What Makes Laser-Cut Quilt Kits Unique?

Traditional appliqué quilting requires precision cutting, tracing, and fusing, which can be time-consuming. With pre-cut quilt kits, the pieces come laser-cut with peelable adhesive backing, making assembly fast, accurate, and frustration-free.

Holi Ganesha Quilt Kit – What’s Included?

This quilt kit provided everything needed to bring this intricate design to life:
Pre-cut appliqué pieces with peel-and-stick backing
A full-size placement diagram for easy assembly
Coordinating binding

Step-by-Step Process for This Appliqué Quilt

1⃣ Placing the Appliqué Pieces – Using the placement diagram, I carefully arranged each laser-cut fabric piece onto the background fabric. The adhesive backing allowed for effortless positioning.

2⃣ Pressing & Securing the Design – Once satisfied with the layout, I pressed the pieces to fuse them in place, ensuring they stayed secure for stitching.

3⃣ Appliqué Stitching – To make the design permanent, I stitched around each appliqué piece, adding durability while maintaining a clean finish.

4⃣ Quilting the Design – I wanted to keep the quilting simple to let the intricate elephant design stand out. I chose a free-motion meander stitch, using a larger meander outside the elephant and a smaller meander within to enhance the texture without overpowering the appliqué.

5⃣ Binding & Finishing – The final step was adding the coordinating binding, which completed the quilt beautifully.

Why Choose a Laser-Cut Appliqué Quilt Kit?

Time-Saving & Hassle-Free – No need to trace or cut intricate shapes!
Perfect for Beginners & Experienced Quilters – Whether you’re new to appliqué quilting or a seasoned pro, these kits make the process easy and fun.
Precise & Professional Finish – Laser-cut edges ensure clean lines and perfectly shaped appliqué pieces.

Final Thoughts on This Holi Ganesha Quilt

From start to finish, this quilt took about a week, working a few hours each day. The vibrant colors, detailed elephant design, and smooth appliqué process made it an absolute joy to create.

If you’re looking for a fun and stress-free way to make an appliqué quilt, I highly recommend checking out Laser Cut Quilts!

Have you ever tried a laser-cut quilt kit? Share your experience in the comments!

The post Holi Ganesha Appliqué Quilt – A Laser-Cut Quilt Kit Experience first appeared on FOUR ROBBINS.

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Introduction

Quilting is more than just a craft—it’s an opportunity to create something beautiful with your own hands, whether for yourself, your home, or as a special gift for someone. But, if you’re new to the world of quilting, it can feel a bit intimidating. There’s so much to learn and so many tools to gather, but don’t worry—this guide is here to help you every step of the way!

In this beginner’s guide, we’ll walk through the essential tools you need to get started, some helpful tips to make your quilting journey smooth and enjoyable, and a few simple steps to help you dive into your first quilt project. Ready to start quilting? Let’s go!

Essential Quilting Tools for Beginners

Before you start your first quilt, it’s important to have the right tools. While quilting does require a few specific supplies, you’ll soon find that the tools help streamline the process and make each step easier. Let’s go through what you’ll need to create your first beautiful quilt.

1. Rotary Cutter, Ruler, and Mat

• Rotary Cutter: This is an essential tool for cutting your fabric with precision. The sharp, circular blade allows you to cut fabric quickly and accurately, and is perfect for making straight lines and shapes. Find it on Amazon here.
• Ruler: A quilting ruler helps you measure and cut fabric with accuracy. The markings on the ruler help guide your cuts, ensuring they’re perfectly straight. A 6″ x 24″ ruler is ideal for beginners as it gives you plenty of space to measure and cut. Shop for quilting rulers on Amazon.
• Cutting Mat: Protect your workspace and extend the life of your rotary cutter with a self-healing cutting mat. These mats repair themselves after each cut, which ensures they last longer. Buy a self-healing cutting mat here.

Or you can get buy a three piece set.

