct side, use an erasable marker to mark the correct places on the patchwork to sew.
- The more seams that are sewn throughout the patchwork, the better the final result. Adding a seam will prevent the filler from moving or gathering in the blanket.
- You can add hem lines around the edges of the quilt after sewing the entire center of the quilt.
Step 4. Cut the fastener
A binder is a line in the fabric that goes around the edges of the patchwork quilt to maintain the seam and create the perfect look. You can choose to tie diagonally/horizontally or at the ends, with the latter option allowing a degree of flexibility. Cut the sheets (there will likely be overlaps) 6.2 cm (2 in) wide and of sufficient length to go around the entire edge of the blanket. Sew the sheet so you have 4 pieces that are equal to the length of the 4 sides of your quilt.
Step 5. Flatten the fastener
If you need to sew several sheets of fabric to make one long tie, smooth the seams. Then fold the binder in half and iron the material. This will create an even seam in the center along the length of the binding material.
Step 6. Pin the fasteners in place
Hold the binder on the opposite side of the top of the blanket. Arrange so that the edges of the strap are straight, and the pattern is facing each other (the back of the strap is facing you). Use a lot of pins to pin this kind of material.
Step 7. Sew the front of the fastener
Follow the edges of the patchwork quilt and binder and sew a 1.2 cm inner seam. This should be done on both sides of the fabric, so what you see now is a patchwork quilt with the two reversed binding halves sewn together. Then, drape the fabric up and away from the center of the patchwork quilt, so that the front of the patchwork pattern is visible.
Step 8. Sew the next binding material
Place two sheets of binder along the sides of the patchwork quilt. Using the same process as on the previous two sides, sew the fastener along the edges with a 1.2 cm seam allowance. Then, fold the material in and out of the center of the quilt, so that the pattern is visible.
Step 9. Fold the fastener again
Flip your patch so that you can see the back. The edges of the binding material will be seen protruding out to the end of the patchwork blanket. Start on one side by folding the edge of the binder so that it meets the edge of the patchwork quilt. Then, fold the remaining binding so that it overlaps the back of the blanket. You can iron the fasteners to help hold the material in place, and add plenty of safety pins to secure it. Do the same on the other side.
Step 10. Finish binding
Sewing the strap from the back is tricky, because the seam will be visible from the front. Therefore, you have two options for reducing so that the thread is not too visible: use a fine thread, or sew by hand using the long stitch or ladder stitch technique. Make sure you don't sew into all three layers on the patchwork quilt. Work the edges of the quilt, making sure all the corners and seams are even.
Step 11. Finish the patchwork quilt
With the addition of a binder, your quilt is done! Wash it one more time if you want a soft patchwork quilt and a slightly dated look. Otherwise your blanket is ready. Enjoy!
Tips
- When you wash quilts or quilts, it's a good idea to use a color-capturing product to absorb the stains that come out when exposed to water to avoid fading. This will also avoid a fabric that could leach other fabrics.
- If you're using a stretchable material (such as an old T-shirt), there are products you can buy to iron onto the fabric to keep it from stretching. Don't try to make a quilt out of a stretchy material.
- Maybe you should try making a smaller patchwork quilt first, before starting with a larger size.
- To make an easy fastener: Cut the back material 5 cm larger than the front. Fold the material forward, then fold the ends by 2.5 cm and put a pin. Do the longest part first. Sew the surface with decorative stitches. Next, fold and sew both ends, connecting the corners.
- Muslin is a great choice for back fabric. It's available in large enough widths, so you don't have to put them together, and they're made of cotton, so you can color them to match your quilt theme.
- When sewing a patchwork quilt, a patchwork quilt can come in handy, which is a large embroidery hoop that can be supported. It will tighten the fabric, so it won't wrinkle as you sew, and it will support the fabric in your lap. After a few hours of sewing, your quilt will feel heavy.
- When making quilts by hand, a neat tip is to make knots in the filling. So that when you get to the last thread, or part of the patchwork quilt, use a needle to tie a knot to the surface of the fabric. Then, pull the needle out of the fabric again. When you feel the knot has reached the surface, pull it tight, and the knot will loosen into the fabric. Then you can smooth the thread over the fabric without worrying about it coming off.
Warning
- Man-made fabrics such as rayon and polyester will produce quilts that are wrinkle-free, but cannot "breathe," meaning if someone uses a blanket made of them, he or she will sweat or feel stuffy. It is better to use natural fabrics such as cotton for patchwork quilts, while for decorative quilt decorations or decorative patchwork you can use man-made fabrics.
- Making a quilt from start to finish, especially if you're using your hands, can take a long time. Take the time, or prepare to pay someone to make it. There are many people you can hire to sew the quilt surface you have prepared.
- Take breaks when sewing, especially if done by hand. You certainly don't want your hands or back to get sore.
- If you're using chalk that a tailor or dressmaker uses to make marks on fabric, be sure to try it on a small piece of fabric first, as the chalk can stain the fabric.
