How to make a quilt
A quilt is three layers: a pieced top, a soft batting, and a backing, stitched together and bound at the edge. The example here is our Nine Patch throw, 60" × 72": 50 nine-patch blocks alternating with plain squares, 6½ yd of fabric for the top and binding.
Each step links to a guide with the details. Plan on a few weekends for a first quilt.
By Editorial Staff
Making a quilt, step by step
Choose a pattern and a size. A throw is a good first quilt: big enough to use, small enough to quilt on a home machine. The quilt size chart gives the standard sizes for every bed.
Buy the fabric. The Nine Patch pattern lists every fabric for six sizes; for the throw that is 7 fabrics, plus 4 yd of backing and twin batting. Quilting cotton is the easiest to sew.
Cut the pieces. Fold the fabric, square up the edge, cut strips across the width, and cut the strips into squares. See how to cut fabric for quilting.
Sew the blocks with ¼" seams, pressing each seam toward the darker fabric. Check your seam with the quarter inch seam test before you start.
Lay out the blocks, sew them into rows, then sew the rows together, nesting the seams so the corners match.
Add the border: measure through the middle, sew the sides first, then the top and bottom. See how to add borders.
Make the quilt sandwich: backing wrong side up, batting, then the top, and baste the layers with pins. See how to baste a quilt.
Quilt it. Straight lines with a walking foot are the easiest start; see machine quilting for beginners and quilting designs.
Square up the edges and sew on the binding. See binding a quilt.
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.