Quilt Making

Don't panic, men! I'm not really into sewing. But I've watched the wife make quilts and she says it's really easy. Maybe you can share the ideas with your wives and get a one-of-a-kind quilt like I have.

Quilt Making...

Step One... Decide how big you want the quilt to be. It can be a little one for a baby or small child, twin bed sized for a teenager or single person, or a double (or queen or even king) for a couple. Buy a flat sheet in whatever color you choose (mine is blue). You can get either a solid color or one with a pattern, as it doesn't matter.

Step Two... Measure the sheet and buy unbleached muslin (or any other white fabric) a little over one third the size of the flat sheet. Buy a piece of plain material in whatever color you choose, the same size as the white. Buy a third piece of cloth the same size as the first two, with the same color, but with a pattern or whatever kind you like. If you want the quilt to have a fancy lace edge, buy enough to go all the way around the flat sheet. White or off white is a good idea.

Step Three... At the store where you bought the cloth, they should sell pattern books for embroidery. Pick a book or package of patterns that fit the person you're making the quilt for. Mine is different birds. But you can select flowers, butterflies, airplanes, trucks, dogs, horses, or anything else that sounds good to you. You'll need an embroidery hoop as well. Also, you'll have to have either threads and needles or several tubes of liquid embroidery goop. Buy enough fiber batting (a sheet of cotton or acrylic fibers that gives the quilt it's puffiness) to match the size of the flat sheet. You'll also need a really big needle and some yarn (of whatever color you think will look best with the colors you picked for the quilt.)

Step Four... Using a yardstick and a pencil, divide the white material into equal squares. Don't cut it, just draw the lines. Using whatever theme you want, put one picture into the middle of each of the squares.

Step Five... Using either thread or liquid embroidery goop, color the pictures in every square. This is the time consuming part, the wife says. It took her over a month to stitch all those little birds!

Step six... When the pictures are finished (and dried if you use the liquid goop), cut the white cloth along the lines you drew earlier. Then cut the other two pieces of cloth into squares exactly the same size as the white ones. Measure and cut carefully! This is really important!

Step Seven... Alternating the squares (hopefully you have a sewing machine for the rest of the project) in any way you want. For example, you can use a solid piece, sewn to an embroidered piece, and the patterned piece would be third. Lay it out on a bed or the floor so you can see the whole picture. Then, one piece at a time, sew them together in lines that go across the width of the flat sheet, with the sides meeting evenly. When all the strips are sewn together, connect them, one strip at a time, until all the strips make a full sized piece that exactly matches the flat sheet.

Step Eight... To add the lace, secure the flat side of the lace to the edges of the quilted piece, making sure the quilt piece is face up. Don't let it get uneven. My wife uses straight pins to keep them lined up, but you can use clothes pins or even water soluble glue (but not too much, you don't want the quilt coming out stiff around the edges!) Now you can sew the quilt top (with whatever patterns and embroidery you have chosen) to the lace.

Step Nine... Place the flat sheet on top of the quilt piece with the lace. Be sure the best color or pattern of the flat sheet is down. This is very important. Affix it to the edges all the way around with the pins or glue, making sure the edges fit. Next comes the batting. Put it on top of the flat sheet and secure it, too. Sew around the bottom and both sides, leaving the top end open. Make sure you tie the thread so it won't pull loose later.

Step Ten... Turn the whole quilt inside out, making sure you separate the layers between the quilt top and the flat sheet. This leaves the lace sticking out around the edges and the batting inside. Stretch it as flat as you can, poking the corners until they come out as far as they can. Carefully folding the open end over just enough to make it look like the other edges, secure them and then sew them, tying the threads again.

Step Eleven... When the perimeter is completely secure and smoothed flat, the quilt should be even all over. Now, get the big needle and the yarn. With one in and out stitch at a time, cutting the yarn between stitches, tack the whole quilt together at the corners of every square. You can either make the stitches on the decorated side or the plain side, it's up to you. When all the stitches of yarn are in place, tie them off tightly. Two or even three knots will hold the batting inside and keep the shape better.

Step Twelve... Wrap it up and make someone very happy!

According to the wife, it sounds harder than it is. My bird quilt is really beautiful and I still love showing it off after all these years. She made it for me when we were newlyweds and it still looks great!