How to Make a Quilt: Project for Beginners
Choose a simple project and tackle each step one at a time to learn how to make a quilt from start to finish. Christa Watson’s Simple Strips quilt is a great example of a top-to-toe quilt for beginners.
Step 1: Choose a Quilt Pattern
Half square triangles are a staple in quilting, and you can learn how to make them here. Triangles are a favorite building block for quilters because there are so many different possibilities.
Step 2: Gather Tools and Materials
To get started, you’ll need some basic quilting and sewing tools, as well as a tutorial or pattern that will tell you how much of each type of fabric to buy. Check out our list of Must-Have Tools for Quilters to get started.
Step 3: Cut the Patchwork
In this lesson on Accurate Piecing Basics, we’ll look at how to cut, stitch, and seamstitch together a patchwork quilt. Stitching together accurate patchwork starts with accurate cutting – we’ll be looking at how to cut, stitch, and seamstitch together a patchwork quilt.
Step 4: Sew the Patchwork
Sewing a perfect straight stitch seam will help your final quilt come together. In this lesson on Quarter-Inch Seams, you’ll learn how to sew accurate patchwork, how to use the right tool for the job, and about the BERNINA fleet of Patchwork feet.
Step 5: Baste the Quilt
A well-basted quilt sandwich is less likely to bunch up, pucker, or become distorted during the quilting process. To baste your quilt, you’ll need the following materials: quilt backing fabric, batting, and a large, flat area to work on basting.
Step 6: Quilting Stitches
Quilting the layers of the quilt sandwich together can be done in a variety of ways, including free-motion quilting and straight-line stitching. Practice on scraps of fabric and batting before tackling FMQ on your first quilt.
Step 7: Bind the Quilt
Binding can be done in a variety of ways, and most quilters develop a favorite method and stick with it. Binding neatly finishes the edges of your quilt after quilting.
Step 8: Enjoy Your Quilt!
How to add a label to your quilt to help you remember when you made it, or read all about how to make an easy-to-hang quilt sleeve if you’d rather hang it on the wall.
What supplies do I need to begin quilting?
The fundamentals: a beginner’s quilting kit
- Fabric!
- Wadding or batting.
- Pins.
- Needles.
- Threads.
- Tape measure or ruler.
- Sewing machine.
- Steam iron.
What is the easiest quilt to make for a beginner?
A square patchwork quilt, made from fabric squares sewn together in a simple grid pattern, is one of the easiest quilts for a beginner to make. You can cut squares from your own fabrics or start with a precut fabric bundle called a “charm pack” or “layer cake.”
How do you start a quilt for beginners?
Making a Quilt from Scratch (by Hand)
- Collect your materials and tools.
- Prewash your fabric.
- Iron your fabric.
- Measure and cut your patchwork.
- Lay out your quilt.
- Sew your patchwork into rows.
- Iron your rows.
- If this is your first quilt, go for a simple pattern for a small quilt.
What Stitch do you use for quilting?
If you’re new to quilting, the recommended stitch length for machine quilting is 2.5 to 3.0, which translates to 8 to 12 stitches per inch.
Can I quilt with a regular sewing machine?
The short answer is YES, you can quilt with a regular sewing machine, with the machine you already own; there are two methods for doing so: straight-line quilting with a walking foot or free motion quilting with a free motion quilting foot.
Can you quilt without a sewing machine?
Fact: hand-sewing your quilt (or a smaller project like pillow tops and table runners) results in a soft finish that machines simply can’t match, and there’s nothing quite like the zen of sewing with needle and thread.
Is quilting an expensive hobby?
It’s no secret that quilting can be costly; however, there are several budget-friendly options available. I have a saying that goes, “I used to sew to save money; now, I have to sew to save money.”
How many 5×5 squares does it take to make a queen quilt?
On my queen-size bed, I like to use square quilts with pillows on top; the mattress is 60″ X 80,” so a quilt top that is 95″ X 95″ will hand down about 17″ on the sides and foot of the bed; you would need 361 blocks (19 rows of 19 blocks) to make that quilt WITHOUT sashing or borders.
How many 5×5 squares do I need to make a quilt?
Many quilts have been designed around charm packs, which contain one or more 5u2032u2032 squares from an entire fabric line (usually 40 u2013 44 squares), making it simple to coordinate fabrics for a quilt.
How long does it take to learn to quilt?
From start to finish, a baby quilt could take as little as 12 hours, while a queen-sized quilt could take up to 8 weeks or more. A twin-sized quilt could take as little as 2 weeks (depending on pattern), while a hand-appliqued king-size quilt could take up to a year.
Can I machine quilt without a walking foot?
Yes, you can sew a ditch without using the walking foot if the top and lower layer speeds aren’t an issue. The choice you make will depend on how you want your seam to look in the end. You can sew a ditch without using the walking foot if the top and lower layer speeds aren’t an issue.
Is quilting hard to learn?
If it seems overwhelming, remember that you’re just sewing small pieces of fabric together… it’s not that difficult! Accurate cutting requires the use of a quilt ruler, a rotary cutter, and a self-healing mat. Sewing the block pieces together is simple, even if you’ve never used a sewing machine before.
Should I stitch in the ditch before quilting?
If you choose to stitch in the ditch between borders, do so first, before adding any quilting designs to the border or sashing.
Should I Backstitch when piecing a quilt?
Because many quilters prefer to use what’s known as a scant 14″ seam for piecing, a smaller stitch length is usually recommended because the pieces are small and the seam length is short. Plus, you don’t backstitch in piecing!
What size needle do I use for quilting?
Quilting needles have a slightly rounded point and are designed specifically for quilting. One of the most common machine needle sizes is 90/14, which has a sturdy shaft that holds up well when quilting through the layers of a quilt sandwich and a needle eye that can accommodate most types of threads.