Hey everyone. Today we're making a gentle baby quilt that lets one pretty floral do the talking.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is Wildflowers in Lavender, by Alison Glass.
It is from Andover Fabrics.
The collection is Wildflowers.
The color is a soft lavender.
Wildflower motifs scatter across that lavender ground.
It has a meadow-walk grace to it.
Artful, but still calm.
It is a quilting fabric, sold by the yard.
The listing calls it 45 inch wide fabric per yard.
That width works really well for baby projects.
You can cut nice, generous pieces.
And you do not have to piece tiny bits.
Super duper cute for a nursery, y'all.
The description calls it lovely for floral quilts.
And for gentle sewing and coordinated projects.
That is exactly where we are headed today.
Why it suits a baby quilt
A baby quilt needs to be soft in feeling.
Not busy.
Not loud.
This lavender does that job beautifully.
The wildflowers give you something sweet to look at.
But the color keeps the whole quilt restful.
Large, simple blocks show off the motifs.
You do not need fancy piecing here.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Let the fabric be the star.
Pair it with soft solids if you like.
Or use it for the whole top.
Completely up to you.
I like big blocks for a first baby quilt.
They sew up fast.
And they are really really forgiving.
Materials list
- Wildflowers in Lavender — 1 1/2 yards for a simple block top, about 36 x 45 inches finished
- Optional soft solid coordinates — 1/2 yard total, if you want alternating blocks
- Backing fabric — 1 1/2 yards
- Crib-size batting — one piece about 45 x 60 inches, trimmed to fit
- Binding — 1/2 yard, cut into 2 1/2 inch strips
- Thread to match, 50 weight for piecing
- A size 80/12 needle for general piecing
- Rotary cutter, ruler, mat, pins, and a marking pencil
Those amounts are general craft planning, folks.
Measure your plan before you order.
If you want a bigger quilt, add yardage.
Simple math saves headaches later.
Brief steps
Step 1: Press your fabric well.
Cut large squares, about 9 1/2 inches.
That gives you 9 inch finished blocks.
Take your time cutting.
It is not a race.
Step 2: Lay out four blocks across.
Go five rows down.
Turn some floral blocks if you like.
Or alternate with solids.
Step back and look before you sew.
Step 3: Sew blocks into rows.
Use a quarter inch seam.
Stitch at about 10 to 12 stitches per inch.
Press seams to one side.
Then join the rows and press again.
Just like that, your top is done.
Step 4: Layer backing, batting, and top.
Smooth it flat.
Pin or baste every 3 to 4 inches.
Quilt with a simple meander.
Or try stitch in the ditch between blocks.
Both are gentle on this print.
Go slow around the edges.
Slow down or the layers can shift.
Step 5: Trim, bind, and press lightly.
Sew your 2 1/2 inch binding strips together.
Attach, fold over, and finish by machine or hand.
Completely up to you.
Practical tips
Wash and handle baby quilts with care.
Use gentle settings for a quilt that will be loved hard.
Check your tension on a scrap first.
Always.
If a seam puckers, ease up and re-sew.
I have unpicked plenty of seams, y'all.
We admit it, fix it, and move on.
Keep quilting spaced evenly.
That helps the quilt stay soft and drapey.
And here is your permission beat, friends.
It does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic.
A baby will not measure your seams.
They will just feel the love in it.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Oh my goodness, that lavender finish is sweet.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the - Wildflowers by Alison Glass 45" wide fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
