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Designing a Quilt Patterns

Draw up a plan of your design on a sheet of graph paper and mark out the width and length of the quilt you wish to make, whether it is a small one for a baby’s cot or a large one for a double bed.

It is traditional to create quilt patterns built around a regular block of patchwork squares, for example in groups of five, seven or nine. For a seven-patch block, the total number of squares making up the quilt would be 49.

Use each graph square to represent a square in the patchwork, and calculate the quilt measurements accordingly. Mark in, ideally with coloured crayons, where various colour changes and pattern variations will occur. This plan will provide you with a reference as you piece together your sewn squares. Quilts do not necessarily have to be made up from patchwork squares of different coloured fabrics. For the baby’s quilt shown in the photograph, the same basic fabric is used for the whole of the quilt; pattern interest is created by varying the direction of the fabric stripes.

Making a Patchwork Quilt

There are many ways to make and sew a quilt; traditionalists maintain that hand- sewing is the proper way, but there are numerous short cuts, such as machine sewing, that can be used to save time.

Making up a Single Patches or Squares

Make a template or small paper pattern in the shape of a square and add a 6mm (¹/4in) seam allowance all the way around each individual square. Using the template, cut out accurate fabric squares and hem all the way around each shape. As a number of completed squares begin to accumulate, lay them out in sequence to form the desired pattern and carefully stitch the squares together to form a whole piece. It is advisable to press or iron each square as it is completed to ensure that you have a flat and even patch to work with.

Building a Pattern

A simple but classic pattern called the `Chimney Sweep’ can be created by following this plan:

Lay down one square to form a central point, then add another square to each of the four sides of the central square to form a cross shape. In between the arms of the cross, place four more squares, thus forming a larger square. In turn, more squares can be added row by row, to build up a full-sized quilt cover.

The completed quilt cover can be sewn onto a plain fabric backing, with an interlining of wadding placed between the two layers to give warmth and thickness to the quilt. The layers can be fixed using decorative techniques.

Machine Quilting Using Simple Square

The simplest method of making a quilt is to cut two pieces of fabric to the size of the desired finished quilt, plus seam allowances. Place one piece of fabric, right side down, on a flat surface and lay on top of it a layer of wadding or filling. On top of the wadding, place the other piece of fabric, right side up. Carefully align all three layers then pin and tack them together securely in closely spaced lines to form the verticals of the squares.

Designing Patterns

Quilt patterns can be created by carefully
arranging the fabric squares according to where
their printed motifs fall.

Fold the quilt in half lengthways to find the central line, then tack along it. Fold the two outer halves back into this centre line and again, where those lines form, tack along them so that the quilt is now divided into quarters. Repeat this procedure until you have achieved the number of lines that gives the quilt its required density. Turn the quilt widthways and repeat the same formula until you have completely sewn in all the squares. Following the tacked lines, machine stitch over them, making sure the stitches catch through all three layers of fabric.

Finishing Touches for Quilts

If you make a patchwork quilt with an interlining and a fabric backing, a useful way of securing the three layers together is to add detailing at the corners of each patch shape or square.

Tufting

When tufting it is best to use thick, sturdy cotton thread (crochet cotton is ideal). Using a double thickness, sew through from the front to the back of the quilt leaving a tail thread of about 3cm (1¹/4in) free on the top. Bring the needle back through to the top, and down again completing a whole stitch, then through to the back and up to the front again. Cut the thread, leaving a length that corresponds to the original tail thread. Tie the two ends together using a reef knot and neatly trim the ends to the same length.

Bows and Appliqués

As with tufting and buttons, daintily tied bows can be stitched to the corners of each patch or square. Cut-out shapes and patterns can also be sewn onto the quilted background, for example a wreath or circlet of flowers, butterflies, simple heart shapes or plain strips of a contrasting material can all be overstitched onto a plain quilt.

Additional Rows of Stitching

Another way of creating an interesting border for a quilt is to add more rows of plain stitching. Two or three lines of closely sewn neat stitches will create a frame effect on the quilt and give it extra strength at the edges where the quilt is most handled and likely to become worn.

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