Learn how to make a super quick and easy picnic quilt from bandanas! This Bandana quilt pattern is double-sided, has no binding and makes the perfect quilt for summer picnics and patriotic holidays.
Bonus: you can have this quilt completely put together in just a few short hours!
First Things First… Is it Bandana or Bandanna?
Ok, so I googled the answer and still am not clear, lol. Spell check keep trying to correct the spelling to bandanna, but almost everywhere on the web it is spelled bandana. If you look the words up in the dictionary or thesaurus, the definitions are exactly the same and the other spelling is listed as a synonym for each.
What do you think is it bandanna or bandana?
Red White and Blue Bandana Quilt.
(Update: this post was originally published in 2013, but this bandana quilt is such a fantastic quick and easy quilting project for this time of the year, I decided to update the photos a bit and reshare it with everyone today!)
Every Fourth of July, our family heads down to the little festival and firework display put on by our city. In the past, I’ve always brought along an old comforter for everyone to sit on while hang out and wait for the fireworks. This year, I decided to get a little fancy and make a special picnic quilt out of red white and blue bandanas. (Plus it’s only June 24th, how ahead of the game and I, the procrastinator extraordinaire?)
Why this Bandana Quilt Method is So Great!
One of the reasons this is such a great quilt to make is that it is just so darn easy!
You are basically sewing together Nine bandanas for the font of the quilt and Nine bandanas for the back.
There is just a bit of straight line quilting. And you then use a “cheater” no binding method to finish the edges of the quilt.
Since no binding is needed on this easy bandana quilt pattern, it has a very casual look and comes together in just a few hours! (It’s a bit different from the other cheater quilt method I showed off on this quilt.)
I do wish I had thought a little bit more ahead when planning the colors of the quilt. It is double-sided, so I could have done the back side in different color bandanas that the quilt could be used for different occasions. (Oh well, hindsight is always 20/20 right?)
The photo below is the quilt after 7 years… Looks great doesn’t it?
One of the questions I get most often is, Do the bananas bleed in the wash? The red bandana did bleed just a bit on to the white the first time I washed the quilt, but it’s not super noticeable. I used Shout Color Catchers in all subsequent washings and had no trouble with bleeding. (I just didn’t have them or even think about it the first time.)
Other Fun Bandana Project Ideas:
I actually love making projects with bandanas. Since their edges are already finished, it makes the projects come together so much quicker!
- Bandana Tablecloth
- Shirred Bandana Dress
- Bandana pillowcase dress
- Bandana Bracelets
- Headbands
- Table Runner
How to Make a Bandana Quilt (in just a few hours.)
To make this Quick and Easy Bandana quilt, you will need:
Materials Needed:
- 18 Bandanas (9 per side make a great picnic quilt) Amazing bandana variety pack here.
- Quilt Batting
- Safety pins
- Scissors, ruler, Basic sewing supplies
Red White and Blue Bandana Quilt Sewing Instructions:
1. Start by laying out your bandanas into a pleasing pattern.
2. Line up the bandanas right sides together and sew along the edge using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Sew all the bandanas together in a row and then sew the rows together.
Don’t stress too much about lining the bandanas up perfectly or matching up corners, because this will not happen! Bandanas are never cut straight!
3. Repeat the steps above for the other quilt side.
4. Iron all the seams flat. (You really could just stop here and have an adorable tablecloth to use for your family celebrations. Like my bandana tablecloths here.)
5. Lay one side of the quilt flat on the ground with the wrong side up and top with the quilt batting. If you need to trim the quilt batting to fit, be sure to leave 3 to 4 inches around the entire quilt in case the bandanas or batting shift when quilting.
6. Use safety pins and pin the quilt batting in place. Sew a couple of quilting lines down the quilt to hold the batting in place. Remove all the pins.
7. Make your quilt “sandwich” by laying the quilt back out on the floor with the batting side down and and place the 2nd quilt side on top with the wrong side facing up.
8. Sew along the edges, leaving a 10 inch opening so you can flip the quilt right side out.
9. Trim the edges to a scant 1/4 inch.
10. Flip the quilt right side out.
11. Hand or machine sew the opening closed. You could iron the edges flat and topstitch around the edges, though I chose not to do this for time sake.
12 Add a couple more lines of quilting to hold the quilt front and back in place. You can really do as much or as little quilting as you want.
You are done!
My “assistant” could not wait to give the quilt a test run…
Want more easy quilt patterns? be sure to check these out:
Make a Chevron Quilt the easy way
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Jennifer Lachman says
I love the quilt. We go to a local lake for fireworks every year. It is quite a big event in our small town. I'm fairly certain that everyone who lives in the county shows up. The few benches are always taken hours before the fireworks start. I can't believe I've never thought to bring a quilt before. Especially a beautiful handmade quilt like this one.
[email protected] Cupboard says
Super cute! My daughter and I made a quilt top like this last year, but I haven't finished it! I'll have to use the shortcut method you used to make it go faster and actually finish it 🙂
Val @ Home Made Modern says
This is just awesome. I see we were featured together today on Sugar Bee Crafts! I'm honored to be next to your beautiful project. 🙂
Ana Lopes says
Super cute and creative project! Love it!Thanks so much for sharing this idea!
Have a fabulous week!