Why It’s Essential: These tools are the foundation for cutting fabric accurately and safely, and they make the entire quilting process faster and more enjoyable.

2. Sewing Machine

While hand-sewing is a viable option, using a sewing machine is far quicker and more efficient—especially for quilting! Look for a sewing machine with basic stitch functions, such as straight, zigzag, and reverse stitches. Find a beginner-friendly sewing machine on Amazon here.

Why It’s Essential: A sewing machine helps you piece the layers of fabric together easily, making the entire process much more efficient, and it ensures precise stitching.

3. Fabric

Choosing fabric is one of the most exciting parts of quilting. For beginners, start with cotton fabric as it’s durable, easy to sew, and comes in a variety of colors and patterns.

• Tip: You might want to use pre-cut fabric bundles like charm squares, fat quarters, or jelly rolls. These options provide a variety of colors and patterns without needing to cut the fabric yourself, which is perfect for beginners.

Why It’s Essential: The fabric you choose is the canvas for your quilt. Cotton fabric will give you a solid, durable quilt that will last for years.

4. Pins and Clips

• Pins: Quilting pins are longer than regular pins, making them perfect for holding multiple layers of fabric together. They help ensure your fabric stays in place while sewing. Buy quilting pins here.
• Clips: Fabric clips are great for thicker fabrics, like batting, and are a good alternative to pins. They hold your fabric without leaving holes. Find fabric clips on Amazon here.

Why They’re Essential: These tools help keep your fabric aligned and in place while you sew, preventing it from shifting out of place.

5. Thread

The right thread ensures your quilt will hold together beautifully, even after it’s washed. Look for quilting thread or all-purpose cotton thread, as they’re designed to be durable and work well with most fabrics. Find quilting thread here.

Why It’s Essential: Thread is the glue that holds your quilt together. Using the right thread guarantees your quilt won’t unravel after a few washes.

6. Quilting Needles

Quilting needles are designed to work with multiple layers of fabric and batting. They’re stronger and have a slightly rounded tip, which helps prevent snags and ensures smoother stitching. Shop for quilting needles here.

Why It’s Essential: Quilting needles are specially designed to handle the tough job of sewing through thick layers, so you won’t break needles or damage your fabric.

Basic Quilting Tips for Beginners

Now that you have the essential tools, it’s time to get started on your quilt! Here are some tips to make the process easier and more enjoyable:

1. Start with a Simple Pattern

Begin with something simple, like a basic patchwork quilt or a four-patch design. These beginner-friendly patterns will help you learn the foundational skills of quilting without overwhelming you with complexity.

• Tip: Look for patterns that have fewer pieces to sew together. As you gain experience, you can move on to more intricate patterns.

You can also begin with something small like a pillow or throw. I have a few in my shop that are good for beginners.

2. Cut Fabric Accurately

Accuracy in cutting is critical in quilting. Even small mistakes can cause misalignment later on. Always measure your fabric carefully before cutting and double-check your measurements to avoid any errors.

• Tip: Use your rotary cutter, ruler, and mat to make clean and precise cuts. Accuracy here will make the whole quilt come together much better.

3. Press Your Seams

Pressing seams is crucial for achieving a smooth and flat quilt top. As you sew, press your seams open or to one side to make sure everything lines up properly.

• Tip: Be sure to use an iron set to the correct temperature for your fabric, and use steam to help press your seams flat.

4. Pin and Sew with Precision

Take your time to pin and sew your fabric carefully. Pinning helps keep your pieces aligned, and sewing slowly ensures that your stitching is even and straight. Be consistent with where your seam lands, 1/4 inch from the edge of the fabric is the standard with quilting.

• Tip: Don’t rush the process—taking breaks to maintain focus is key to achieving beautiful, consistent stitches.

5. Square Up Your Blocks

Once you’ve pieced together a block, make sure to square it up by trimming any excess fabric to ensure it’s the correct size. This ensures all your pieces fit together perfectly as you progress with the quilt.

