Hey everyone. Today you are going to learn how to make a soft, simple baby quilt with one beautiful textural basic.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is Bark Surface Design, from Studio E Fabrics.
It is a cotton fabric, 44/45 inches wide.
It comes from the Surface Design collection.
The designer is Funny Girl.
The description at Linda's calls Surface Design the perfect textural basic fabric for all your project needs.
This one has a distressed plaster wall texture.
That texture is a nice artisan touch.
It adds interest up close without taking over.
The color palette has depth, with a touch of softness.
It is made to blend beautifully with all your favorite collections.
And Surface Design is surprisingly universal.
It works with all genres and looks.
Why it suits a baby quilt
A baby quilt has a sweet job.
It wraps. It warms. It gets loved hard.
So you want cotton that feels friendly.
You want a design that hides everyday life a little.
That plaster wall texture helps with that.
A textural basic is also forgiving with partners.
My preference is a mix.
Bark in every other square keeps the quilt grounded.
The prints get to shine.
And the whole top still reads soft and calm.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Materials list
For a baby quilt about 36 by 42 inches, gather these:
- 1 1/2 yards of Bark Surface Design Funny Girl for blocks and binding
- Optional: 1/2 yard each of two coordinating prints, if you want a mixed top
- 1 1/4 yards of backing fabric
- Batting cut about 40 by 46 inches, so you have extra all around
- All-purpose quilting thread to match or softly contrast
- Rotary cutter, mat, and a clear ruler
- Pins or clips, and a size 80/12 needle
Brief steps
Cut 6 1/2-inch squares.
You need 42 squares for six across and seven down.
That gives you 6-inch finished squares.
Sew each row with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.
I use about 2.0 to 2.5 stitch length for piecing.
That is roughly 10 to 12 stitches per inch.
Press seams to one side, or press them open.
I press to the side on a baby quilt.
It feels sturdy to me, and sturdy matters here.
Join the rows, matching seams as you go.
Layer backing, batting, and top, and baste well.
Quilt simply and securely.
Stitch in the ditch is a great choice.
Echo the square seams if you want a little more texture.
A gentle meander works too, folks.
Keep your quilting lines a few inches apart at most.
That helps the quilt hold up to lots of washing.
Slow down at the thick seam joins.
Seriously, slow down or the needle snaps, and nobody needs that.
Trim the extra batting and backing.
Bind with strips cut 2 1/4 inches wide.
That narrower binding looks sweet on a small quilt.
Sew the binding down firmly all the way around.
For a baby, no buttons, bows, or loose extras, please.
Everything on this quilt should be stitched down secure.
Practical tips
Wash everything when you are done.
Use a gentle wash, and check every seam.
A baby quilt should come out soft and ready.
Test your quilting on a small scrap sandwich first.
Check your tension top and bottom.
And here is your permission beat.
It does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic.
The family who receives this will see the love, not a slightly wobbly seam.
Take your time. It is not a race.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
We are making something cozy, useful, and super duper sweet.
That fabric is available at lindas.com when you are ready to start.
Thanks for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Bark Surface Design Funny Girl 44"/45" Cotton Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