Hugs from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
http://www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com
Steph says
That is so cute and very festive! Great idea.
dijahenry says
Wow! This is a super cute idea! I love it! I think it will make a great gift this summer for a little girl I know!
Dija
theinspiredcafe.com
Love that Party says
Visiting from the girl creative. This diy really caught my eye. So simple and effective.
Four Marrs and One Venus says
You are amazing at what you do! This is just awesome lady!
Chelsea @ Making Home Base says
I love what you did! What a perfect quilt for picnics and 4th of July!! Love it!
Heidi @ Moms Crafty Space says
What a great idea!
becky says
Bandana quilt was the first project I tackled a few years back I back mine with fleece much simpler for me I like easy people really enjoy them and there are a lot of designs out there. Thank you for sharing and I now have another great blog to follow
Judy says
I love the idea for a lightweight quilt in the summertime! Thank you for all the ideas!!
Rebecca Garcia says
Love this idea and thank you for the picture tutorial – I'm so visual it is a great help when people take the time to share!
Kimberly Paradiso says
Love the simplicity of this! I like picking up cute and whimsical bandanas and I was just going through some of my stash earlier this week and now have a great use for them! I'm thinkin I'll make a quick summery quilt to take to the beach and put those cuties to good use! Thanks for sharing a great idea!
Emily says
Super idea! Pinned!
~Emily
A Tossed Salad Life
Heather SettingforFour says
Fun idea for summer! Thanks for sharing at Project Inspire{d}!
Lisa says
We had a quilt made from red and blue bandanas when I was a little girl. My mom had made it and I always wanted to make one too. Thanks for showing me what to do!
Kara @ Simplistically Sassy says
I love, love, love this idea SO much. I will make one. 🙂 I added it to my Quick and Easy 4th of July ideas today!
The Pin Junkie says
Great idea! I pinned!
Justine/ Sew Country Chick says
A perfect project for summer when I'm super busy!
kristi dominguez says
So fun! Great idea!
Cheri, the Quilting Nanny says
Cool idea. I see these bandanas in unique colors and designs all the time and think "what can I do with that?" I haven't thought of anything…until now! I will start collecting! This would be great for a male/boy theme. I found you on INspire Me Wednesday!
Karen says
Your quilt is so colorful and turned out gorgeous! Perfect for the 4th. Thanks for sharing your great idea!
Amanda Corbet says
This is so fun a beautiful! What a great use for bandannas! You did a great job! We would love it if you linked up with our party this week!
Mel {MamaBuzz} says
This is so pretty! And so festive. Thanks so much for sharing with Inspire Me Wednesday. Featuring you in next week's issue.
Burlap and Babies says
Lovely quilt! Would love it if you shared it at our Motivational Monday link party on Burlap and Babies!
Melissa @ My Recent Favorite Books says
I love your quilt! =) Its so pretty and festive. I'm a new bloglovin follower from "Party on the Porch"!
Kimberly Lewis says
This is adorable! Pinned. Hugs! Lou Lou Girls
malia says
This is plain old amazing! Thanks for sharing at Project Inspire{d}, it's featured this week!
Kristi Wolff says
Thank you thank you! I have some random bandanas at my house that I have been trying to put to use. This would be a great project for me & my daughter to work on!
Bonnie H says
This is so cute! It's perfect for sitting under the fireworks on the 4th of July.
~Bonnie @ Behind the Seams Sewing
Ginx Craft says
What a great idea.
Jerusha T. says
This is the best idea ever! I'm totally swiping this idea… 🙂
USS Crafty says
I love this bandana quilt!!
ella ruth says
I have a habit of collecting bandanas. This would be a good project to start with. Thanks so much for sharing. : )
Theresa says
This is so cute.. I have never made a quilt, but have been wanting to learn. I think this will be
a great one to start learning! Thanks so much for sharing!
Susie says
Have you tried rinsing the bandanas in vinegar? I remember doing that when we tie dyed shirts to set the colors. Just wondered if it would work here.
Dawn says
I’d love to do this with a water resistant backing…Hmm, wonder if I could sew through oilcloth?
Jamie says
I am sure you could with the correct needle…
Meg S says
Yes you can, however you should use a DENIM – size 16 sewing machine needle for its weight and sharpness.
Louise Stensland says
How many bandana’s do we need for a full size quilt?
Jamie says
not sure, you would just have to do a little math.
Angie Jerrell says
Thank YOU! This a perfect project! I am so excited about it. EASY instructions! LOVE IT
Meg S says
I made this as a tablecloth for our 4th of July celebration. I needed a few extra inches so I added a two inch cotton lace in between… I really like the way it turned out. THANK YOU for your great ideas!!!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/315322411411456547
Jamie Sanders says
love that!
Serena L Jones says
I’m an easy quilter wanna be. I want to make sure I understand a clue things. When being instructed to see the batting on the 1st side; I’m using a sewing machine sewing a straight line from one side to the other, right? Also the last instruction to quilt a couple more lines is sewing machine again, right? If so, do you see along the line of the joined bandanas? I’ve been wanting to make one of these for quite a while. Thank you
Jamie Sanders says
Yes, use your sewing machine and you do see the line of joined bandannas like you do on any pieced quilt, The seam edges will be on the inside of the quilt.