Quill Baby Quilt

This tutorial is based on the quill baby quilt pattern I used to make for my nephew’s first birthday.

Baby quilts are so fun to make. My favorite part is the design process; playing with color combinations and paying visits to my fabric stash. Only small amounts of certain colors are needed and so scraps from other projects can often be used.

Quilts aren’t hard to make. They do take time, and you need a large work space like a dining room table or clear space on the floor. The end result is well worth the effort!

Quilts are a great way to update bedroom decor, and they also make excellent gifts.

Designing a Quilt

To me, the best part of making the quilt is selecting the fabric colors and arranging pieces. The theme of my nephew’s nursery is buffalo plaid, so I used it as my inspiration.

If you need some inspiration, check out my Pinterest board.

What You Need to Make the Quill Baby Quilt:

Pattern – I used the quilt pattern Quill which you can purchase here. I downsized the all the measurements to make this quill baby quilt fit a baby blanket size. Approximately 45″ x 60″. I also used fewer colors than the pattern called for.

Fabric – How much fabric is needed depends on the size of your quilt. I like to stock up on fabric quarters when they go on sale so that I have some supply on hand.

Batting – This is the quilt stuffing. I always use 100% cotton batting. Natural fibers are more breathable.

Sewing Machine – Any sewing machine will work. You can use special feet to feed the fabric, but I usually stick to simple straight stitch settings.

Iron and Ironing Board – As with most sewing projects, ironing or pressing your project is half the work.

Rotary Blade, Self Healing Mat, & Straight Edge Ruler – These tools are essential for cutting out all the pieces of fabric.

Straight Pins – For keeping everything aligned as you sew.

Needle & Thread – If you plan to hand bind the edges.

Steps:

Cut the Pieces

Using a rotary blade, self healing mat, and ruler, cut all the pieces out. These squares are 4.25 inches. Cut them again diagonally.

   

Sew

Sew the triangles into squares. To use as little thread as possible, feed the fabric through the machine with minimal thread slack. This also saves time when clipping the squares apart.

Press the squares flat.

Layout the quilt squares on a large surface.

The floor or dining room table works well. Next, pin the squares together. Work in a pattern, flip each square up to the one above it. Use a pin as a marker for which side to sew. After sewing, lay all the pieces out again and fill in the spaces that did not require the initial stitches.

  

Sew and layout until all columns are attached. Press with an iron, and then begin to stitch the rows together. Use the pins to mark which side to sew. I recommend lining up each square as much as possible and pinning right next to the seams.

With all small pieces together, any additional fabric may be added at this time. The quill baby quilt pattern calls for sewing an additional white strip across the top. If additional fabric is not required, the front of the quilt is complete.

Time to “sandwich” the quilt. With right sides out, place the cotton batting between the quilt backing and front of the quilt. I use a light layer of spray adhesive to keep the layers together. Keep windows open for ventilation when using this spray indoors. I also use a few pins to hold everything together. Either straight pins or safety pins work.

  

Quilt

Now to quilting! There are many ways to sew all the layers together. Many people follow a pattern or take their quilts to be done professionally. My preferred method is to stitch right in the seams for a more invisible look. The purpose of quilting is so that your cotton batting – middle layer – stays in place through multiple washings. So, the more quilting, the better your blanket will endure. To quilt the middle sections, roll the sides inward.

Binding

You can purchase ready made binding or make your own. I have always made my own. It’s very easy to do and allows you more freedom when designing the quilt. Check out a full tutorial on Quilt Binding here.  

Lay the binding on the quilt along the edges. The unfinished edges should face outward. The folded and pressed side should face inward, toward the quilt. Use pins to secure and sew.

Fold the binding over the open ends of the quilt and begin hand sewing using a blind stitch. Cover the machine stitching as you go.

That’s it! The quilt can now be enjoyed!

Notes on Quill Baby Quilt

Quilts are a project that really give satisfaction to the maker because they take a lot of thought, effort, and heart. For this reason, they are an item of home decor that really brings joy. They also make great gifts!

If you have some hand-me-down quilts that could use a revamp, check out this tutorial on Repairing a Vintage Quilt. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial. Please leave any questions in the comments.

Welcome, honored guest, to my sewing room! I also write about home decorating, gardening, and travel. Check out my about page to learn more about me. And Subscribe for more like this!