Beginner's Guide To Quilting - UK (2020-04)

M

aking blankets and quilts for
children is one of the most
popular reasons that people
start quilting. Such a beautiful,
lovingly made gift is practical and, if
cared for, will last for more than one
generation. This retro quilt has just
two layers – by using soft fleece as a
backing material you don’t need to
include wadding.

CUTTING THE FABRIC
Step 1 Cut out 54 print and 54
checked 4¼in (11cm) squares. Lay
them out on a flat surface in 12 rows of
nine squares each, alternating the
fabrics. Label the rows and the order of
the squares. Make a pile of the squares
in each row in order and take each
pile to the sewing machine in turn.

Step 2 Right sides together, taking ¼in
(6mm) seams, machine stitch the
squares in each row together in order.
Press the seams in each row to one
side, all in the same direction.

Step 3 Machine-stitch the rows
together, again taking ¼in (6mm)
seams. Press the seams to one side.

Step 4 Turn the quilt top right side up
and press well.

Step 5 Cut the fleece fabric 2in (5cm)
larger all around the patchwork and
place it right side down on a flat
surface. Centre the patchwork right
side up on top and smooth out.
Working from the centre outward, pin
the layers together.

Step 6 S ta r t i n g f ro m t h e c e nt re l i n e,
quilt across the quilt from side to side,
following the lines between the
squares.^1 Turn the quilt 90 degrees
and quilt through the centre seam

YOU WILL NEED

Materials

Q Basic quilting toolkit, see page 16

Q 54x4¼in (11cm) squares in a

variety of retro print fabrics

Q 54x4¼in (11cm) squares in light

brown/white checked fabric

Q 39x59in (1x1.5m) off-white super

soft fleece for the backing

Q Two 37½x1in (95x2.5cm) and two

49x1in (125x2.5cm) strips of cotton

fabric for the binding (optional)

Q 173in (440cm) yellow bobble trim

Q Assorted yarn

Seam allowance

Q All seams are ¼in (6mm) unless

otherwise stated

Finished size

Q 35½x47in (90x121cm)

again, forming a cross. Make sure the

quilt is smooth and unpuckered where

the lines of quilting cross one another.

Trim all edges of the quilt level.

Step 7 Lay the quilt on a flat surface

and lightly mark the centre of each

checked square. Thread a needle with

yarn and insert it into the patchwork

top (not the backing) about^1 / 8 in

(2-3mm) above the centre point. Bring

the needle up on the top of the quilt,

(^1) / 8 in (23 mm) below the centre point,
leaving a long tail on each side of the
centre point. Cut the yarn.
Step 8 Repeat to the left and right of
the centre point so there’s one strand
at each ‘compass point’, and then in
between the ‘compass points’, so that
you have eight strands.^2 P i c k u p t wo
adjacent strands on one side and two
on the opposite side and tie in a single
knot. Turn the quilt 90 degrees and
repeat the tying process.
Step 9 P i c k u p fo u r s t ra n d s i n e a c h
hand and tie in a double knot. Repeat
steps 7–9 in all checked squares.
Step 10 Cut strips of binding fabric,
2½in (6.5cm) wide. You will need two
strips measuring the same as the top of
the quilt, and two measuring the same
as the sides plus 1in (2.5cm). For help
with binding, see our guide on page 63
or try the self-binding technique (right).
FINISHING THE QUILT
Step 11 Pin, then machine or hand
stitch a bobble trim around the
right-side edges of the quilt.
NEED A HAND?!
(^) Step-by-step basic seams, page 48
(^) How to make binding, page 63
(^) How to bind a quilt, page 71
Adding Texture
Beginner’s Guide to Quilting 141
A Passion
for Quilting
From purses to
bedspreads, the
35 projects in this
beautiful book by
Nicki Trench are
sure to inspire you! Published
by Cico, RRP £12.99,
http://www.cicobooks.co.uk.
1 2
THE SELF-BINDING TECHNIQUE
Step 1 Ensure the backing layer is 1in
(2.5cm) larger all around than the quilt.
Step 2 With the quilt top facing up, fold
the backing fabric over the quilt top
along one edge. Repeat on each side,
make sure the folds are at right angles
to the top at the corners. Press the folds.
Step 3 Fold the raw edges in so that
they meet the raw edge of the top. Pin
in place.
Step 4 Sew the folded edge in place,
using matching thread. Start between
the two layers and bring the needle
through the front. At a slight diagonal
angle, sew a whip stitch that overlaps
the edge all the way along each side.