How to Make an Easy Quilt
copyright 2000,2018 Beverly A. Qualheim



An essential part of every family's preparation storage is an ample supply of warm blankets to keep everyone warm if the heat goes out.  If you need to get rid of old clothes, old partially worn blankets, or perhaps you have extra material laying around if you are a seamstress, you have the beginnings of a warm blanket.

I have made good quilts from yard sale material I bought for almost nothing, or found in the free box.  When my eldest son was a young teenager he wanted a quilt made from blue jeans.  That summer we went to numerous yard sales and bought either large blue jeans for 25 - 50 cents each, plus we found many pairs in the free boxes because they had holes in the knees or some other flaw.  As long as there was enough material in the jeans for me to cut out 5" or 6" squares, usually down the back or front thigh of the leg, I didn't care if they had another flaw of some kind, we just worked around that.  For easier sewing, use only material that is not part of the double-seam on the side. I'm pretty sure most needles would break sewing over those! Also, I used a sturdier needle (number 14 for medium-thicker weights) to sew the quilt.
We saved all summer and then started cutting out the squares.  My son helped with this too.  His quilt is one he had to take to college and he loves it!  It even has a few pocket squares on it and one decorated with a heart to remind him his family loves him.

Let's get started!

Materials needed: 

       

Several yards of material, various colors, and scraps work fine
Batting or an old partially worn blanket
Possibly a sheet for the back
Sewing machine that straight stitches
yarn and sewing needle to tie it together

1) Cut out as many 5" material squares (or whatever size you decide on) as you can without going bananas!  :-)  This will form the TOP of your quilt.


Actually, this activity can be stretched out for months!  Involve your older kids.  I made a cardboard template to cut around, also put several layers of material together to cut at once.  I don't have a rotary cutter, but my friends who do would not ever make a quilt without one!  So you might want to invest in one.  I have always just used scissors.  Remember, we don't want you going into debt to do this!

2) Line the squares up according to how you want to sew them into a quilt.  This does not have to be perfect or gorgeous looking, you are aiming for warmth, not a blue ribbon at the country fair!

3) Machine-stitch these together to form rows.  Use a 5/8" seam allowance.  See diagram below:



(You could do this for the bottom of the quilt too, but I prefer to use an old bed sheet for the bottom.)


When you have enough strips, the right length, then sew the strips together to form the quilt top.  (see diagram left).

4) Now make a 'sandwich' in this manner: 
Bottom of quilt
sheet of polyester batting
Top of quilt


Make sure the right sides of the material, top and bottom, are facing out.
5) Pin the 3 layers together.


Now you need to get your yarn and a yarn needle to tie the quilt.


6) "Loop-di-Loop"  Put your needle in at the top, go through all 3 layers (leaving a 4" tail of yarn sticking out of the top of the quilt), go back up through the bottom and up to the top again and snip off the yarn leaving another 4" tail of yarn. 


7) TIE A SQUARE KNOT with the yarn you have stitched through the 3 layers.



 If your kids are old enough to tie a knot, they will LOVE doing this!   Even older children will feel good about doing this.  If you don't need these quilts in your home, they are wonderful to make to help the homeless, or people in abuse shelters as they can always use extra things like this to give to people so they have something of 'their own' to take with them.  Child and baby sized ones are easy to make for starters.

Tie the yarn ends into a knot and then a bow if you wish.

When you have every other square tied, it is time to finish the edge of your quilt.  Some people either buy an edging/binding to use, others sew their own with strips of material.  Another method is to simply turn the edge under and tuck inside (an inch or so all around) and stitch around through all 3 layers.



Soon, you will have a warm, useful quilt that is filled with love!  They really don't take a long time to make once you have gathered your materials.  It's a great way to use up extra material, reuse old dresses, pants, jeans, etc., and create something fun at the same time! 

Bev's EASY BABY QUILT

1 1/4 yd of soft 45" wide fabric (for quilt top) 
1 1/4 yd of soft 45" wide fabric  (for bottom of quilt) (Makes a quilt for a crib or a toddler-approx. 45" x 45")  
6 yds Silky binding (or simply tuck edges under and sew around) 
2 ounces soft baby yarn or sport yarn (to tie the quilt) 
Needle with large eye and sharp enough point to go through fabric layers 
Batting ~ enough for a 45" quilt  (Crib size) Place all 3 layers together ~ top + batting + bottom. 
Either stitch binding around, or tuck under and stitch around.  
Use needle and yarn to make "square knots" every 4" or so.