• Tip: Use a quilting ruler to make sure everything is aligned and squared up before moving to the next block.

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes

Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. If you make a mistake, don’t panic! Quilting is all about learning as you go, and most mistakes can be fixed with a little patience.

• Tip: Embrace the process and keep a positive attitude. You’ll get better with each project you complete.

Conclusion: Start Your Quilting Journey Today!

Quilting is a rewarding craft that allows you to express your creativity while creating beautiful, functional pieces. By gathering your essential tools and practicing a few basic skills, you’ll be well on your way to completing your first quilt. Remember, quilting is a journey—take your time, make mistakes, and enjoy the process of creating something unique. Grab your tools, pick out your fabric, and start quilting today!

Happy quilting!

The post The Beginner’s Guide to Quilting: Must-Have Tools and Simple Tips to Get Started first appeared on FOUR ROBBINS.

I had people asking me about a pattern and I loved it, too, so I decided to go ahead and write the pattern and make a Christmas themed quilt. I love how it turned out, don’t you? I had it folded in half across the back of the couch over Christmas and it looked so nice and festive and made me happy every time I walked into the room.

When it was time to pack up Christmas, I was bummed to put this quilt up. It is just so pretty! So I decided to make one for Valentine’s Day and it goes perfectly with all my Valentine’s Day Pillows of the Month! But I’m thinking I’ll need to make one more to keep out all year long. It uses no waste flying geese and sews up in a day. I made this Valentine quilt over a weekend.

You can, too, and the pattern is 30% off all this month!

I did all-over swirls, hearts, and double hearts on my Janome 8900 for the quilting design. It is one of my favorites to do. I also did my binding by machine this time, attaching it in the back, folding it over to the front, and then I used a decorative stitch to finish sewing my binding on.

I also shared on Instagram recently that when I designed my Christmas Cards quilt to send into magazines in the hopes of getting published, I designed it as Christmas Cards and as Love Notes. The magazine wanted the Christmas theme so that’s what I made. However, I still had these designs so I thought I’d share them. They are so cute! You can find the pattern here. I’ve added this to my ToDo list for next year.

If you’re looking for something a little quicker, my Valentine Pillows are just the thing: three pillow patterns (or 16″ quilt blocks if you’d rather).

Finally, I made these adorable little bags. They are really quick to make and perfect for your Valentine’s gifts. You can find the tutorial here.

Don’t forget to tag me on social media! #fourrobbins #fourrobbinsquilts #fourrobbinspillowofthemonth

I’d love to see what you make.

Krista

The post Show Someone You’re Sweet on them with one of these Valentine’s Day Themed Quick Sew Quilts, Pillows, and Gift Bags by Four Robbins first appeared on FOUR ROBBINS.

Here are some of the must-have Valentine’s Day patterns from FourRobbins:

1. Patchwork Heart Pillow Cover PDF Pattern

• Shop the Pattern

If you’re looking for a fun and festive way to brighten up your home this Valentine’s Day, this Patchwork Heart Pillow Cover is a charming option. This pattern guides you step-by-step through creating a heart-shaped patchwork design that will add a sweet touch to your living room or bedroom.

Supplies Needed:

• Cotton fabric in various shades of red, pink, and white (or your favorite Valentine’s Day color scheme)
• Sewing machine (or hand-sewing kit if you prefer)
• Pillow insert (16×16 inches)
• Fabric rotary cutter and ruler for precise cutting
• Sewing pins

Where to Buy Supplies:

• Cotton Fabric: Check out Amazon’s fabric selection for Valentine’s Day-inspired patterns and colors.
• Pillow Inserts: Pillow Insert

This pattern’s patchwork style is easy to follow, and the final pillow will give your home a cozy, handcrafted vibe.

2. Rainbow Heart Pillow Cover PDF Pattern

• Shop the Pattern

For those who want to infuse some extra color and joy into their Valentine’s Day decorations, the Rainbow Heart Pillow Cover is a fun choice! With its vibrant rainbow hues and heart shape, this pattern is perfect for spreading love in a cheerful way.

