How to Layer Your Quilt

So what do I do with my finished quilt top you might ask?? You do have a few choices.

You can actually just use that beautiful quilt top as a wall hanging all on it's own.

Or, You can choose to make a simple blanket by:

1) layering your quilt top and backing fabric (like fleece, minky, or flannel,) right sides together.

     ***(If you want a cotton front and back with batting in the middle of your finished quilt just add the batting as the top layer)

2) sew around the edges, leaving an opening to flip it
3) flip it, stitch closed the opening and voila - a beautiful blanket or throw.
4) *** If you use classic batting in the middle you will have to finish it off by either quilting or hand tying your blanket (check the packaging for maximum spaces between quilting.) If used batting, and you don't do this step, the first time you wash it the batting will bunch up and your blanket will be a mess. If you use something like fleece or flannel for your batting layer, you do not have to do this step.

Or... lastly, you can do the classic quilt and bind. I am going to explain how to to do the layering for this method.

First you will need to lay out your backing fabric right side down on a solid surface that will not be scratched by safety pins. I do this on tile, and I say solid, because this will not work on carpet. Trust me - I know :( . You need to be able to keep the fabric taut. Next thing to do is tape (I just use masking tape) the fabric to the floor making sure you have smoothed out all of the wrinkles and creases. You want the fabric taut, but be sure no to pull and stretch the fabric. I tape all corners first, and then tape the sides, smoothing as I go. Use as much tape as you need to keep the fabric, I say it again, taut. :)

Next you will lay your batting on top. Again smoothing out so there are no wrinkles or bumps. At this point if my batting is bigger than my backing, I trim it at this step.

Now you will add your quilt top, right side UP. If you have used cotton fabric and are using cotton batting, they will stick together pretty good, which is a good thing. If you missed the mark when you first layed it down, pick the whole thing up and try again. Once it is positioned, smooth, smooth, smooth. You don't want any wrinkles, puckers, or bumps. It needs to be completely smooth.

Now you can pin, hand baste, or use a spray baste. I just use safety pins. Only because I have never tried the basting spray and hand basting seems like more work to me. I like to start at the center and work my way out in case I need to do anymore smoothing. A good rule of thumb is to lay your hand on the quilt with your fingers spread, and your hand should touch a pin somewhere.

 

Once it is all pinned check the front and back for pinches, folds or loose areas in your fabric. You do not want to quilt over them. If you do - they will never go away and will live on your quilt forever. Once you have made your final check - it is time to quilt.

Latest Addition - Organic Cotton Quilt

My latest project - an organic cotton quilt using Monaco by Monaluna.

I love the colors - they're so bright and cheery. All the fabric is from the Monaco line from Monaluna, so, of course all the prints coordinate and go very well together, but I had my doubts with how the orange would look in the mix. But, once I got it all together - I love it! Such a great pop of color. I tried to design the blocks so they would be easy to piece, and they were, but as I was putting them together I realized a better way that would save both time and fabric. Next time it will go that much faster.  I tend to jump into projects and just go - adjusting later or as I go. It can be both frustrating and fun.