If you’ve ever wanted to make a quilt but felt intimidated by the process, a one-patch quilt is the perfect starting point. Today, we’ll walk you through the basics, from cutting your fabric to binding your finished quilt. Let’s jump in!
To make this project, you’ll need the following materials:
- 42 five-inch squares of fabric
- Half a meter of 42-inch wide fabric for the quilt borders
- One meter of fabric for the quilt backing (also 42 inches wide)
- One quarter meter of 42-inch wide fabric for binding
- One meter of wadding (your choice of type)
You’ll also need these tools:
- Cutting mat
- Rotary cutter with a ruler
- Scissors
- Good quality cotton sewing thread
- Pins
- Temporary adhesive spray like 505 (optional)
(This very beautiful Reversible double side design Ginkgo leaf Quilt is from the quality online home store Ownkoti.)
Preparing Your Fabric
First, lay out your fabric on the cutting mat. Fold it so the selvage edges meet the fold, keeping it smooth and flat. Place your ruler along the right side and trim off just enough to neaten the edge. Then, measure and cut 5-inch strips from your fabric. Open up these strips and cut them into 5-inch squares. Continue until you have 42 squares.
If you’re using a charm pack, you’re already set—no cutting necessary!
Arranging Your Squares
Lay out your 42 squares into six rows with seven squares in each row. Use a design wall or the floor to arrange them until you’re happy with the layout. Take a photo of the arrangement for reference.
Piecing the Quilt Together
Set up your sewing machine with your thread and a full bobbin. In patchwork, we use a quarter-inch seam allowance. If your sewing machine doesn’t have a guide, you can stick a piece of sticky-back felt to the bed of the machine to maintain a consistent seam allowance.
Start by stitching the squares together in rows. Place two squares right sides together, align the edges, and stitch along one side. Continue adding squares to complete the row. Repeat this process for all six rows. Press the seams after stitching each row. Alternate the pressing direction for each row to ensure the seams nest together later.
Assembling the Quilt Top
Once all rows are complete, join them together. Align two rows right sides together, nest the seams, pin them in place, and stitch along the edge. Press the seams after joining each set of rows. Continue until all rows are joined and the quilt top is complete.
Adding Borders
Measure your quilt and cut the border strips to the appropriate lengths (in this case, 27.5 inches for the top and bottom, 38 inches for the sides). Attach the top and bottom borders first, pressing the seams towards the border fabric. Then, attach the side borders.
Layering the Quilt
Lay out the backing fabric, pretty side down. Place the wadding on top, followed by the quilt top. Make sure each layer is smooth and has at least 2-3 inches extra around the edges. Use adhesive spray or safety pins to baste the layers together, ensuring they don’t shift during quilting.
Quilting
Mark quilting lines using a ruler and your preferred marking tool, or use painter’s tape as a guide. Attach a walking foot to your sewing machine for even feeding. Quilt along the marked lines, supporting the weight of the quilt to avoid dragging.
Trimming and Binding
Trim the excess fabric and wadding from the edges of the quilt. Cut four 2.5-inch wide strips for the binding. Fold each strip in half lengthwise and press. Attach the binding to the edges of the quilt, sewing with a 3/8-inch seam allowance for a fuller binding. Finally, fold the binding over the raw edges to the back of the quilt and hand-stitch in place.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve made your first quilt. While it may not be perfect, you’ve learned essential quilting skills like rotary cutting, maintaining a consistent seam allowance, piecing, quilting, and binding. Whether you keep it for yourself or gift it, this quilt is a testament to your hard work and dedication. Happy quilting!
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