Supplies Needed:

• Rainbow fabric or solid color fabrics for each heart section (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)
• Quilting cotton for the pillow background
• Sewing machine or hand-sewing kit
• Pillow insert (18×18 inches)
• Thread matching your fabrics
• Fabric pins

Where to Buy Supplies:

• Rainbow Fabrics: Fabric Selection
• Sewing Machine: Consider a reliable model like the Brother CS7000x if you need an upgrade!

This pattern is not only great for Valentine’s Day but also makes for a fabulous gift for anyone who loves bright, bold colors and meaningful design.

3. XOXO Hugs & Kisses Pillow Cover PDF Pattern

• Shop the Pattern

When you want to say “I love you” with a handmade touch, the XOXO Hugs & Kisses Pillow Cover is the way to go! This pattern features the iconic X’s and O’s in a fun, easy-to-make pillow design that will make anyone smile.

Supplies Needed:

• Pink, red, or white fabrics for the X’s and O’s design
• Cotton fabric for the pillow background
• Pillow insert (16×16 inches)
• Fabric scissors or rotary cutter
• Matching sewing thread
• Pins for fabric placement

Where to Buy Supplies:

• Cotton Fabric: Fabric
• Pillow Insert: Pillow Insert

This pattern is an instant classic for Valentine’s Day décor, and it’s super quick to whip up—perfect for last-minute crafting sessions!

4. Flying Home Quilt PDF Pattern

• Shop the Pattern

For those who want to take their Valentine’s Day crafting to the next level, the Flying Home Quilt is a stunning pattern to create a large, meaningful project that’ll become a family heirloom. The Flying Home Quilt features sweet, bird-inspired designs that will bring a sense of warmth and comfort to your home. It’s ideal for those who enjoy piecing together intricate designs and love a good challenge!

Supplies Needed:

• Assorted quilting cotton fabrics for the quilt pieces
• Quilt batting
• Coordinating thread
• Rotary cutter, quilting ruler, and cutting mat
• Pins for piecing

Where to Buy Supplies:

• Quilting Cotton Fabrics:
  • Pinks
  • Low Volume
• Quilt Batting: Cotton Quilting Batting

This quilt pattern will take a bit longer to complete, but the result will be a gorgeous, thoughtful gift for someone special or a beautiful addition to your own home.

Tips for Making the Most of These Patterns:

• Prep Your Fabric: Before diving into your project, always pre-wash and iron your fabric to prevent shrinking and ensure a smooth sewing experience.
• Choose a Sewing Machine That Works for You: If you’re new to sewing, consider starting with a beginner-friendly machine like the Brother CS7000x, which is great for quilting and home décor projects.
• Personalize Your Projects: While these patterns are fantastic as-is, don’t be afraid to make them your own! Add embroidery, use different color schemes, or experiment with fabric textures to create something unique.

Conclusion:

With FourRobbins’ fantastic selection of Valentine’s Day patterns, you’ll be ready to spread love and creativity in no time. Whether you choose to sew up a cozy pillow or challenge yourself with a beautiful quilt, these patterns are sure to make your Valentine’s Day extra special. Happy sewing!

Feel free to browse the FourRobbins shop on Etsy and get started on your next crafty adventure today.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. This helps support my blog and allows me to continue creating helpful content. Thank you for your support!

The post Craft Stunning Valentine’s Day Décor with FourRobbins’ Must-Have Patterns first appeared on FOUR ROBBINS.

I was part of a monthly bee, Sew Bee It, through my local quilt guild, St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild.
If you are not familiar with a bee, basically it is a small group, usually up to 12 members.  Each member gets assigned a month and during that month all the other members make a block or blocks of her choosing.  They may provide fabric or part of the fabric and the rest is pulled from your stash.

