My First Quilt! (plus lessons learned…)
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I made this simple Fat Quarter quilt as my first project. While working on the quilt, I learned some helpful things for beginner quilters.
Simple Fat Quarter Quilt
A quilt for my daughter’s room has been on my “to-do” list for a long time. But a full-size quilt just seems like a massive project for a beginner with no quilting skills. I’m still very intimidated by the thought of making a large quilt. (And I have done just about everything I can to avoid starting on her quilt, lol.)
I’ve done a few simple fabric-piecing projects like this patchwork tunic top and shorts. Then I moved on to actual quilted projects like my quilted table runner and tablet cover.
Recently, I stumbled across a super-cute fat quarter set from Riley Blake. (Sew Cherry, and on sale, of course!). The fabric set just screamed summery vintage picnic quilt and I had to buy it. I thought it was perfect for a straightforward picnic-sized patchwork quilt and would be good practice before I cut into my daughter’s quilt fabric.
Here is the crazy part… After cutting up the fat quarters, I realized I had enough for two quilts. So, you guessed it! I made two quilts and will give one away to a lucky reader. Giveaway details will be at the bottom of the post. Give away over -sorry!
Bias binding for two quilts? Yep, it was a bunch…
She caught a baby frog here. Little frogs are so cute. I have a tutorial coming for her dress in the next day or two…
*update* Find the pattern here: Simple Halter Dress
Everyone loved the quilt, including the neighbor’s cat!
A few things I learned while making these quilts (that I wish someone had told me)
1. A walking foot
will make your life so much easier. (Thank goodness I already had one. It is great for bias binding!)
2. When quilting, use a new, appropriately sized Quilting needle.
3. I used a flat sheet from Walmart for the back of the quilt. I was experiencing some skipped stitches on the back of the quilt and had to spend significant time picking out those stitches and redoing them.
I did a little Google-ing on the subject and found a bed sheet is not always the best idea. Some sheets are woven very tightly and will cause the needle to flex, and it won’t be able to catch the bobbin thread, causing a skipped stitch.
The Walmart sheet is definitely woven very tightly in comparison to an Ikea sheet I have… (A twin-size flat sheet from Walmart is $5 and a twin white flat sheet from Ikea is under $4.)
4. You can use a different color bobbin thread so the threads on the top and bottom of the quilt will blend better.
5. Start pinning and quilting from the center and work out. (Helps keep puckering to a minimum.)
6. Iron the backing and use spray starch. (You may be tempted to skip this step, but don’t!)
7. 505 basting spray
… Get some, it makes basting your quilt sandwich together so much easier!
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