Hey everyone. Today we're turning one white charm pack into a sweet, simple baby quilt you can finish in a weekend.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is the White Bella Solids Charm Pack, from United Notions.
It is a Moda precut.
The group name is Bella Solids.
And the color is clean, bright white.
Inside the pack you get 42 assorted pieces.
Each square measures 5 inches by 5 inches.
That is your classic charm square.
Somebody at the cutting table already did the hard part for you.
No long strips to cut.
No stack of yardage to square up.
You open the pack, and you are ready to lay out a quilt.
White is a wonderful place to start, too.
It is fresh.
It is calm.
And it plays nice with just about any nursery color you want to add later, from a soft binding to a colorful backing.
Completely up to you on those pairings.
The stock number for this one is 9900PP 98, if you are matching it up in your stash notes.
The project: a charm pack baby quilt
We are making a simple patchwork baby quilt.
No fancy pattern.
Just squares, sewn in straight rows.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Here is the math I love about this pack.
You have 42 squares.
Lay them out 6 across and 7 down.
That uses every single square.
Sewn with a quarter-inch seam, each square finishes at 4 and a half inches.
So your quilt top lands right around 27 inches wide by 31 and a half inches long.
That is a really, really handy size for a stroller quilt, a car seat lap quilt, or a little tummy-time mat.
White suits this project for a practical reason, too.
Baby quilts get washed.
A lot.
A plain white patchwork top shows you your quilting stitches beautifully, and it goes with everything the family already owns.
Materials
- 1 White Bella Solids Charm Pack — 42 pieces, 5 inches by 5 inches
- 1 piece of batting, about 32 inches by 36 inches
- 1 piece of backing fabric, about 32 inches by 36 inches
- Binding: about 1/4 yard, cut into strips, or one ready-made binding you already like
- Thread to match, and a size 80/12 needle
- Rotary cutter, ruler, pins or clips, and your sewing machine
Brief steps
First, lay out all 42 squares on a table or the floor.
Six across.
Seven rows down.
Since these are solids, you are arranging for balance, not matching prints.
Step back and squint at it for a minute.
Then number your rows, or snap a quick photo.
Ask me how I know that step matters.
Next, sew each row together.
Use a quarter-inch seam allowance.
Press your seams to one side.
Press the next row the opposite way.
That way your seams nest together nicely when the rows join.
Just like that, the corners line up with a lot less fuss.
Sew the rows together, one to the next.
Take your time on those long seams.
Slow down if the layers start to creep.
Then layer your backing wrong side up, your batting, and your quilt top right side up.
Smooth it flat.
Baste it with pins or spray, whichever you prefer.
For quilting, keep it simple.
Stitch in the ditch along the rows is perfect here.
You can also echo a quarter inch on either side of a few seams.
Set your stitch length around 2.5, about 10 stitches per inch, for the piecing.
Go a touch longer for the quilting if you like the look.
Square up the edges.
Attach your binding.
And stitch it down.
Tips from my table
Press before you sew, not just after.
Charm squares are precut and pretty true, but a quick press keeps them honest.
If one seam lands a hair off, do not panic.
I have eased in more than one slightly wobbly row.
Nobody has ever handed a baby quilt back to me over it.
That is your permission beat, folks.
It doesn't have to be perfect.
You're your own worst critic.
A baby will love this quilt because it is soft and made by you, not because every corner matches to the thread.
Take your time.
It's not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do this.
Want it bigger?
Add a border from fabric you already have, or start a second pack.
You can also back it with something colorful and let the white top do the quiet work.
Super duper sweet either way.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 9900-98 at Linda's Electric Quilters.