One of the blocks in our bee this round was an improv bird block.  Improv is not really in my comfort zone and especially having to look like something when it’s done so I procrastinated big time.  Turns out not only was it easy, it was really fun and went together fast.   We only needed to make one but with it being that quick and easy, I made a second.  

And then, of course, living in St. Louis and being a Cardinals fan, I had to make one for myself.   I used some leftover scraps of Baby Jane by the Comstocks for my cardinal and low volume and text prints for the background.

Want to make one for yourself?  This is the tutorial from Pie Lady Quilts. I modified the head to look more like a cardinal.  I also added extra fabric around the perimeter so my finished square would measure 12.5″.

The block I contributed for my beemate, @stlcaverly, became this beauty!

Isn’t it great?!

Have a great day!

The post Improv Cardinal Mini Quilt Block first appeared on FOUR ROBBINS.

The lawn chair quilt pattern is a quick and fun and free pattern to make by Monica Solorio-Snow, aka Happy Zombie that you can find in the Moda Bake Shop. It’s also kind of cool because it uses precuts and also, you can get 2 quilts out of three jelly rolls. But I didn’t do that.

The first couple I made were Christmas gifts for my sister, Kendra, and sister-in-law, Kelly, for Christmas. I followed the tutorial for two and made them at the same time, though I used very different fabrics for each. Let me apologize in advance for the poor photos of these first two. I’m going back a LONG time and my photos are subpar.
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I had this stack of fabrics in my stash, which I love, and decided to use them for Kendra’s quilt. I can’t remember what the fabric was called or who it was by.

I still have some leftovers that I hope to do something with some day.

For Kelly’s quilt, I used Kona chartreuse and a colorful chevron striped jelly roll.

You start sewing your background fabrics on either side of your jelly roll strips, cut to different lengths.

Then layout your blocks as desired and begin sewing your columns together.

I decided to try applique, which I hadn’t really done yet, to add their names to the backs of their quilts.

Then, of course, basting. I guess I didn’t take a photo of this riveting step in Kendra’s quilt. LOL

For Kelly’s quilt, I decided to free motion quilt swirls all over.

And for Kendra’s, loops and hearts.

And then binding. I always love binding, the anticipation of finishing the quilt, the first one to kind of use it while I’m snuggled up under it stitching it. And this time was especially nice because I was binding to Christmas lights.

I wish I had taken better photos of the finished quilts but you live and learn, huh? And actually, Kelly’s was still being bound when I took the photo of the front. 

And here’s Kendra’s.

All washed and ready to wrap up for Christmas.

The last one I made was a couple years ago. I had leftover strips of a jelly roll by @aprilrosenthal from making a @Sewkindofwonderful Metro Hoops quilt that I paired with Essex Linen for this gorgeous version. It’s one of my favorites.

I quilted it with a somewhat loose, plain meandering pattern all over.

I love how it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by.

Products used and recommended

The post Quick & Easy Lawn Chair Quilts first appeared on FOUR ROBBINS.

We had to use only Riley Blake prints but we could use any solids. I tend to run more modern traditional in my quilt designs and preferences, but I stepped a little outside the box on this one. I had no idea what I was going to do so I hit the internet for some inspiration. I ended up looking at bathroom tiles and really liked the look of these and the alternating columns.

I added some lighter gray along with some black to give it a little more interest.

The biggest challenge for me was the circles, cutting them out and getting the edges turned under and still keeping a perfect looking circle. I can’t tell you how many circles I cut and pressed to get them looking right! Now, I have an Olfa circle cutter, which I love. It cuts out perfect circles every time and you can adjust your circle size. It is awesome! I machine stitched my circles down and left them unquilted.

I really wanted to step up my game on my quilting and all these different colors and areas was a good way to practice some free motion quilting. First up, I wanted to do pebbles. Since they take a crazy long time, I decided to do pebbles only in the white areas since it was the smallest. They turned out so good, if I say so myself, but they do seem to take forever.

I did fun swirls in the light gray tiles. I always like free motion quilting swirls.

