Foolproof Baby Quilt Tutorial
Unleash Your Inner Quilter
Are you ready to unleash your inner quilter? Well, look no further because I have the perfect quilt pattern for you! Introducing the Easiest Baby Quilt EVER – bet you can’t make just one!
Learn this creative and quick design technique to simplify your quilt piecing methods. There’s no need to compromise on your design for a quicker finish with this striking color block quilt. I’ll walk you through each step so you feel confident and inspired with your new baby quilt pattern.
Like these fabrics? Check out these and more Kaffe Fassett Fabrics.
Click to download my printable Easiest Baby Quilt Pattern Ever
In this foolproof baby quilt video tutorial, I’ll guide you through step-by-step instructions to create the easiest baby quilt you’ve ever imagined!
This super easy pattern will have you stitching like a pro in no time. So, gather some colorful fabric, batting, a rotary cutter, a cutting mat, and of course, your trusty sewing machine. We have a quilt to make!
What Makes an Easy Quilt?
Quick Cutting
To save time cutting fabric many quilters love using precuts. I know I do and I use lots of them. My favorite precut is a fat quarter because I can do so much with them. But mostly because it was with fat quarters that I really learned how combine multiple fabrics and colors for quilting.
This quilt takes a different approach to precuts and uses long strips. While you can buy rolls of 2.5-inch strips, I wanted a bigger piece to show off gorgeous fabrics. My choice is a 6-inch strip which works beautifully for this quilt.
Fast, Simple Sewing
For me the ‘easiest’ baby quilt must be a fast and simple quilt to sew. Right off that means no matching seams. I love to match lots of squares and rectangles to create beautiful quilt designs, but this quilt isn’t that. This baby quilt is about getting finished quickly. Eliminating matching seams is the perfect solution. The best way to reduce seams is with strip piecing. That means long fabric strips that reach from one side to the other. Since the width of quilting fabric (WOF) is usually 40-inches, it’s perfect for a baby size quilt.
Easy Quilting
Easy quilting is a must. Once my baby quilt top is sewn, the final quilting can’t hold me up. What better than to sew some wavy walking foot lines across the strips. It highlights the strip design, plus your choice of thread can add lots more interest to your finished quilt.
Bold Binding
A simple, understated binding is always okay, but I want more than okay. This quilt design is minimal, so I want the binding to add something special. Whether it’s more color, a graphic design, or a bold contrast, my binding needs to make a statement.
Choosing Quilt Fabrics
Contrast is Important
My Easiest Baby Quilt Pattern design is based on a very simple 2-color strip layout. Which means my fabric choice is important for the finish I want. The best way to make a bold statement with just two colors is to make sure they contrast. A lot!
Here a simple dark blue fabric contrasts wonderfully with a bright white background fabric. But there are more factors to think about. Look at both fabrics and what do you see? Each of them has lots of little designs in varying colors scattered in every direction. This balances out the two fabrics so one doesn’t feel heavier next to the other.
Notice the blue fabric has multiple accent colors within the print. Those same colors are also in the white fabric. While the white fabric creates the contrast, the colored dots echo the colors of the primary blue designs. This makes the pair of fabrics very pleasing to the eye. It also draws the eye across the quilt simply by following the colors from one strip to the next.
The difference in the scale of each print also creates contrast. The blue fabric design has large rosettes and flowers scattered throughout. Yet the white fabric dots are quite small in comparison. This is another great way to use contrast to your advantage.
Therefore, when I’m choosing fabric, the focal fabric is my first pick. Everything else needs to add something more to the design to be included. Keep this in mind as you choose your fabrics.
Recommended Quilt Cutting Supply List (aff links):
- Easiest Baby Quilt Pattern
- Kaffe Fassett Fabrics
- Quick-Change Rotary Cutter
- Rotary Blades
- Rotary Mat Ruler
- Self-Healing Cutting Mat
- Sewing Machine Needles #11
Creating a Scrappy Look
When I make a quilt, I always use the fabric I have on hand when possible. If you have leftover strips from yardage, then you already have the perfect size needed. The quilt in the video below has many more fabrics than my original quilt. You can see how fun it can be playing with lots of fabrics to get a scrappy look.
An easy way to mix fabrics together is to begin with your focal fabric or primary print. Use the colors in this fabric to choose your contrasting pieces. I find that using a bold print works best when combined with a ‘near’ solid. In other words, choose a fabric with a smaller print or design so it’s doesn’t compete with your focal fabric.
