How To Make A Baby Quilt

Hi everyone!  It's Jann from Newton Custom Interiors again.  I love sewing for my  grandchildren, and I especially love sewing something for them when they're newborns.  Today, I'm going to share with you how to make a baby quilt.  This is what I made for my newest grandson when he was born, and I love how it turned out.

How To Make A Baby Quilt. Easy enough to make your first ever quilt pattern.  Nice big pieces, nice big binding, nice big seams.  You can do it!

How To Make A Baby Quilt

The finished size of the baby quilt is 33″ wide x 38″ long

finished quilt measurements

Materials needed:

1/2 – 3/4 yards of 4 coordinating fabrics
1 1/4 yards of fabric or lining for the back side
1 1/4 yards of Warm & Natural
Disappearing ink marking pen
Thread to match binding fabric
Thread to match quilt fabrics

Instructions:

  • Pre-wash all of the fabrics and the Warm & Natural (following package instructions).
  •  Cut out your back piece of fabric and the Warm & Natural at 33″ x 38″.
  • Cut out strips of fabric for the outer edge binding.  The strips are cut at 6″ wide.  Cut enough strips to go around the outer edge of the quilt.  Approximately 150″ will be needed.

strips for binding

  • Cut out the 4 corner pieces 7″ x 7″

corner pieces

  • Cut out the 4 outer rectangles.  Cut 2 of them at 7″ x 21″, and 2 of them at 7″ x 26″

4 outer pieces

  • Cut out the 4 inner squares at 6″ x 6″.

4 inner squares

  • Cut out the 4 inner rectangles.  Cut 2 at 6″ x 11″, and 2 at 6″ x 16″.

2 short inner rectangles

2 long inner rectangles

  • Cut out the middle rectangle at 11″ x 16″.

center rectangle

  • Sew all of the pieces for the front of the quilt together using a 1/2″ seam allowance.  Press seams open.

all pieces sewn together

  • Lay the back piece of fabric wrong side up on table.  Lay the piece of Warm & Natural on top of it, and then lay the front piece right side up on top of the Warm & Natural.  Pin all of the layers together.

all layers pinned together

  • Mark the quilting lines on the front side of the quilt with a disappearing ink marking pen.  I wanted my quilting lines to follow the square shapes across and down the quilt.  Sorry, I didn't get a good picture of this.  Tip – roll up the quilt so that it is easier to work with at your machine.

stitch lines marked

  • Stitch along the lines marked.  Here you can see how the stitch lines look on the back of the quilt.

stitch lines on back of quilt

  • Seam all of the binding strips together using a bias seam.  Iron the strip in half and then each side in half again.
  • binding strips sewn togetherGlue baste the binding to the outer edges of the quilt.  The binding will encase the edges of the quilt, so that you will have binding on both sides of the quilt.

glue basting

  • Fold the fabric as shown for each corner – front and back sides.

corner fold 1

corner fold 2

  • Topstitch the binding to the quilt – making sure that you catch the binding on both sides.

topstitching binding

  • Here's what the front and back sides will look like after the binding is topstitched.

binding front

topstitching back side

I hope you've enjoyed this sewing tutorial for how to make a baby quilt!  Have you made a baby quilt for someone special?

How To Make A Baby Quilt sewing tutorial

I hope you've enjoyed this sewing tutorial for how to make a baby quilt!  Have you made a baby quilt for someone special?

If you want to learn more about easy quilting, check out these beginner quilting classes:

Learn to quilt

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Introducing Jann from Newton Custom Interiors

Hi!  I'm Jann Newton, and I blog about home decor, sewing tutorials and DIY projects at Newton Custom Interiors.

Recently, I was asked to teach a class for Craftsy -  Custom Bedding - Decorative Shams & Bolsters.  So Sew Easy readers enjoy a discount on my class!

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Rhonda
Rhonda

How do you sew the the outer 4 corners. I’m confused with it. The inner was easier to piece together. I wish there was a video for this one baby quilt.

Georgia
Georgia

Thank you for this pattern. I learned to sew by my mother giving me a piece of fabric and a pattern with the instruction, “you know how to read”. I’m always looking for new looks for my baby gifts for friends and my adult kids friends. I usually give receiving blankets, bibs and burp cloths. A quilt would be a nice addition. Thanks again.

Elizabeth Fournier
Elizabeth Fournier

I love the design. I will be a new grandma in August. The nursery theme is woodland…the colours for your quilt above is perfect. Can you tell me where you bought it!

Mayra Cecilia
Admin
Noble Member

This is a very old post. Sadly fabrics are no longer available.

Arleen L Miller
Arleen L Miller

I was looking for a nice quilt that would go relatively fast and be attractive. This one fills the bill. We are making wheelchair lap robes for disabled veterans in our area. I just need to add a couple inches extra on both sides. Very nice pattern, thank you for sharing.

Mayra Cecilia
Admin
Noble Member

you are most welcome, if you can please when you are done use #soseweasy so I can see your quilt, Thanks!

slo2sew@msn.com
slo2sew@msn.com

Have been everywhere looking for instructions for a baby blanket that is NOT QUILTED !!! Been to the bookstores, the fabric store (s) and all over the internet ….
How do I find a baby blanket that is NOT QUILTED???

gooders01
gooders01

I love it! My very first blanket and it turned out great. I am so happy. Your instructions and pictures were such a great help.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Rebecca

Jenna M
Jenna M

I made one for my first baby last year. It’s the perfect size for the car seat. Thank you for sharing!