And just a tip that helps me – whenever I want to free motion quilt a design, I practice it first by drawing it over and over on a piece of paper. It gives me the feel of the shape or pattern and kind of creates a muscle memory. Then when you go to practice it on your machine, it almost feels familiar and I find it much easier. Then, I practice it on a small quilt sandwich before I take it to my quilt. I learned so much from the book Free Motion Quilting with Angela Walters . I also like Free Motion Meandering, and Shape by Shape, and Shape by Shape 2. Another really awesome resource is 365 Free Motion Quilting by Leah Day.

Sorry for the wacky lighting on this one. I had to do some photo adjustment so you could see the black and dark grey blocks better. For the black tiles, I did just “organic” straight lines. I tried to get them super straight but that is really a weak spot in my quilting talent. I need more practice doing straight line quilting.

I did some free motion squares on the dark tiles just turning and turning every so often.

This was a fun quilt to make. It really challenged me to try some new things and to step out of the familiar and stretch my skills.

Here it is getting ready to go to St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild‘s first quilt show back in 2017.

And hanging in the show!

Well, that’s all I have on this one! I hope you enjoyed. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Products used and recommended

The post Finding My Fun & My Modern with the Riley Blake Challenge Quilt 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.

This was a traveling quilt I was part of where I started with a block (the New York Beauty Circle of Flying Geese by Better Off Thread. The quilt then went to each of the participants who added part of the quilt. When I got it back, it was still a bit small so I added a column to either side and the bottom row.

At the time, I didn’t really make quilts on commission but she’s special, so I said yes. I’m so glad I did. It was such a fun quilt to make! I started her quilt off with a New York Beauty Circle of Flying Geese by Better Off Thread, too. It is such a stunning quilt block!

The only thing she really asked me to make was a shamrock because we are Irish from my Nana who was a McAuliffe.  So that was next. The green I used reminded me of the wicker bedroom furniture she had when we were kids. The block is by trilliumdesign and it’s called Lucky Shamrock.

She also loves the theater and lives near New York City, so the next couple blocks were a given. You can find the Wicked block at Fandom in Stitches. They have a paper pieced Playbill block, too, but I made my own applique block.

Polly is also a world traveler so I searched around for some cool travel related blocks. I found the great wall of China by Quilt Art Designs.

And the Sphinx was by Quilt Art Designs as well.

Polly said one of her favorite places was Angkor Wat so I found a photo and did an applique of its silhouette.

Our family is from Pittsburgh and all big Steeler fans so I had to do a block for them. This block was also from Fandom in Stiches.
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I wanted a globe to add for her travel as well so I printed out a coloring page of a globe and then one of the earth that I liked and adjusted the sizes. Then I cut them out and appliqued them on.

The last couple really special blocks were Gandy, her Guinea Pig. I used this Hamster block by Sew Fresh Quilts.

Doesn’t it look like him?

And leopard print cheaters for my Nana and her mom. This pattern is Geek Glasses by SewWhatSherlock.

She loved a leopard print! Here is Nana with Polly, Terry, Sherry, and Aimee, my mom & my aunts.

Then I laid out my main blocks to come up with placement.

Then I started adding in some other fun blocks to fill in the spaces. This is Singing in the Rain by The Tartan Kiwi.

I love these feathers and have made them a few times now. They are by Quiet Play.

This heart is also by Quiet Play.
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I also found this cool plane, Fly With Me, by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Art Gallery Fabrics from a blog post way back in 2012. Sorry I don’t have a better photo. I forgot to take some of these final blocks.

I also loved this paper boat. One of the stories I remember from Polly’s travels was being in a boat on the Nile in Egypt and the guide wanted them to sing show tunes like Gilligan’s Island and the Brady Bunch. So I wanted some kind of boat and this one is so cute. You can find the free pattern here at Fat Quarter Shop.

Next, I basted it. Look at the cool passport fabric Polly picked out. It is

Windham Fabrics Whistler Studios Passport Passport Stamps Fabric in Ocean.

