Hey everyone. Today we're making a sweet wool appliqué baby quilt, and we're using tiny merino wool pieces for the softest little motifs.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric first
This is the 1/64 Merino Wool Packs: Sue Spargo, from WonderFil USA.
It is 100% premium grade Australian Merino Wool. The product description also calls it 100% Superior Grade Virgin Australian Merino Wool.
It is proficiently woven. It is richly dyed. And it is raised to a perfect hand.
That gives you a soft fabric. It feels luxuriously felted. It is designed for ease of stitch penetration. So your needle passes through nicely.
The colours boast an even and saturated dye. They also possess unparalleled colorfastness.
Now the real numbers. Each piece is a Fat 1/64. That measures 7 inches by 4.5 inches. That is 17.8 cm by 11.4 cm.
One pack includes 6 pieces. There are 10 colourways available. The listed usages include wool appliqué, rug hooking, quilts, apparel, crafts, and more.
Be clear on the scale here, folks. These are small pieces. They are not yardage for a whole top. We are using them where they shine. They become the appliqué on top of bigger background blocks.
The project: a wool appliqué baby quilt
We will make a baby quilt that finishes at about 30 inches by 42 inches. That is a lovely size for a stroller. It works for tummy time, too.
We will use 6 background blocks. Each block finishes at 12 inches square. Sew them 2 blocks across and 3 blocks down. That center measures 24 inches by 36 inches. Add a 3-inch border all around, and you land at 30 inches by 42 inches.
Why does this wool suit it? The pieces are small on purpose. One 7-by-4.5-inch piece gives you a moon. It gives you stars, hearts, or a simple duck. Small shapes suit a small quilt. Just like that, plain blocks turn really really cute.
Keep the motifs bold and simple. Babies love contrast. You will love how fast simple shapes stitch down.
Materials list
- 1 pack of 1/64 Merino Wool Packs: Sue Spargo — 6 pieces, each 7 inches by 4.5 inches
- About 1 yard of background fabric for the blocks
- About 1/2 yard of border fabric, cut into 3 1/2-inch strips
- Batting at least 34 inches by 46 inches
- About 1 1/4 yards of backing fabric
- About 1/2 yard for binding, cut into 2 1/2-inch strips
- Freezer paper, a fine marker, and sharp small scissors
- Hand-sewing needles plus thread for blanket stitch
- Pins, a ruler, and a rotary cutter for the background blocks
Brief steps
1. Cut your blocks. Cut 6 background squares at 12 1/2 inches. That includes a 1/4-inch seam allowance all around.
2. Plan one motif per block. Draw it on paper first. A star about 3 inches across is perfect. A heart about 3 inches wide works, too.
3. Trace and cut the wool. Trace each shape onto freezer paper. Press it lightly to the wool. Cut slowly and smoothly. Slow down here or your points get ragged.
4. Place the shapes. Lay one motif on each block. Center it by eye. Pin it when you smile.
5. Blanket stitch around each shape. Aim for stitches about 1/4 inch apart. Aim for about 1/4 inch deep, too. Keep your thread snug, not tight.
6. Sew the blocks together. Use a 1/4-inch seam. Press the seams. Add the border strips. Press again.
7. Layer, quilt, and bind. Layer the backing, batting, and top. Stitch in the ditch between blocks is a fine choice. Echo quilting around a motif is lovely, too. Completely up to you. Finish with your 2 1/2-inch binding, stitched down securely.
Practical tips from me
Test your stitch on a scrap first. Wool feels different from cotton. Give yourself ten minutes to find your rhythm.
Secure every appliqué edge well. This quilt will be washed and loved. Stitched wool shapes are the safe, sweet choice here. No loose extras, please.
Repeat the same motif family across blocks. Repeat stars in different colourways. That ties the quilt together. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
If a star lands a little crooked, leave it. Hand appliqué should look hand-done. It does not have to be perfect. Honestly, y'all, you are your own worst critic here.
I have cut a heart a touch lopsided before. I turned it slightly and stitched it anyway. It looked charming, not wrong.
Work one block at a time. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. I hope this little quilt gets loved hard and washed often. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 1/64 Merino Wool Packs: Sue Spargo at Linda's Electric Quilters.
