How to sew a quilt! (Quilting 101)

Quilting is my biggest passion. I think it's probably hereditary. :D

I also think it's a skill that is useful beyond words... quilts are beautiful and functional and I consider them to be the greatest gift in the world. (Really, who wouldn't want a quilt?) They're family heirlooms, passed down through the generations until they fall apart. They're an amazing way to use up scrap fabric, and a cheap first sewing project.

Not to mention I find sewing/cutting them very therapeutic... lots of straight lines with no pressure. :)

In this instructable I'm going to take you through creating a basic queen size 9-patch patchwork quilt. These are my favorites because they are not complicated and can be completed in far less time than other quilt types.

I'll teach you about the tools needed for quilting, how to cut squares, choosing fabrics, batting, making a quilt sandwich, how to choose and attach backing, and assembling the quilt top among other things. It's also important to note that you can easily complete one of these in a couple weeks - I started this one on March 7th, and finished it on April 3rd - but that included lots of documentation and only working in good sunlight. ;)

I do hope this instructable is helpful for you and inspires you to quilt. We need more quilts in the world! :D

Step 1: Basic Quilting Definitions

Like most skills, quilting comes with its own lingo. I thought I'd add this here and give my own definitions of many of the words I'll be using in the instructable.

Backing: the bottom part of the quilt, typically made of one solid piece of fabric. Most times this fabric is white - I like to use sheets for this!

Batting: the cushy middle of a quilt - can be made from cotton, polyester or wool. Typically bought according to the size of the quilt you're making - found in rolls.

Bias-tape: strips of fabric used to bind the edges of a quilt.

Binding: the edging of a quilt - it encases the raw edges.

Blocks: a piece of fabric made from sewing 9 squares together.

Piecing: sewing together pieces of fabric to form the top layer of the quilt, typically done in blocks.

Quilt sandwich: what I call the three layers - top, batting, backing.

Quilt top: pieced fabric, typically put together in blocks. 

Quilting: sewing through multiple layers of fabric to create one thick layer - typically involves three parts: cloth top, batting middle, cloth bottom.

Seam allowance: the standard seam allowance for quilting is 1/4 inch.

Square: smaller pieces of fabric that are sewn together to make a larger, square piece of fabric. In this case, we will be sewing together 9 small blocks to make one large square. A quilt top is made up of these blocks sewn together.

Comments

[Papa_Wumbo]

Thanks so much! This was the perfect 101 course.

[LesliePLowe]

Thank you for this course, Jessy. It's wonderful! All one needs and nothing wasted. I think I'll give quilting a try, thanks to you. -- Leslie

[cbranch]

I have never made a quilt, but my sister-in-law got me interested in the idea of trying. Thanks to your excellent tutorial, I feel like I can actually do it. I have watched and read tons of tutorials and yours, by far, is the absolute best. I love that it goes from start to finish and skips no steps in between.

Thank you in advance for teaching me how to quilt! I can't wait to get the remainder of my supplies and get started!

[ToniRose]

It's been a while since I first saw this instructable, but I wanted to show you the quilt I just finished last month. Your instructions were so clear and easy to follow, I was inspired. Thanks!

[jessyratfink]

Ahhhhhhhhh! So awesome. :D I love the colors!

[~ Lotus]

Excellent tutorial!!

[mrmtgh]

hi, thank you so much, I am Iranian and my English language is not very good but I understand instruction by watching picture, I think I can complete this project. tanks again dear friend

[eyesee]

Seen in childhood

[Pixie Puddle]

I am at the cutting squares I had scanned over your tutorial and really fancied making one for a gift, now I have got my squares I read through it again, Now I am thinking of ways to do one with the tools I have, and the lack of space, My plan was to make the front and then make it almost like a quilt cover with the back and front sewn together so I could feed in a thin quilt and quilt through that by hand thinking that I wound not need the binding, but I do not have large floor space I have a tiny ironing board that sits on a side board and a rather small table, I am worried now that I have cut the squares for nothing as I will not be able to build it, ?????? any suggestions or ideas or help would be awesome, I am just at a point where I cant get my head round it,.............

