Quilting guides
22 how-to guides, each with step drawings made from real fabric and the numbers worked out for every bed size.
Getting started
How to make a quiltHow to make a quilt from start to finish, shown on a 60" × 72" Nine Patch throw: choosing a size, buying and cutting fabric, sewing blocks, borders, quilting and binding.Beginner quilt patternsThe easiest quilt patterns for a beginner, ranked by the kinds of seams they use and the number of pieces in a throw, each with fabric and cutting for every bed size.Quilting for beginnersQuilting for beginners: the tools you need, what quilters mean by right side, width of fabric and grain, and how to choose a first project.How to make a t-shirt quiltHow to make a t-shirt quilt: how many shirts each size takes, cutting and stabilizing the fronts with fusible interfacing, and sewing them with sashing.How to make a rag quiltHow to make a rag quilt: cut flannel squares, layer them, sew with the seams on the front, and snip so they fray. With squares and yardage for every size.How to choose fabric for a quiltHow to choose quilt fabric: quilting cotton, solids and blenders, small and large prints, batiks, and whether to prewash, shown with real fabric.How to choose quilt colorsHow to choose colors for a quilt: why value matters more than color, how to check it in black and white, and color schemes shown with real fabric.
Cutting and piecing
How to cut fabric for quiltingHow to cut quilting fabric with a rotary cutter: fold it, square up the edge, cut strips across the width of the fabric and subcut squares, with step drawings.How to sew a quarter inch seamEvery quilt pattern assumes a ¼" seam. The three-strip test shows if yours is right, and a table shows how a seam 1/16" off adds up across a block.Pressing seams for quiltingHow to press quilting seams: set the seam, press to the side or open, and nest opposite seams so corners match, with cross-section drawings.How to make half-square trianglesThree ways to make half-square triangles, with step drawings and a chart of cut sizes for 1" to 6" finished.How to make flying geeseTwo ways to make flying geese, with step drawings and cut sizes for every size from 2" × 1" to 8" × 4".How to add sashing to a quiltHow to sew sashing strips and cornerstones between quilt blocks: cut sizes, the rows to sew, and how many strips each bed size takes.How to add borders to a quiltHow to add a quilt border that lies flat: measure through the middle, sew the sides first, then the top and bottom. With strips and yardage for a 4" border on every bed size.
Finishing
Binding a quiltHow to sew binding on a quilt: cut and join 2½" strips, sew them to the front, miter the corners, join the ends and finish by hand on the back. With step drawings and strips for every bed size.How to make a quilt backingHow to piece a quilt backing from 42" fabric or use 108" wide backing, with the panels and yardage for every bed size and drawings of the seams.How to baste a quiltHow to make a quilt sandwich and baste it with safety pins, spray or thread, with drawings and the number of pins for every bed size.Machine quilting for beginnersHow to machine quilt on a home sewing machine: walking foot setup, quilting from the center out, starting and stopping, and easy first designs.Hand quiltingHow to hand quilt: thread, needles and a hoop, hiding the knot in the batting, and the rocking running stitch, with cross-section drawings.How to square up a quiltHow to square up a quilt after quilting, and blocks and units before you sew them: check the diagonals, trim with a square ruler, with drawings.How to hang a quilt on a wallHow to hang a quilt on a wall: sew a hanging sleeve, cut a rod or slat to fit, and hang it so the quilt hangs straight. Sleeve sizes for every quilt width.How to wash a quiltHow to wash a quilt: cold water, a gentle cycle, mild detergent and a color catcher, then drying low or flat. How to store a quilt so it lasts.
More how-tos
Quilting designs for beginnersEvery quilting design drawn on a quilt, with how to stitch it and the thread it takes.How to make a barn quiltBoard, layout, paint and hanging, with barn quilt patterns measured for 2, 4 and 8 ft boards.Jelly roll race quiltOne roll of strips sewn end to end, folded and sewn into a top, with the length worked out for every bed.Precut fabric sizesWhat jelly rolls, layer cakes, charm packs and fat quarters hold, and the patterns for each.
Plan your next quilt in your own fabric
Quiltspiration draws any pattern in the fabric you own and works out the cut list for any size.