Then I quilted it in this fun loopy meander with hearts.

Finally, it was bound, washed, and on it’s way to Hoboken to Polly.

It was such a fun quilt to work on and I was so happy that she loved it, too.

Have you done a traveling quilt or a collage quilt? What do you love about them? What don’t you like about them? I’d love to hear

Thanks so much for stopping by!

The post Polly’s Collage Quilt first appeared on FOUR ROBBINS.

You can make a mini quilt to hang on your wall or make a bunch of them and put them together for a bookshelf quilt. You can add selvages for the book titles as I did in this one, hand or machine embroider titles, or leave blank. You can add a shelf underneath like the one above, string a few blocks together and then add your shelf, or leave it off. This is also a great project to use up some of those scraps!

If you want to add selvages as the book titles, you can cut your strips in half, add a piece of the block fabric to the top and bottom of the selvage like shown above so you just have a small piece showing your title. Add it to the center of the two strip halves and then trim the strip. This takes the quick out of this project but it is still easy! This tutorial is going to show you how to quickly make this block on the fly without really measuring anything. So, let’s get started.

First you’ll need some long trimmed strips in various widths and a large piece of background fabric with a straight edge. I cut about a 10″ or so by width of fabric of white Kona. Line the background fabric up on your machine and place a strip short edge down as shown. Stitch and add another.

And another…. and sew on until you’ve added all your strips.

Next, finger press strips open.

Now, turn and line up your ruler and beginning cutting out each strip.

Once you’ve cut out each strip, you can play with the layout making some books taller than others. I’ve kept out 4 strips, 3 to set sideways and 1 to lean.

Once you’ve arranged them to your liking, we need to trim. So line your ruler up along the bottom and trim.

And now the top.

Now, you’ll sew your strips together and press.

Now that we have our upright books done, we can add our sideways books. Focusing on the outside edge of the books, align as desired.

Now, line your ruler up and then add 1/4 inch for your seam allowance.

Carefully move the upright books leaving your ruler in place and trim. Now, sew these books together.

Now, we need to add background here. Place your ruler and add 1/4 inch seam at the bottom where it will meet the sideways books. Note your measurements. Mine were 9.75″ tall x 10.25″ wide.

Cut a piece of background fabric to that measurement.

And sew the background piece to your sideways books and then add this section to the first as shown.

Now, we are going to add our leaning book. Arrange your book as desired being sure the top is even and extends past the top of the others as shown so when you trim, it won’t be too small.

Trim the bottom even with the other books as shown.

Add some of the background fabric you cut away earlier to your leaning book on the side that will attach to your upright books. Don’t worry if it looks like this! We will be trimming again soon.

Now, lay your book block on top and adjust it as desired lining up the bottom edges of all the books.

Lay your ruler on top and add 1/4 inch seam allowance. Move your original block and trim the leaning block.

Here it is trimmed. Now you can sew this to the first piece.

Next, we need to add a little more background fabric to the outside edge to finish it off. Sitch a wide piece of background to the slanted book as show. The top edge needs to be wider than the bottom so we can square it off.

Now, trim and square it up. Your block is done!

You can embroider book names on the spines if you desire or leave them as is. I decided to make a mini quilt with this block. So, I made my quilt sandwich with my top, batting, and backing fabric. (If you’re new to this, make sure your backing fabric is right side DOWN. Make sure your batting is a little bigger than your block and your backing is a little bit bigger than your batting.

Baste as desired. I typically use pins.

Quilt as desired. This is a fun spot to practice different free motion quilting designs since you’re working with a little area and it makes the books all look different.

When that’s done, add your binding. I like to stitch to the front and had stitch to the back.

And here it is!

This really is such a fun project! I hope you enjoyed and I’d love to see yours! If you’re on Instagram use #bookshelfblock and tag me @fourrobbins so I can find you!If you have any questions, let me know! I’d be happy to help.

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