[jessyratfink]

You can always assemble the top of the quilt, and attach it to the backing right sides facing and sew around all four edges, leaving a space to turn it right side out. That will give you clean edges! You could topstitch all around the sides which will make it look nice and close the opening.

That will make a really nice light blanket that you could easily quilt by hand.

Don't let your tiny space get you discouraged. I've never had much room to work or a nice sewing machine. Sometimes you just have to move furniture against the walls and power through. :D

[MooCow101]

I love ur beds head board how do you make it

[jessyratfink]

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-book-headboard/

Taaaa-daaa! Pretty easy, would just need some plywood, some old books and lots of glue.

[codyormoe]

I've never sewn anything before, just bought a sewing machine a month ago and I made a quilt thanks to this instructable. I'm a very visual learner and all the pictures here made it soooo easy. It came out amazing, I can't even believe how good it looks and that I made it.

I used a bunch of old sheets I've been saving because I knew one day I'd find a use for them and a flannel flat sheet for the back(I wanted super cozy).Now I have a beautiful quilt made from sheets that all my kids used to sleep on.

Thank you!!!!

[jessyratfink]

Ohhhhh yayay! I'm so happy it was helpful for you. :D

Old sheets are the best!

[rubyweapon8503]

I am working on a memory quilt from this instructable. It's my first quilt. I've come up with enough squares to make 42 blocks, and I'd rather not add in squares from another fabric. What would be good dimensions for a quilt with up to 42 blocks? Could I make a twin size quilt? What would the dimensions be for a throw-sized quilt? Any recommendations?

[jessyratfink]

You could do a 5x8 or a 6x7 - both would be nice throw sized quilts. :D A 5x7 is almost the right size for a twin sized bed, but it would just be a topper - it wouldn't hang over the sides. :)

Something that I've done with smaller quilts like this is adding fabric borders - so adding a strip 8-10 inches wide and as long as the sides of the quilt on either two sides or all four sides. If you can find a nice complementary solid it looks lovely. So that might be something to consider!

[crazymama63]

just wanted to say thanks having come from a single parent family I was lucky enough to have a mom that worked at singer in the seventies our local store had all need fabric,notions and patterns,well anyway my mom gave me sewing lessons every summer and 6yrs latter had great knowlege for my age 12 t the last of the lessons,but long story short got carpel tunnel so bd at 47 had bi lateral wrists done and started sewing again,but have found myself really having to hone my skills but oh well this is one of THE MOST COMPLETE tutorials I have come across sew thank-you for all newbie sewer this is COMPLETE sew stop searching at this tutorials it is GREAT............thank-you again........tina

[pasweeney]

I really enjoyed this quilting 101 and leaned alot , I will be referring back cause I need help. Awsome. Trish

[Ilovetosew]

I am just beginning to quilt. Thank you for the instructions. You were very thorough with your explanations and your pictures. It was very helpful.

[amylea]

That's fab, thank you! I have been so inspired by your instructables - I am an absolute beginner (seriously, I can hardly sew a button on) but I feel like I have absorbed so much useful information to get me started. Thank you!

[amylea]

This is probably a really ridiculous question but - is there an easy way to hand-sew a seam at a 1/4 inch seam allowance? I don't have a sewing machine but would love to make a quilt. Am I setting myself up for failure?!

[jessyratfink]

You're definitely not setting yourself up for failure. My grandmother sewed all her quilts by hand, and she made TONS of them!

If you do a really tiny running stitch (just make sure it's nice and tight) it'll work! And if you're worried about making the 1/4 sea allowance nice and even, pin the squares/blocks together while sewing and use the pins as a sewing line.