Lay out your fabrics together and decide how your want to join your strips. Then all you have to do is sew them together and finish your quilt!
Cutting Fabric Strips
Once you’ve selected your fabric, it’s time to cut your fabric. For a quilt to finish well, you want it to be square and flat. That means that your strips must be cut straight and sewn together evenly. Your first step is cut your strips on the straight of the grain. This ensures your fabric lays flat without any pulling. If you happen to cut a strip at an angle or on the bias, your fabric can easily stretch when being sewn. This will create a wavy look or even small puckers. So take your time cutting and you’ll have beautiful, flat seams.
The best way to know if your fabric is straight is to follow the selvage. This is the tightly woven fabric along the side edges of any fabric you buy. When laying your fabric on a cutting mat, make sure the selvage is straight with the grid lines.
Don’t follow the already cut edges, ever! It’s very easy to cut fabric crooked. So, always check that your cuts are straight rather than following what someone else may have previously cut at the store.
Piecing Your Quilt Top
Following my Easiest Baby Quilt Pattern instructions, begin sewing your strips into pairs. Then sew those pairs together joining all the strips to finish your quilt top.
Simply place two strips right sides together (RST) and sew along the long side using a straight stitch. Be sure to keep your seam allowance at 1/4-inches. If you have trouble keeping both edges even as you sew, you may find it beneficial to pin them first. It’s unlikely that the strips will start and end together. Since they are different fabrics, their WOF may vary. Just be cautious not to stretch it as it’s being sewn. Pinning first helps to keep fabrics in place as they are sewn together.
Once your quilt top is assembled, measure it to make sure it’s about what the pattern suggests. Finished sizes will vary depending on your actual seam allowance. That’s why it’s important to keep an even seam as you sew.
Baste Your Quilt Sandwich
Refer to your quilt measurements to cut your quick backing and batting. Each should measure about 3-4-inches larger than your quilt. If your quilt backing fabric is wrinkled or creased, be sure to press it first. Otherwise these areas may bunch up as you’re quilting causing tucks and puckers to your quilt back.
Lay your backing fabric with the right side facing down on a flat surface such as a large table or the floor. Using some masking tape, secure the middle of each side in place. Be sure to keep it square. Then do the same for each corner. The idea isn’t to stretch the backing fabric, but to keep it square and taut so it won’t bunch up as you quilt from the top side.
Next, layer your batting and gently smooth it out being careful not to stretch it. It should be centered inside the backing fabric. Then do the same with the quilt top. Keep it centered and smooth without pulling or stretching. You should be able to the batting and backing around the edges. This way you know your final quilting will not run off the edge of the backing.
Quilt Basting Options
To quilt multiple layers together, they need to be secured in some manner so they don’t shift, or you could end up with a quilt backing that looks like it’s been stretched or bunched in spots.
There are two primary ways to baste your quilt. Pinning is now the tried-and-true method used for generations after hand basting went by the wayside. It’s effective but opening and closing many regular safety pins can cause stress and soreness in your hands and fingers. If you choose to pin, be sure to use curved safety pins for quilting. I use the 2″ pins as they are very easy to open and close. There is also a 1.5″ size if you prefer a smaller size. The curve of these safety pins makes the job so much easier on your fingers and hands!
My preferred basting method is using a spray baste fabric adhesive. It works fast and is fabulously effective. If you’re not familiar with this method, check out my Spray Basting Tutorial. This replaces the use of safety pins, so it’s a real time saver.
With your quilt backing secured in place, lay the batting on top without stretching it. It should come almost to the edges of the quilt back fabric. Then lay your quilt top down with the right side up. Baste the layers together and you’re ready to quilt.
Easy Machine Quilting
For machine quilting, I recommend using a walking foot attachment on your sewing machine. It will make your machine quilting so much easier.
For easy walking foot quilting ideas see my post How to Use a Walking Foot. This tutorial explains how to use a walking foot as well as some simple quilting designs you can easily use.
Quilt Sandwich Trimming
To trim your quilt sandwich, you want use at least a 24” ruler. You can watch how to trim your quilt sandwich on this tutorial showing How to Use Rotary Cutters.
Adding a Quilt Binding
Cut the number of binding strips as stated in my Easiest Baby Quilt Pattern instructions. Sew your strips together to create a very long strip of fabric and attach your binding to finish your quilt. If you’re new to quilt binding, check out my Fat Quarter Quilt Binding tutorial. You’ll have your binding finished in no time!
Now it’s time to enjoy your success and show off your beautiful new quilt!
Happy Quilting
