Publications
Partners
Size
220 x 220cm
You Will Need
- 100% cotton fabric in five different designs
- batting to fit
- backing fabric to fit
- matching coloured sewing thread
- tacking thread in a contrast colour
- top-stitching thread in a colour of your choice
- dressmaker’s pencil and ruler
- large safety pins seam ripper
NOTE A 5mm seam allowance has been given in all measurements.
Before You Begin
Choose fabrics that will wash and wear in the same way. It is best to prewash the fabrics separately to remove starch and also to ensure they are completely colourfast. Place a small piece of white cotton with the coloured fabric to see if the colour runs; if it does don’t use it. Press the fabric while it is still damp to remove the creases. Don’t iron the pieces after they have been cut as they may distort.
How To Sew The Patchwork
1 Take one cotton print and first measure the width of the fabric, and then work out how many times you will be able to cut complete blocks, each 25 x 25cm, from this measurement. Place the fabric on a flat surface and, using a ruler and dressmaker’s pencil, draw the blocks out. Cut out. Repeat for the other four fabrics. You will need to cut 81 blocks; the width of the quilt is nine blocks and the length is nine blocks.
2 This patchwork style with simple symmetrical blocks is the easiest of all to master. Plan your design first: Once you have cut out the blocks, lay them out on the floor and see if you are happy with the overall effect.
3 If you decide to use similar colours and prints to create the same tonal effect, as in our quilt, be careful that you don’t place similar fabrics too close together. Now, number each block on the wrong side so that you can remember the order when sewing up.
4 All the seams must be joined with the right sides facing. Sew the seams together with a 5mm seam allowance. Use the same coloured thread to piece the entire quilt together; a neutral or light colour works best. Set your iron on the correct setting and press the seams flat to one side as you complete them.
5 Pin the first two blocks together, matching seam lines. Machine stitch the seam, removing the pins before the needle reaches them as you work. Press the seam flat. Now sew the next block to the second block in the same way. Sew the blocks into rows first and then join the rows in the correct order afterwards.
6 Once the blocks have been joined into nine separate rows, join the rows in exactly the same way. Try to press the seam allowances in every alternate row in the opposite direction so you don’t have to stitch through two layers of seam allowances when you join the rows.
Turn Your Patchwork Into A Quilt
1 When you have finished the patchwork, cut a piece of batting at least 10cm larger on all sides than the patchwork. Cut a piece of backing fabric the same size as the batting. You may want to pick out a colour or pattern that complements the patchwork. Try to use fabric of a similar weight.
2 Place the backing with the wrong side of the fabric facing up. Place the batting on top of the backing and then, finally, place the patchwork right side facing up. Smooth out all the creases with the flat of your hand.
3 It is a good idea to pin the three layers together at random, using large safety pins. Using a large needle and the tacking thread, tack the three layers together, working a row from the centre of each of the four sides to form a cross in the middle. Remember to use a coloured tacking thread that will show up on the patchwork.
4 Working from the centre outwards, tack the quilting design in place. You could draw the design with the dressmaker’s pencil first if you are not confident to tack the design directly in place. This quilting design is abstract and resembles the curves of jigsaw puzzle pieces. There is no rule as to how much you must quilt or what design you should use. Now sew the next block to the second block in the same way. Sew the blocks into rows first and then join the rows in the correct order afterwards.
5 Once all three layers have been tacked together with the quilting design, you can sew the quilting stitches. Set your sewing machine on a top-stitch and use the top-stitching thread. Traditionally the quilting stitching is worked in a lighter shade, but you can use a tone so that it blends into the quilt, or you can also use a contrasting bright colour.
6 Always begin the stitching from the centre outwards, as for the tacking stitches. Try not to sew over the tacking stitches, as it will make it more difficult to unpick them afterwards. Continue in this way until you have quilted the entire patchwork cloth. Do not press the quilt when it is completed, as it will lose the texture that you have just created.
7 Once all the quilting is completed remove all the tacking stitches carefully with a seam ripper. If necessary, trim the batting and the backing fabric to match the same size as the patchwork cloth.
Finish Off With A Border
1 Choose one of the cotton prints for the border. Cut strips of fabric 7cm wide across the width of the fabric. Join these strips together, so you have four separate lengths to fit the sides of the quilt.
2 With the right sides of the quilt and strip together, sew the strip in place along the side edge with a machine stitch. For a professional look, mitre the corners.
3 When the strips are all in place, fold them over to the back. Fold a hem along the raw edge and, using a small neat slip-stitch, hand sew the strips to the back of the quilt.
