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I’ve had my eye on making a map quilt for a while, and I finally tackled it on a cozy day at home with a good movie playing in the background. If you’ve been thinking about making one, too, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the process.

Whether you want a US map, a different country, or even a world map, the technique is the same. You just need a clear map, some fusible web, and fabric scraps. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Print Your Map at Poster Size

First, print your map as an enlarged poster so you can use it as a template. Here’s how:

1. Open the map file and click Properties in the print settings.

2. Select the Page Setup tab.

3. Look for the Tiling/Poster option and select it.

4. Click Specify, then set Image Divisions to 16 (smaller divisions make tiny states like those on the East Coast harder to cut).

5. Print and tape the pages together, making sure everything lines up correctly.

This is the map I used but if you prefer a different map or want to do a different country or the world map, you can find a nice clear map and follow the same steps. Printable PDF

Step 2: Prepare Your Appliqué Pieces

1. Trace the map – Use Steam-A-Seam 2 (or your preferred fusible web) to trace each state or section of your design. Numbering your pieces helps keep things organized.

2. Cut out your shapes – Carefully cut out each piece along the traced lines. These are amazing scissors for applique or fine cutting.

3. Fuse to fabric – Peel off one side of the paper backing and press the fusible web onto the back of your fabric.

Step 3: Assemble Your Quilt Top

1. Position the states – Arrange the pieces on your background fabric, either lining them up exactly or slightly overlapping.

2. Press in place – Once everything is where you want it, use an iron to fuse the pieces securely.Optional: While Steam-A-Seam 2 holds the fabric in place well, you can also stitch around each state for added durability and a decorative touch.

Optional: While Steam-A-Seam 2 holds the fabric in place well, you can also stitch around each state for added durability and a decorative touch.

For a personal touch, I added little fabric hearts to mark where my family has lived and where each member was born.

Step 4: Add Borders and Quilt

1. Cut (46) 3.5-inch squares from coordinating fabrics for a scrappy border.

2. Piece the border and sew it around your map.

3. Quilt as desired – I chose a meander quilting pattern over the states and an outline stitch around the background.

Final Quilt Size and Finishing Touches

The finished quilt measures approximately 42” x 32”—perfect for a wall hanging, learning tool, or unique home décor piece.

I love how mine turned out, and I’d love to see yours! Share your creations with the hashtag #FourRobbinsQuilts on social media.

Happy quilting!

Krista

The post How to Make a Map Quilt – Step-by-Step Sewing Guide first appeared on FOUR ROBBINS.

I was asked a number of times about where I found the pattern, so I finally wrote one in 2018. We tend to like large quilts since everyone in my family is tall, so I wrote the pattern in two sizes.  The throw version is 56″ x 63″ and the larger quilt is 70″ x 84″.  

Since Sphere was no longer available, I decided to make a scrappy version so you could use any fabrics you like. I made this one in the larger size and my very patient husband held it while I took many, many photos!

One of my quilting buddies, Annie Cook, tested it and made one as a gift. It turned out super cute! She is a wonderful longarm quilter in the St. Louis area if you’re looking for someone! You can see her amazing work on Instagram @aecquilts.

And finally, I had gotten a bundle of Lavish by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery Fabrics and wanted to do a version where the lights in the lanterns were all different colors rather than just the yellow.  This fabric line is just gorgeous.

I quilted it with loops and stars.

And used this adorable lightening bug fabric to go along with it.

Here they are hanging in St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild quilt shows!

It the first one is now in it’s permanent home with the mom of one of my old friends, who was one of the many, many victims of Hurricane Harvey.

If you’d like to make one yourself, Paper Lanterns is a fun quilt to make and is beginner friendly. You can find it in my Etsy shop! #paperlanternsquilt

Thanks for stopping by!

The post Four Robbins Beginner Friendly Paper Lanterns Quilt is the Next Fun Quilt to Make! first appeared on FOUR ROBBINS.

I was a little nervous getting started because it seemed so complicated and so many, many curves!  However, I found the instructions really well written and getting everything cut and prepped was not bad at all!  Remember the expression, measure twice, cut once?  Well, for this one, read three times, measure twice, cut once.

For the Hoops, you start by sewing strips together and then you use the rulers to cut the hoop out and assemble the blocks and quarter pieces, and trimng them up before joining them together in to one pretty hoop.  And so on.

I felt pretty accomplished when I got these four blocks done!

The instructions and the way that you sew the blocks together actually make the quilt come together pretty quickly.

Next, of course, is the quilting part. I will typically do some type of meander all over. However, with the big negative space areas inside the hoops, I felt that this quilt needed a little something more.

I first outlined each colorful hoop using my walking foot.

Next, I marked the inner circles with a water soluble marking pen. I wanted to the quilting to look a bit folkys and natural looking so using my free motion foot, I did kind of a triple petal design in every other circle and the. Filled in the gap between the petals and hoops.

I decided to do a similar petal shape in the alternating circles but in a different direction and then filled in the rest if the negative space.

I also did sone consistent diamond shapes in the white and red diamond areas.

I used the aqua plaid for the back and red dots for the binding, hand stitching the binding to the back.

I am so happy with how it turned out!

Now, I’m working on a Metro Rings pattern and added these patterns to my to do list. They all use the same ruler. So cute!

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The post Sew Kind of Wonderful’s Metro Hoops Quilt is such a Fun Quilt to Make. Check this out! first appeared on FOUR ROBBINS.

The fabric line I used for my quilt is by Mister Domestic for Art Gallery Fabrics called Loved to Pieces. I’d been saving it for something special and I really love how this quilt turned out. Now, to make another!

You can find the pattern in my Etsy Shop! Show yours off on social media by using #pinwheelstarquilt

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

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