Quilting

[Kat]

So I want to attempt to make a quilt for the new baby. I'm not a terrific sewer; I can sew a straight line and helped my mother make quilts when I was a little girl (she's amazing). She taught me how to wash the fabric, press it, cut it, and piece it together. I also hand-quilted a couple of the blocks. So I know a little.

I actually really like this quilt a lot:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/56120501/childs-wee-woodland-lap-throw-quilt

I love the fabric and the design of it.

I found the fabric online already, but I don't know where to find a pattern like this (or if I even need one). Can anyone point me to some good books or websites for beginners , or help me figure out what I need to do fabric-wise?

Thanks in advance. :)

[flowerseverywhere]

a really simple one is disappearing nice patch- there are tutorials on youtube and all over the internet, here is one but you might need to search for one with more details as a beginner

http://quiltsatcs.blogspot.com/2007/04/disappearing-9-patch-tutorial.html


one of my favorite free pattern sites

http://www.modabakeshop.com/search/label/Quilt

there are some here

http://quilting.about.com/od/babyquiltpatterns/tp/baby_quilt_patterns.htm

also your library may have a bunch of baby quilt patterns, just look in their quilt section. For a beginner I would look for books by Eleanor Burns. http://www.quiltinaday.com/

she has a TV show running on our PBS station and she is a hoot. I saw her live once and she is a remarkable lady. Full of energy.

[sweetana3]

If you really like that one, it is only a square divided into three parts and sewn back together. Decide on the size of quilt and then the size of blocks to make the quilt. Cut each of the blocks into half and then one half cut into half again going the long way. Trim each block to make them square (the seam allowances will take up an inch along one side. Mix up all the pieces and sew back together with three different pieces to each new block. Mix up how they are placed on the quilt and sew all the blocks into rows and then into the whole top.

Note: Cut the other half into 2/3 and 1/3 to more closely match the model. But either way would give you the same look since the fabric is so busy.

If you made each original block(before trimming to make square) 8 or 8.5 inches, you can get 5 blocks per quarter yard. The fabric store would cut you quarter yards and this would be efficient. The blocks will finish around 7 inches or so so base your size calculations on this measurement and you will be fine. So a quilt top around 40 X 60 would need around 6 X 9 or 54 blocks. None of these calculations are exact since you are not trying to "match" a very specific pattern or size. So you would need around 6 half yards or 11 quarter yards for that size. I would draw a diagram out and then figure it out from that just to make sure.

You could also do larger blocks like 10 inches but it would not be quite as efficient and you cannot do two strips of 10 inches out of a half yard.

[Nella]

You might try QuiltCabin.com . They have some really wonderful and simple patterns that are great for a beginner. the pattern, Lickety Split on this page: http://www.mountainpeekcreations.com/patterns.aspx might work well for you. Hope I copied that url correctly...

[Kat]

@ flowerseverywhere--thanks so much for all those great links! I can't believe how dumb this sounds, but I didn't even think to check the library. I'll make a stop next week.

@sweetana3--thank you very much for the detailed instructions. I did really like the design I posted because it was interesting but didn't look like too much cutting (I'm not ready for anything to intricate yet!). I found a tutorial that yielded a similar look (http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2010/08/creative-guest-quilting-made-simple-by.html), but I was still a bit confused as to how to go about things and how much material to buy. Your explanation really helps. :-)

[Kat]

Thanks, Nella! I'll check those links out. This is all pretty much new to me. I've watched my mom do it, but I've never attempted to do anything like this myself! So anything geared towards a beginner is great! I envy people who are naturally gifted at these types of things. I can barely sew on a button!

[JaneV2.0]

That U-create page looks perfect for the quilt you have in mind. By the time you get to the binding, you should be pretty comfortable with the process. I really should get back to working with fabric one of these days.

[flowerseverywhere]

Kat, here's some more for you to look at

http://www.hoffmanfabrics.com/content/content-folder.asp?FolderID=7

there are some really cute Amy Butler free quilt patterns here

http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/mainmenu.php#

and another great one

http://www.pbtex.com/html/free_patterns.html

also, look to see if your library has any quilt magazines. Fons and Porter, Quiltmaker and McCalls quilting all have easy patterns.

[sweetana3]

That link is a beautiful quilt and a fantastic link. I might make something like that for a charity quilt. We are doing a challenge.

I think it is wonderful you are being so creative.

[flowerseverywhere]

look what i found, I think this is very close to what your original pattern

http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/cutting-corners/2010/06/07/felicity-quilt/

[Bluecat]

A couple more blogs for you that might give you some more ideas:

http://www.stitchedincolor.com/

http://blueelephantstitches.blogspot.com/

Not forgetting, those leftover scraps!

http://www.noodle-head.com/p/tutorials.html