I started quilting less than a year ago, and have truly become

hooked on this crazy little hobby.

Im often asked about how to go about making a basic quilt, and I
thought that writing this article would help even a first-time
quilter create a gorgeous baby quilt, by providing step by step
instruction along with the tips that will help you to get the most
out of your Fiskars sewing tools.
Start by selecting a few different fabrics. My thought process is to
choose one multi-colored print (the large heather bailey floral in
this case) to start, and then to draw out coordinating colors from
that fabric and select other prints that will complement it.

Fiskars tools are so helpful in cutting fabric and constructing my

quilt tops. The 6" x 24" Acrylic Ruler makes it easy to trim my 1/6
yard cuts of fabric down to 5.5 inches wide as needed for the
basic blocks of the quilt. Simply fold your fabric in half at the
crease mark and the Fiskars ruler will then cover the length of the
fabric. Use the 45 mm Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter to make
straight edge cuts (through 2 layers at a time) trimming your
fabric (for the center blocks in this case) down to 5.5 inches wide.

Then further trim each strip to 5.5 inches square. You will need 36
of these 5.5 inch squares for your quilt.

Next assemble your squares 6 across, 6 down in a large open

area, moving squares around until you create a pattern that is
pleasing to your eye.

After you decide on a layout for your blocks, go row by row across,
pin side-by-side squares together with straight pins and use your
sewing machine to stitch each to the next with a straight stitch
and inch inseam.

After each of the six rows are seamed together, press seams on
each row flat with an iron all seams pressed in the same
direction. Match a row to the row below using the seam lines as a
guide, pin right sides together, and machine stitch using a
straight stitch and inch inseam.
After 36 squares are all joined, press seams that were just sewn
all in the same direction. Now youre ready to add the border
which was a chocolate brown polka dot print in my example here.
Trim four 5 inch wide strips of fabric (so they will measure 5x44).

Match two strips up to either side of your blocked and pieced quilt
top, trim so that they measure the length of your already pieced
top (this could vary depending on if some of your inseams were
slightly off, so I find it more helpful to just measure at this point
and trim to that length). Machine stitch using a inch inseam.

Next repeat the process with the other two border strips, placing
on top and bottom of the in progress quilt top. Trim to fit, and
machine stitch using a inch inseam. Press all border seams in
one direction.
Congratulations! Your quilt top is now complete!
Next its time to layer your quilt, and to create your quiltsandwich so that its ready to be basted before actually quilting it.
Lay your backing fabric down in an open, flat space (be sure to
iron/press backing fabric prior to this step), right side down. Then
lay your batting on top I use a bamboo batting purchased at my
local quilt store, but I also love 100% cotton batting such as warm
n natural. After this, lay your quilt top on top of the batting, right
side up. Smooth to make sure that there are no wrinkles. It should
also be noted that its a good idea to leave at least 2-3 inches of
backing fabric and batting in excess of your quilt top
measurements, to account for any possible shifts or bunching
during the machine quilting process.

Time to baste your quilt in preparation for machine quilting. I use

large quilters safety pins for this step. Simply start at the center
of your quilt and work your way outward, securing all layers of
your quilt-sandwich by using one safety-pin per block and enough
on the border to be sure that everything is safe and in place.

In machine quilting the basic design used on this quilt, I thought it

would be best to quilt inch off of each seam, in either direction.
I find it helpful to use a walking foot on my sewing machine to do
this, and also to roll each side of the quilt up as Im sewing.

After all quilting is finished, you will need to square-off your

quilt to prepare it for binding. This is done by sewing around the
perimeter of the quilt approx 1/8 inch inwards.

And then cutting the edge off around the squared-off seams. Be
sure though to leave enough extra edge to fill your binding.
Usually - 1/3 inch is sufficient.

Create your binding: Cut five 2.5 inch wide by 44 inch length
strips from the fabric that youd like to bind your quilt with. Use
the 6" x 24" Acrylic Ruler and 45 mm Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter
with 18 Inch x 24 Inch Mat to do this. After all strips are cut,
machine stitch each together at right angles, with a diagonal
straight stitch from corner to corner as shown here:

Use Razor Edged No 8 Bent Scissors to trim extra little triangle

off as shown here:

Repeat until all five strips are sewn together, and then unfold to
create one continuous binding strip.

Use your iron to press to crease binding strip, folding in half

lengthwise.

Use straight pins to pin binding on top side of quilt, rough side
outward, folded side inward toward middle of quilt. Make sure to
leave about a 8 inch tail (hanging off quilt, unpinned) at the point
where you start pinning.

When you get to a corner, make a little upwards folded triangle as

shown here:

Place pin in upwards triangle, and on either side. After you go

around the entire quilt, you will need to join strips. Fold left side
strip down and trim as shown.

Lay right side binding strip inside of folded strip piece as shown.

Pin to secure.
Machine stitch (again the walking foot works best for this!) around
edge of binding, about inch away from rough edge. When you
get to a corner, backstitch a bit to secure, then lift sewing foot,
turn quilt, lower foot and start stitching that side of quilt.

Fold binding over to backside of quilt, pin in place, and use a

small sharp needle and thread to hand stitch binding to back of
quilt.

Use a thread that coordinates with your binding, and make the
bulk (length) of your stitches through the interior of the quilt so
that stitches appear invisible. I find No. 5 Micro-Tip Scissors to be
handy during the stitching and binding process. And when the
binding is complete, you will have a beautiful and finished baby
quilt completed all on your own!

Its so much fun to modify patterns and search the web for
quilting inspiration to create your own quilt designs. While I
continue to learn more about quilting, and to find tips and tricks
that work for me with each quilt that I create, one thing remains
constant in the process: the Fiskars tools that help me to
assemble each quilt that I make!