Hey everyone! Today you're going to learn how to turn a bold striped cotton into a soft-and-striking baby quilt.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric first
This is the Black On Dragonfly Wings Stripe Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard.
It is from Benartex.
The designer is Ann Lauer.
The collection is Dragonfly Wonder.
It is 100% cotton.
It measures 44/45 inches wide.
Dragonfly Wonder builds on On Dragonfly Wings.
It keeps that signature intricacy.
Luminous wings float across the surface.
Beaded medallion motifs float there, too.
The description notes a rare pearlescent effect.
That effect comes through digital printing.
The palette is dramatic, in a good way.
Think black first.
Then green, purple, and vibrant multicolors.
And this print is the stripe version.
That stripe does a lot of design work.
You get movement without extra piecing.
Why this fabric suits a baby quilt
Now, I know what you're thinking.
Black for a baby quilt?
Oh my goodness, yes.
And here's why.
Babies track high contrast first.
Black against green and purple really shows up.
During tummy time, that contrast gives them something to study.
The stripe gives them lines to follow, too.
Plus, a darker ground is practical.
It hides everyday use a little better.
Parents will thank you for that one.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
We are letting one great stripe be the star.
The medallions add a sweet focal point.
The wings keep it soft in theme.
Bold in color, gentle in subject.
That balance makes a gift folks remember.
Ours will finish about 36 by 48 inches.
That is a generous crib and stroller size.
Completely up to you if you go a touch bigger.
Materials list
- Black On Dragonfly Wings Stripe Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard — 1 1/2 yards for the top panels
- Coordinating solid cotton in black, green, or purple — 1/2 yard for a simple inner border
- Cotton batting — 44 by 56 inches, a few inches larger than your top on every side
- Backing cotton — 1 1/2 yards of 44/45 inch fabric, pieced as needed
- Binding cotton — 3/8 yard, cut into 2 1/2 inch strips
- All-purpose cotton thread to match, plus a contrasting thread if you want visible quilting
- Sewing machine with an 80/12 universal needle, walking foot if you have one
- Rotary cutter, mat, long ruler, pins, and a good iron
Brief steps
- Press your fabric well. Look at the stripe direction first. Decide if your stripes will run lengthwise or across. Lengthwise feels classic here.
- Cut three wide panels from the stripe, each about 12 1/2 inches wide by 42 1/2 inches long. Try to center a medallion motif in at least one panel. Do not stress if they do not match perfectly.
- Sew the panels together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Use a 2.5 mm stitch length, about 10 stitches per inch. Press seams to one side.
- Add your solid border. Cut strips 2 1/2 inches wide. Sew the long sides first, then the top and bottom. Press away from the center.
- Layer backing wrong side up, batting, then the top right side up. Smooth from the center out. Pin or spray baste every 4 to 5 inches.
- Quilt it simply. Stitch in the ditch along the stripe panels works beautifully. Or echo the stripe lines about 1/4 inch away. A walking foot helps keep layers from shifting. Slow down at the thick seam joins, or the needle can deflect.
- Trim the edges square. Join your binding strips, press the binding in half lengthwise, and sew it on with a 1/4 inch seam. Fold it to the back and finish by machine or by hand.
Practical tips
Prewash if the quilt will be washed often.
That is general baby-quilt common sense.
And test your quilting on a scrap sandwich first.
Check your tension top and bottom.
You want balanced stitches, no loops underneath.
If you fussy cut a medallion, cut slowly.
Mark the center with a fabric-safe marker.
It is worth the extra two minutes.
Now for the permission beat, folks.
It does not have to be perfect.
Your stripes might wave a tiny bit.
Mine have, more than once.
I just pressed, trimmed, and kept going.
You are your own worst critic here.
The baby will not be checking your points.
Take your time, it's not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Super duper cute, and super duper doable.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Black On Dragonfly Wings Stripe Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
