Patchwork Sewing: Easy Patterns You Can Make Yourself
Velvet makes an elegant patchwork quilt as does corduroy, cottons, denim, satin and most any other fabric. That’s the great thing about patchwork; it can be a little of this and a little of that. All fabrics should be washed and dried once to prevent shrinkage after stitching.
Create a pattern by making a drawing. To make the drawing measure your bed or check the size of your existing quilt. Draw a rectangle and section it off, according to how you want the design to look. The easiest design to make is one where all the squares are the same size and are put together in a random form. Another popular and easy design is made by stitching identical squares together, to form the perimeter, then using random pieces to form the quilt pattern inside the perimeter.
Make one pattern, anywhere from 3 to 5″, squared, depending upon how large you want the patches to be. Check the measurements you’ll need to help you decide. For example, if the existing quilt is 85″ it may be simpler for you to work with 5″ squares rather than 3″ squares. You can omit squares and use rows instead, if desired. Cut each row of the same fabric, then sew it to the next row, and so on.
After you have the pattern in mind, and drawn, begin to cut the squares. Count, on your drawing, how many squares you will need of each color/design. Cut these squares. It’s important that each piece be cut exactly to the required measurements. That will assure that the squares align when you sew the rows together.
Begin sewing by starting with the first and second squares, of the first row, and stitching them together. Open the two squares, right side upwards, and align the third square on top of the second, with right sides together. Stitch these two together. Open it up and add the next square, and so on, until you have enough squares to equal the width of the bed.
Continue on to make the next row then sew the entire second row to the first. Make the third row and attach it to the second, and so on, until you have completed the length of the quilt. To add a backing to the quilt simply choose a piece of cloth to stitch to the backside of the quilt. A sheet makes a great back liner for the quilt. Place the quilt and the sheet, right sides together, under the presser foot and stitch three sides as well as part of the fourth side. On the fourth side sew from the corner, along the side a few inches, and do this on both corners. This will allow an opening at which you can turn the quilt, but will also form the corners before doing so. Turn the quilt and stitch shut.
To keep the quilt top attached to the quilt bottom make tiny sets of stitches at random places across and down the quilt. Make the stitches at a place where two squares meet. This will hide the stitches from the topside.
Easily make pillows to match by making another drawing, only smaller. Decide how large you want the pillow to be then work with enough squares to make that size. A 10″ pillow will only need 4 of the 5″ squares.
Begin by sewing two squares together, then the other two. Now sew all four squares together. Cut a piece of fabric to make the backside of the pillow. Place the patchwork and the backing together, right sides facing, and begin sewing from almost the center of one side. Sew to the corner, all the way around the pillow, then back, past the last corner. Stop and back-tack. This will leave an opening for turning the pillow but it will first form the corners. Turn pillow, stuff and sew shut.
Make a patchwork rug by using thick fabric or carpet pieces, and rubber backing. Cut the pieces and form the pattern. If using fabric, sew pieces and rows together. If using carpeting, use spray adhesive to fasten the assorted squares to the rubber backing.
There are many things that you can make into patchwork items simply by sewing the patches over the top of the existing cover or clothing. Try sewing squares over the top of your existing lampshade, sew squares together and apply to jean jacket back and pockets, or stitch squares together and add them to denim purses. You’ll love the look and so will everyone else!
