Hey everyone. Today you're going to learn how to make a soft, simple baby quilt that lets one sweet print do all the work.
Here we go.
The fabric first
This is the Blue Military Convoy Path to Freedom Cotton Fabric from Timeless Treasures.
It is 100% cotton.
It is a digital print.
It is 44 to 45 inches wide, and it is sold per yard.
It weighs 144 grams per square meter. That is a nice quilting weight, sturdy and easy to sew.
The collection is Path to Freedom, by Combat Quilter.
And the color is right there in the name, folks. Blue, with a military convoy theme running across it.
That theme feels especially sweet for a military family, or for any little one you want to welcome home.
The project: a baby quilt
Our baby quilt finishes at about 36 inches wide by 48 inches long.
That is a really useful size. Big enough for tummy time and the crib. Small enough to fold into a diaper bag.
We are keeping the top in one big piece. No tiny blocks. No points to match.
Here's why that suits this fabric. A convoy print wants room to travel. If we chop it into little squares, we lose the picture. One large piece keeps the story together. Just like that.
Your quilting adds the texture. Your binding adds the frame. Super duper simple, and super duper cute.
What you need
- 1 1/2 yards of this Blue Military Convoy fabric for the quilt top
- 1 1/2 yards of a coordinating cotton for the backing, cut to about 40 by 52 inches
- One piece of low-loft cotton batting, about 40 by 52 inches
- 1/2 yard of coordinating cotton for binding
- Thread to blend with the blue for quilting, and thread for binding
- Your sewing machine with a walking foot and a size 90/14 needle
- A long ruler, rotary cutter or scissors, and safety pins or spray baste
- An iron, because pressed fabric layers so much flatter
Brief steps
One. Press your fabric well. Square up one edge. Cut your top to 36 1/2 inches wide by 48 1/2 inches long. A clean cut makes everything else easier.
Two. Cut your binding fabric into five strips, each 2 1/2 inches wide across the width of the fabric. Join them end to end. You will get about 210 inches of binding, and this quilt needs about 180. Press the long strip in half lengthwise.
Three. Layer your sandwich. Backing face down. Batting in the middle. Top face up, centered. Smooth from the center out.
Four. Baste it well. Pin or spray-baste about every 4 inches. Baby quilts get washed a lot, y'all. Good basting keeps your layers from shifting while you quilt.
Five. Quilt it simply. My pick is soft, wavy lines about 3 to 4 inches apart, running the length of the quilt. Run about 8 to 10 stitches per inch. You could also meander gently, or echo a few shapes in the print. Completely up to you.
Go slow around the edges. Slow down or your layers can creep and pucker.
Six. Square up the quilted sandwich. Trim it to a clean 36 by 48 inches.
Seven. Sew the binding to the front with a quarter-inch seam. Miter the corners. Fold it to the back and stitch it down. Then add a label with the baby's name and date, if you like. That label makes it personal.
Tips from my sewing room to yours
I'll admit my mistake, so you can skip it. I once quilted a baby quilt with lines way too far apart. After a few washes, the batting bunched. That is why I stay around 3 to 4 inches now.
Before you gift it, check twice for pins. Run your hands over every inch. No shortcuts there, folks.
Think about prewashing, too. Some folks prewash everything for a baby quilt. Some love that soft crinkle after the first wash. Both work. I wash the finished quilt once, gently, before gifting. Completely up to you.
Here's your permission beat, and I mean it. Your wavy lines do not have to be perfect. A little wander is proof a real person made it with love. You're your own worst critic. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Fold it up and tie it with a ribbon. It is really really sweet in person.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Blue Military Convoy Path to Freedom Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