[kattywompas1]

Great tutorial! Try 505 Basting Spray. No pins needed. It holds together as long as you need (for over a year if you can't get back to it right away), comes apart if you need to readjust and doesn't gum up your needle or sewing machine. I have a very expensive machine, and have had no problems. It runs about $12.99 a can and a little goes a long way. Joann's has it if you don't know where to find it.

[bpucks]

Wow, you make me feel like I can complete a beautiful project! Thank you!

[straycatmeow]

I really like your deer lamp. Is that a DIY or store bought?

[saitaiable child]

how did she make her paw bend that way?

[irwinkris]

hi agen! have you tried a disappering 9 patch quilt. its just as easy and it is a nice change up.

[irwinkris]

i love it. my mother inlaw has been begging me to make her a quilt for years. she says its easy. i have tried 17 times and just figured i sucked. i would then pick up the knitting needles and make her another blanket. you have taken all my questions and solved them for me. i can not thank you enough. THANK YOU!

[rquickel]

What a thorough, helpful and clear instructable. I finally understand how to do those friggin' corners! Thank you so much.

[CherylTX]

The binding is where we differ but yours is definitely the better finish and traditional. For me, instead of trimming my backing even with the quilt, I always bought a king size sheet and, at this stage, trim it to be 4 inches beyond the top, all the way around. Then fold it over the front (two folds so it's hemmed), pin it well and sew it down, miter fold at the corners.

(there's nothing worse than a know-it-all commenting all over your instructable; I'm just so excited to see such wonderful, well done instructions!)

[ToniRose]

That would make a great instructable on its own! (hint, hint)

[CherylTX]

Oh, good idea!

[jessyratfink]

Haha, thank you! My grandmother did it the fold-over way too... I really like the look of it, but I'm always too lazy to handsew it, and not brave enough to do it by machine. :D

[DiannaCarter]

I have been wanting to make a quilt and your instructions are very detailed along with great pictures to walk you though it all. I had always wondered if I needed a walking foot and you cleared that up.. I have also wanted to make my own binding, so your instructions have inspired me to pick up all the extra's and get started. Thank you for taking the time to ease the beginning sewers into it all. I cannot wait to try this, the forcast calls for rain this weekend and my husband will be out fishing, I think I will try to start something this weekend.. I might not finish it by this weekend but at least I could get started. Thanks agian,

[jessyratfink]

You're welcome! I'm so happy you liked it. :)

[Rynrambles]

Thank you soooo much. Have always wanted to sew. Took one class last year that taught me how to thread a machine. I had hoped for more. Bought a $120 Janome & googled instructions. Found this page. Just finished my quilt yesterday. Took 110 days, where I didn't touch it for a solid 6 weeks and would put in a few good 8-10 hours days here & there at my leisure. The bias tape scared me the most & the tool was more frustrating than not but (: I made a quilt (her name is Josie Bell Woods) and I am beyond pleased. My biggest mistake was not sewing close enough to the crease on the mitered corners. However, I added a lil stitch & do not mind the flaws. Thank you sooooo very very much!

[jessyratfink]

That's so neat! I'm so excited you finished your quilt. Happy I could help. :)

[cparke1]

I've never done my own binding. I always use satin binding because it's easy. But, I love your methods and directions for your binding. I don't have a binding machine and don't want to go to the expense. Do you think I could just fold the cut fabric in half, iron it, then fold the cut edges inside to the fold and iron again? Wouldn't that give me the same end result? I am going to try doing my own binding because you made it seem fairly easy and the finished product looked beautiful. Thanks for the instructable!

[jessyratfink]

You can definitely do that! I do that for smaller items all the time. I just like the bias tape maker shortcut for when I'm making yards and yards of it. :D

[mz anne thrope]

This is such a great intro to quilting that I'm going to go thru my old clothes and fabric stash and try one. But I have a question...when you start to sew the columns do you sew them vertically then across?
What a great way to get rid of cloth and make Xmas gifts. Thanks!