Beginner's Patchwork Patterns
The most basic patchwork pattern is one made up of simple squares and there is no better place to start. A patchwork quilt made of just one size of square can look lovely. If you choose your colours well and combine them nicely you will end up with a quilt to be proud of.
Combining Patch Blocks
If you are a little more ambitious you might want to start with a four patch or nine patch which is where you create a block made up of either four or nine squares and then combine these blocks together to make the quilt top. By using different colours in your blocks and combining the blocks in different ways you have more choice in the design of the final quilt. So for example, you might make a nine patch block using blue and white fabrics and then another nine patch using red and white fabrics and then mix these blocks together creatively.
There are thousands of blocks and combinations of blocks out there which is one reason why patchwork is so appealing and so addictive - there is no end to the number of variations and possibilities for new quilts! If you want to know more about the different blocks, check out our book review section.
Creating First Quilt Blocks
One of the most important parts of learning to make quilts is to become comfortable with cutting fabric. Since you are going to be joining pieces of fabric together to make an overall design it is important that you are accurate with your cutting.
You have two choices when you make your first block; either you can create a template which you place on the back of your fabric, draw around it and then cut out the square and repeat this for each square required.
Alternatively, you can use a ruler, rotary cutter and board to cut strips of fabric which you then cut down into squares. This method is much faster and probably more accurate, but does take a little getting used to. Katherine Guerrier’s section on rotary cutting (in her book The Encyclopaedia of Quilting and Patchwork Techniques) is great and if you can’t get to a class I recommend you go through this section trying out each technique on some scrap fabrics first.
Sewing by Hand of Machine
Once you have cut your squares you now have two choices; sewing by hand or by machine. If you don’t have a machine then obviously hand sewing is your only option and don’t forget this is how all quilts were made originally! The technique when hand sewing is firstly to mark your sewing line on the fabric. This is almost always a quarter of an inch from the edge. Take your two squares and place them right sides together and start with a knot or double stitch. Then do two or three small running stitches before doing another back stitch, then two or three running stitches and then a back stitch. Repeat this, remembering to stop at the seam line and not the edge of the fabric.
Once you have sewn your squares together it is important to remember that in patchwork you must NOT press seams open. They need to be pressed together to one side (preferably the darker side).
Stitching Your First Quilt
If you are using a sewing machine just remember that you always stitch a quarter of an inch from the edge. Most quilters either mark their machine plate in some way or buy a quarter inch foot which makes it easy to be more accurate.
The above covers the very basics of creating your patchwork block and is aimed at giving you an idea of exactly what is involved. It’s impossible to cover everything here, but have a go at making even just one block, choose some fabric in your favourite colours and maybe start with just two colours or try one of the fabric packs where the colours are put together.
You may find that you have discovered a new pastime which could change your life!