By Mamie Conrad
When planning for a baby shower or other event where you will be gifting something to a new little one, handmade baby quilts are a good way to go. They are also special items to make for your own child or grandchild. Unfortunately, many people avoid working on quilts because they feel that these are too difficult or complicated.
The truth is, anyone who can sew a seam can create their own quilt. It does not have to be difficult at all. It is true that there are some very complex patterns, but for the beginner, it is possible to start simply. Choose a plain design to work with instead of one that has dozens of tiny pieces in awkward shapes.
Handmade baby quilts are an excellent project to start with, as they are small enough to finish in a reasonable amount of time. Sticking with squares or strips of fabric will make the project that much more efficient. You just need to piece a few items to get a cute top for the quilt.
To begin with, an easy pattern is a good idea. You can get patterns on the Internet or in a quilt pattern book. Even magazines sometimes have some good patterns for first timers. Later, once you are more adept at quilting, you can look at the more complicated designs.
You will need fabric, of course. The easiest way to create a cute quilt is to stick with a border color and two to three patterns for the squares. This will limit the options for getting mixed up with the design. You can also use strips instead of blocks, if you prefer.
To assemble the quilt, you will need to lay out the pieces as they need to be for the finished top. Then sew the pieces together. This is easiest if you start with rows of blocks, then sew each row together. Use pins to match up the seams and then stitch it all together. The border can be attached in strips along each edge.
Finishing the quilt is not difficult, either. Batting is required, as is a backing fabric. This could be flannel sheeting, or something textured, like fleece, fake fur or minky.
Rather than use batting, if you prefer, you can place another blanket in the middle as padding. Take the front and back of the blanket, lay them so the good sides are facing and then sew them along three sides. Slip in the batting and sew up the final side. You may want to do this part with hand stitching to help hide the seam.
The final step in creating handmade baby quilts is the quilting. You may prefer to simply tie the quilt by passing pieces of yard through and tying them on top. Or you can sew small stitches by hand or with a machine to help adhere the quilt top to the bottom and hold the batting in place. Then your blanket is ready to be wrapped and given as a gift.
The truth is, anyone who can sew a seam can create their own quilt. It does not have to be difficult at all. It is true that there are some very complex patterns, but for the beginner, it is possible to start simply. Choose a plain design to work with instead of one that has dozens of tiny pieces in awkward shapes.
Handmade baby quilts are an excellent project to start with, as they are small enough to finish in a reasonable amount of time. Sticking with squares or strips of fabric will make the project that much more efficient. You just need to piece a few items to get a cute top for the quilt.
To begin with, an easy pattern is a good idea. You can get patterns on the Internet or in a quilt pattern book. Even magazines sometimes have some good patterns for first timers. Later, once you are more adept at quilting, you can look at the more complicated designs.
You will need fabric, of course. The easiest way to create a cute quilt is to stick with a border color and two to three patterns for the squares. This will limit the options for getting mixed up with the design. You can also use strips instead of blocks, if you prefer.
To assemble the quilt, you will need to lay out the pieces as they need to be for the finished top. Then sew the pieces together. This is easiest if you start with rows of blocks, then sew each row together. Use pins to match up the seams and then stitch it all together. The border can be attached in strips along each edge.
Finishing the quilt is not difficult, either. Batting is required, as is a backing fabric. This could be flannel sheeting, or something textured, like fleece, fake fur or minky.
Rather than use batting, if you prefer, you can place another blanket in the middle as padding. Take the front and back of the blanket, lay them so the good sides are facing and then sew them along three sides. Slip in the batting and sew up the final side. You may want to do this part with hand stitching to help hide the seam.
The final step in creating handmade baby quilts is the quilting. You may prefer to simply tie the quilt by passing pieces of yard through and tying them on top. Or you can sew small stitches by hand or with a machine to help adhere the quilt top to the bottom and hold the batting in place. Then your blanket is ready to be wrapped and given as a gift.
About the Author:
If you are going to a baby shower, handmade baby quilts such as those at babybandar.com, make a great gift. To view their adorable designs, check out http://babybandar.com.
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