I know that not a whole lot of quilting goes on at the Sewing Rabbit; so I designed the Big Star Baby Blanket for non-quilters. The quilt top is a single over-sized 8 point star block-- so you only have to put together one block! Also, the instead of being quilted and bound, the top and backing are simply turned and topstitched-- the blanket is small enough that it doesn't need to be quilted.
It's a great way to get your feet wet with quilting without spending hours and hours quilting and binding a large quilt made from small pieces.
The finished quilt is sized 40x40, which is a perfect size for a stroller blanket or playmat for babies and toddlers alike. This tutorial will take you through making the quilt top; and offer a few tips on how to finish the quilt.
Materials:
To make the quilt top you will need:
8 10"x10" squares; 2 of each print. (These can easily be cut from 4 fat quarters)
3/4 of yard of a backing fabric
For the back of quilt you will need:
1 1/2 yards of backing fabric
Start by cutting the background fabric and the prints into 10 x 10 inch squares. When you are finished you will have 8 10 inch print squares (2 squares of each fabric) and 8 10 inch background squares.
Rearrange your squares into pairs so that one square from each print is paired with a background fabric, and the other square from that print is paired with another print. (You will have 4 background squares left over).
Iron each square in half across the diagonal as shown.
And then place the square right sides together with it's pair.
Sew a quarter inch from both sides of the ironed crease as shown (I darkened the stitching lines with pencil in the picture below.)
Slice the block along the ironed crease; right in the middle of the two stitching lines. You should have two identical blocks that look like the one below. Press each block flat with the seam allowance pressed to one side. Do this for each pair of blocks to make a total of 12 half square triangles.
Cut the 4 extra background blocks to 9 1/2 inches. I highly recommend squaring up all pieced blocks to 9 1/2 inches at this point as well. If you don't have fancy quilting rulers, don't worry-- here's a tutorial on how to square up blocks with or without a square ruler.
Once the blocks are square; lay them out in the 8 point star pattern as shown below.
Sew the blocks together to form horizontal rows first. Press all the seam allowances in the first row (Row A) in one direction, and then the alternate direction for the second row (Row B).
Then sew the horizontal rows together (Row A to Row B etc... ) Press these seams open for a finished blanket that lies very flat. This is the most tedious part of the quilt-- but luckily there are only 3 seams to press open!
And your top is all finished! Now you can back and bind your quilt in any way you choose. I decided to sew my quilt up like a receiving blanket. I put the top and back right sides together and sewed around the edges leaving a small hole for turning. Then I simply turned and topstitched my quilt for a modern finish.
With 3 lines of stitching securing the edges; I think this blanket will just as durable (and fun for babies to chew on) as a traditionally bound quilt. Since there isn't any quilt batting; there is no need to quilt this blanket (although you could if you liked!)
You can read more about making the quilt... and hear my sentimental rambling about what I used for the batting in my original Big Star Baby Blanket post.
This looks super easy... I think I'd make four of them in different colors and use it on my bed.
ReplyDeleteJust found your Big Star Baby Blanket - I love it! I'll be making this up for a baby boy coming in August. Thank you so much for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteReally cute. I'll make this for a baby bundle I'm working on Thanks
ReplyDeleteThis is far and away the fastest easiest baby blanket ever! I have made four as baby gifts and they go together so easily and quickly. Backed with minky, they are an awesome baby gift.
ReplyDeleteI'm a novice quilter so have 2 questions - why do you trim all squares to 9 1/2 inches instead of leaving them at 10 inches, and how, with the smaller squares does this blanket end up being 40 inches square?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheryl