So, I have a style of quilt that I make a lot. A LOT. Like, pretty much all the time. Cause I'm lazy and these are cheater style quilts. Once you make one, you'll see how freaking easy they are to make. I can turn one of these babies out in about 1.5 days...and that is only working on it after Jack goes to bed.
So do you wanna learn? Have you just figured out how to turn on your sewing machine? Don't worry, this is an easy enough project to tackle. Just make a small - like baby size - quilt to start, and you can get bigger after that. That's what she said.
Cheater quilts
If you're interested, here are supplies that I've accumulated over time that make this project easier:
Sewing machine (it only looks complicated, but I'm a sewing idiot and it works for me)
Rotary cutter
Cutting mat
Ruler thingies
You're going to need some fabric for this. Newsflash! The amount depends on what size quilt you're going to be making. I always start with multiple kinds of fabric that is 1/4th of a yard. It's cheap to buy 1/4th of a yard, and it allows you to put in tons of different choices.
So, here's what we're gonna do. First, iron all your fabric.
Next, figure out how large you want your individual strips to be. I typically make mine about 2-3 inches wide. Using some sort of guide, cut the fabric in a strip. Then, make like 2-4 more strips of the same fabric. Repeat with all the other fabrics. It honestly doesn't matter if you cut the length or width side. Again, this is quilting for cheaters. I ain't gonna judge.
Now you have a big ole pile of strips.
Take two of the strips, and put the "pretty" side of both pieces of fabric together. Then, stitch two of those strips together on one side.
Then, take another strip, and add it "pretty" side to "pretty" side to one of the strips you just connected, and sew it together.
Repeat until you have a whole bunch of strips connected. Iron.
Then, cut off the non-equal edges from your strips. This is where the rotary cutter and rulers come in handy!
From there, choose how wide you want your strips to be, and cut multiple strips of that width. Now you're rocking some ready to use quilt strips!
Take two of the strips, and place them "pretty" side to "pretty" side. Sew. Repeat until you have strips that are your desired length. Connect other strips until you have 5-6 that are of the same length.
Take the fabric you want for your "filler" in-between the strips, and cut 4-6 of the same width and length.
Take the "pretty" side of your quilted strips, and put it on the "pretty" side of your filler fabric. Sew. Add another piece of the filler to the other side of the quilted strip. You're adding pieces like you did above to connect the solid strips.
Now here is where things got fuzzy, it got to be late at night, and stupid me forgot to keep taking photos.
Once the quilt top is at your desired size, stop adding strips. Cut a piece of fabric that is the same size as the top. This will be your quilt back. Put the "pretty" side of your quilt top on the "pretty" side of the quilt back. Sew the two pieces together around the edges, leaving about 6 inches of the outside unstitched.
When you only have those 6 inches left to connect, remove the quilt from the sewing machine. Turn the fabric inside out. You should now see the pretty side of the quilt top and the back.
Fold the ragged edges of the fabric that is not yet stitched together, and push them inside of the quilt. Pinch this area together, and then sew a seam along the edge to "close" the quilt.
And voila, you've just completed a "cheater's" quilt!
Now that you realize how easy they are to churn out, you'll be addicted. You're welcome. Suckah!
Labels: Sew cool
