Beginner Quilt Making
Making a quilt is one of the most rewarding things you can create, with one of the most pleasurable and creative processes! Quilting refers to the specific technique of sewing layers of fabric to make quilts, including heirloom or mini quilts, or even clothes and table settings. And the best part? To make a beautiful quilt, you don’t need to be an experienced quilter!
Before you start your first quilt, let’s go over some of the basics of quilt making so that you have all the facts, tips, and tricks to making your very own quilt:
Layers. As you already know, quilting is a layering process involving precisely three layers of fabric. Consider it a kind of “quilt sandwich,” if you will! The top layer is referred to as the quilt top, the middle layer made of wadding or batting, and the bottom layer known as the fabric backing layer. These layers are important for you to keep track of as they may define the type of stitch and fabric you choose and affect the overall look of your
Materials. You’ll need quite the list of materials to make your quilt, but fortunately, most of them are easy to find and relatively inexpensive. These include:
A sewing machine (if you’re choosing not to sew by hand)
Fabric
A tape measure (don’t skip out on this! You’ll need precise measurements when making a quilt)
Pins
Scissors
Fabric Glue
A steam iron (this will help give your quilt a professional look when you’re done with your project!)
Quilting Patterns. Choose a quilting pattern before you start sewing! This could involve designs, shapes, colors, and more. You can get some great, free patterns online to use as inspiration. For beginners, we recommend starting with patterns featuring simple shapes like squares and hexagons, as this will help you focus on the details instead of worrying about a complicated design.
Technique. The basic quilting technique isn’t very complicated, but you’ll want to ensure you have a thorough understanding, so your first quilting project goes as smoothly as possible. Follow this general step-by-step plan:
Cut out your fabric into your designated pattern. If you’re going with a square pattern, make sure all squares are cut to identical dimensions.
Place two squares together, pinning them to keep them together as you sew along the edge to join them. A ¼-inch seam should be fine. Press the seam open on one side. Repeat the process until all squares are in pairs.
Join two pairs, pinning and sewing as before and matching the seams together. Press the seam in one direction.
The two pairs should make a 4-square block, with all squares meeting and matching up when turned over to create one big block made of the four squares. Repeat until you have 4 square blocks, then repeat with those until you have one large quilt top!
Start your quilt sandwich. Cut your wadding and backing layer, so they are several inches larger than your quilt top on all sides. Iron your backing layer to make sure it is smooth.
Press the wadding onto the backing layer and the quilt top on top of the wadding. The wadding and the backing should show a few inches on all sides. Use tape to fix the layers together.
Sew the layers together!
This is a general outline for making a quilt, but if you’re using a particular quilting pattern, then follow the directions.
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Sources:
https://weallsew.com/how-to-make-a-quilt/
https://www.gathered.how/sewing-and-quilting/quilting/quilting-for-beginners-guide/
https://so-sew-easy.com/beginner-quilting-start/
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