M Anderson
M Anderson

Regarding the Binding…..do I sew the binding onto the back side first, then top stick binding to front side.

M Anderson
M Anderson
Reply to  M Anderson

Reviewed the 2 photos above….thx.

Leanne
Leanne

Thank you for making this! I followed this for my first quilt and I’m really happy with the result!

So Sew Easy
Admin
Active Member
Reply to  Leanne

Hi Leanne, that’s great to hear. Any chance you can attach a photo here in the comments? I’d love to see your work.

Rhonda
Rhonda
Reply to  Leanne

Hi, I’m making the baby quilt. I figure out the middle. But how do you sew the out-corners pieces to the center? I’m lost at the outer four corners and the pieces to sew to it

Tanya Spencer
Tanya Spencer

Should the polka dot strips be 7 x 23 and 7 x 28 rather than 7 x 21 and 7 x 26? Just adding the 2-6x6s and the 6 x 11 (12+11=23) and the 2-6x6s and the 6 x 16 (12+16=28) I get different measurements.

Tanya Spencer
Tanya Spencer
Reply to  Tanya Spencer

Nevermind…I figured it out. Your measurements are correct, due to the seam allowance.

maryann
maryann

I would suggest cutting the backing and batting a few inches bigger that the measurement for the top, then trim after the quilting is finished.

Samantha Mortimer
Samantha Mortimer

I am having trouble making the binding. Has anyone made this using pre-made binding and if so, what width would I use?

Tonya Tiffany

You’re pictures are great and were very easy to follow until I went to sew the last two vertical rows onto the quilt top and the measurements didn’t add up. Then I went back and read all of the smaller print and found your mention of using a 1/2″ seam. This was really frustrating as I then had to seam rip and now I am having to figure out how to save this quilt. I had hoped for a quick and easy baby present and now that won’t be the case. Please put in bold somewhere at the beginning of the blog that you are using a non-standard seam allowance for quilting. Maybe in a huge font. I am going to have to cut fabric from my backing in order to fix this or re-sew the inside seams… I truly don’t understand why you would use non-standard quilting seam allowances if you are teaching people how to quilt.

Jann Newton
Reply to  Tonya Tiffany

Tonya, I’m not a quilter. I make pillows, draperies and valances for my business. In the drapery world, 1/2″ seam allowance is the norm. So, whenever I come up with a sewing project, that is how I figure the measurements. Sorry this caused some confusion, but it is written in the instructions to use a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Shandra
Shandra
Reply to  Jann Newton

I hate that you had to apologize for someone else not following instructions. I’m making my second quilt ever and both times I have used your pattern and I love it. You’re nice enough to post it without asking for money, I’m not going to complain about something that went wrong because I didn’t pay attention. THANK YOU!

Marianne Heath
Marianne Heath
Reply to  Jann Newton

I think 1/2″ seam allowance is a good idea for a baby quilt. That is what my mom always used because it gets washed a a lot.

Lois George
Lois George

Do you think that I would be able to use fleece or would it stretch too much?

gail
gail

wow thanks for sharing what seems to be a simple quilt! Would be a good first time quilt for me. Love the photos, too! I am going to give it a try:) Thanks again for sharing!

Jann from Newton Custom Interiors
Jann from Newton Custom Interiors
Reply to  gail

Gail, thanks! Good luck with your project!

Victoria
Victoria

What type of foot did you use?

Jann from Newton Custom Interiors
Jann from Newton Custom Interiors
Reply to  Victoria

A regular sewing machine foot. Nothing fancy.

Phyllis Kidd
Phyllis Kidd

What type of glue did you use?
I’m brand new to this so I hope this isn’t a dumb question. Thanks!

Jann from Newton Custom Interiors
Jann from Newton Custom Interiors
Reply to  Phyllis Kidd

Just fabric glue.

Sharon
Sharon

I have a question … it says to use a 1/2 inch seam allowance … Wanted to be sure this is correct because I thought quilts use a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Mayra Cecilia
Admin
Noble Member
Reply to  Sharon

Hi Sharon, this design is made for using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Best to follow those dimensions.

Janice Desjean
Janice Desjean
Reply to  Mayra Cecilia

Mayra, this was an easy baby quilt to make. I made one & I love it ! Btw, I used 1/2 inch seams for it.

Mayra Cecilia
Admin
Noble Member
Reply to  Janice Desjean

Hi Janice, thanks for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed it. Happy sewing!

Jann from Newton Custom Interiors
Jann from Newton Custom Interiors
Reply to  Janice Desjean

Janice, I’m so glad you enjoyed making this baby quilt!

Jann from Newton Custom Interiors
Jann from Newton Custom Interiors
Reply to  Sharon

Sharon, I am not a quilter, so I made my grandchildren’s quilts using the 1/2″ seam allowance that is the norm in my drapery/pillow world. It will work either way, you would just need to adjust your cut measurements if you want to use a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Janice Desjean
Janice Desjean

I wish this was done in video tutorial, I like having my IPad nearby as I sew…..I guess I’ll just have to download all the directions. Ugh, I’m getting lazy in my old age……lol

Pam @Threading My Way

Gorgeous colours and an easy to follow tutorial, Jann. Featured today….