My First Quilt - Tutorial

               I don’t know when it entered my mind, probably the moment I opened my sewing machine, but I was set that I would make a quilt for my Godson and another for my 2 year old cousin.  After less than 2 months with my wonderful sewing machine I can say that I have kind of successfully finished my first quilt.  There are some uneven squares due to my lack of proper tools.  Regardless of the imperfections of my quilt, I feel satisfied with it and a quite proud of the finished product.  I’ll be putting up another tutorial with my second quilt once it is finished as well.  Check out the tutorial below for how I did my first quilt.  You’ll notice there is advice and changes I would make if I were doing this over (and I am).  I hope you enjoy it and get a wonderfully beautiful quilt you can be proud of as well.

Step 1.  Choose your size.  I decided on a crib-sized quilt since I was making the quilt for a 2 year old.

Step 2.  Choose your fabric.  You will need 6 colors for the center of your quilt.  I chose 3 prints and 3 solids and asked for a quarter-yard of each.  Next I chose a coordinating color for the edging and another color for the backing.  You will need about a quarter yard for the edging and a yard and a half for the backing.  Finally, you’ll need fabric for the binding.  I got a quarter yard (this was enough for 2 quilts).  The binding fabric also was a coordinating stripe pattern that was just adorable.

Step 3.  Gather your supplies.  A word of advice, you most definitely need supplies that are proper for the work you are doing.  Later in the process I got the proper supplies, but I wish I would have invested sooner.  You will need a large self healing mat, a rotary cutter, a see-through yard stick or large ruler, an iron, pins, a quilting needle (for your sewing machine) a GOOD thread, quilting thread, and of course, your sewing machine.

Step 4.  Measure.  I measured the center of my quilt first.  I cut my squares to 5.5 inches each.  

If you are making a quilt like mine, you will need 8 squares of each fabric you chose for the center of your quilt.  Cut these using your rotary cutter and your long ruler on your self-healing mat.

Step 5.  Iron.  Iron all your little squares.

Step 6.  Choose a Pattern.  I set my squares out in a pattern prior to doing any sort of sewing.  Once I found a pattern I liked, I began pinning.

Step 7.  Pin it.  Pin your lines using your pins one row at a time.

Step 8.  Sew the rows.  Use your good quality thread and a standard needle at this point in your process.  Begin sewing one square to the next along your row until all are sewn together.  Remember to use a ¼ inch seam allowance.

Step 9.  Iron again.  Once all your rows are sewn, sew the hems one way. 

*Hint!  Sewing toward the darker color will ensure your hems run the same way, it makes it easier to sew.

Step 9.  Pin the rows together.  Begin pinning the rows you sewed together, making sure to line up your squares. 

Step 10.  Sew the rows together.  Sew your rows together, slowing down when you go over each hem, you don’t want to break a needle.

Step 11.  Iron it.  Iron your seams down again.

Step 12.  Cut your edging.  I folded my edging fabric in half and then half once more.  I cut the edging into four inch wide strips.  I made sure to have 4 of these strips.

Step 13.  Iron it.  Iron your edging

Step 14.  Pin the edging.  Pin the right (or left) side of the edging along the finished center of your quilt.

Step 15.  Sew it.  Sew the edged to the side of your quilt.  Then repeat on the other side.  Finally, repeat the edging process on the top and bottom of your quilt.

Step 16.  Iron.  Iron your hems down yet again.

Step 17.  Backing.  Cut your backing so that it is the same size as your quilt front.

Step 18.  Batting.  I chose fusible batting for the quilt.  I thought it would be easier and would be sure not to move around.  I was right!

Step 19.  Layer.  Lay down your backing right side down.  

Lay your batting on top of that, then lay your quilt front face up.

Step 20.  Iron it together.  Following the instructions on your batting bag, iron your fabric to your batting.  I started in the center and worked my way out until everything was good and fused.

Step 21.  Draw on lines.  I used a quilting ruler and began drawing a pattern (mine was a simple square-diamond pattern) across the front of my quilt.  You can use a dressmaker’s pen or just a regular pencil, so long as it’s washable. 

Step 22. Begin quilting.  Make sure your machine has been threaded with your quilting thread and has a quilting needle all set up to sew.  Now, following the lines you drew, begin sewing.  Do this slowly to avoid blunders and make sure to go even more slowly over where squares meet.  The fabric here is much thicker and if you blow right through it you may break your needle.  This part took the longest for me.  Be patient and take your time.  The results are worth it!

Step 23.  Cut the Binding.  Iron the fabric you plan on using for the binding.  Fold it in half and half once more.  Cut 2 ½ inch strips using your self-healing mat, rotary cutter, and quilters ruler. 

Step 24.  Iron the binding.  I folded the edges of the binding into the center of the fabric and ironed it down.  

Once this is done, fold the entire piece in half and iron it down.

Step 25.  Pin the binding.  Before pinning, even out your quilt.  I used my rotary cutter, self-healing mat and quilting ruler to make sure all the edges were even before putting on the binding.  

I sandwiched my binding around the quilt and pinned it down.  Each side of the quilt should be layered with your binding.

Step 26.  Sew it.  Going very slowly, begin sewing on your binding.  I’ll let you know, I was lazy and instead of looking up how to sew binding I just went with it, no real method whatsoever.  I would recommend looking up the best way to sew binding on your quilt rather than going with what I did.

Step 27.  Admire.  Now that you are all finished, step back and marvel at your magnificent work!  Be proud of what you have done.

I will be putting up another tutorial with my next quilt.  I have used different methods and was well equipped with the proper supplies for the one I’m currently working on.  I hope what I have posted helped, but keep in mind I have something better coming!