Beginner's Guide to Quilting - UK (2020-02)

Ice cream hues and sprinkle prints make for a sweet bed set!

Sew your own with our simple geometric pattern tutorial

BY LUCY BRENNAN

Diamond piecing

You will need

MATERIALS

To make the quilt:

Q Fabric A: 25in square

Q Fabric B: 57in x 24in

Q Fabric C: 57in x 24in

Q Fabric D: 25in x 35in

Q Fabric E: 24in square

Q Fabric F: two (2) 54in x 45in

pieces for backing and binding

Q Batting: 61in x 54in

FINISHED SIZE

Q55in x 47in

NOTES

Q Seam allowances are ¼in,

unless otherwise noted.

FABRICS USED

QSolid fabrics are from the Bella

Solids collection by Moda, in Bunny

Hill Pink, Zen Grey, Almond, Etchings

and Feather.

QPrint fabric is Furry Charcoal from

the Savannah Collection by Gingiber

for Moda.

CUTTING OUT THE QUILT PIECES

1

Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner
on the back of the Fabric E square. Place the
square on top of Fabric C, matching three
edges. Pin and sew on the diagonal line (Fig 1).

2

Trim off the corner, leaving a ¼in seam.

Press the seam open (Fig 2).

3

Place Fabric B on top of the section just
sewn, matching long edges and pin. Sew
along the long edge. Press the seam open.
Place Fabric A and Fabric D right sides
together, matching the 25in edges, and pin.
Sew and press the seams open (Fig 3).

4

Place this section right side down on the

quilt top so that it covers some of Fabric B

and C. Make sure it is at an angle and is slightly

overlapping the edges of the quilt top to leave

room for seam allowances. Pin in place and sew

¼in from the edge of Fabric B and C (Fig 4).

5

Trim off the excess, leaving a ¼in seam

allowance, and press the seam (Fig 5).

6

Using the straight sides of Fabric E and C

as a guide, trim back the quilt top to create

straight sides. Square up to 55in x 47in (Fig 6).

MAKING THE QUILT

7

Pin and sew the two backing pieces

together with right sides facing. Press

seams open. The backing fabric needs to be

bigger than the quilt top, and leftover fabric

will be used to make binding.

8

Lay the quilt top over the backing and trim

the extra backing from the edge without

a seam. The seam can be in the centre or to

one side but you need at least 3in of backing

fabric around each edge of the quilt top.

Cut five 2½in wide strips from the leftover

backing fabric and put aside to use later for

the binding.

9

Place the backing right side down, the

batting on top and then the quilt top

centrally and right side up. Smooth all layers

out from the centre. Mark horizontal lines 3in

apart using an erasable fabric pen. Baste the

layers together using your preferred method,

ensuring the quilt sandwich is smooth. Quilt

along the lines – a walking foot will help to

stop puckers in the quilt. Trim the quilt to

measure approx. 55in x 47in.

FINISHING OFF THE QUILT

10

Sew the binding strips together at the

short ends using diagonal seams. Press

the seams open and trim away the dog ears

(small triangles at the joins). Fold in half

lengthwise, with wrong sides together, and

press. Sew the binding to the right side of the

quilt and mitre the corners. Before completing

the binding, fold the short raw edge of the

starting piece under and insert the ending

piece into it so that raw edges are hidden

neatly. Fold the binding to the back of the

quilt and then hand or machine-stitch in place.

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