EASY baby quilt patterns

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I decided to make my first quilt, as a gift for the baby of a
niece I have never met. I tried looking up patterns online, but quickly got
bogged down. All the ones marked “easy” still looked way over my head. Yet I
don’t want just plain squares. There must be some design that has easy
construction, where choosing a beautiful contrasting fabrics is what makes it
work. I am starting to think this is way too complicated.

Here is one I liked (not these colors).

http://www.hawthornethreads.com/sewing_pattern/designer/jaybird_quilts_/radio_way

Would this be too hard for a novice? Any other suggestions?

I do a lot of sewing, but have never quilted. As a total
beginner, what could you suggest as a resource for patterns ?

I plan to buy my fabric at either Joann’s, or a good high
quality large fabric store a few towns away. If I am lucky maybe I’ll find a center
panel with a pre-printed design on it. Are those pretty easy to find? Then I
can work around it. Thanks for your help.

Featured Answer

beth7happy

10 years ago

The very first quilt I ever did was using a 'charm pack' that a friend bought for me from a quilt store. It was cute and very easy to do...satisfying for a first try! (just a thought!)

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Comments (8)

msmeow
10 years ago
Hi, Linnea! Welcome to the world of quilting! If you are already a sew-er, you will find quilting is easy to pick up.

You are right, there are a multitude of patterns out there! You could start with a 9-patch alternating with plain squares. That's a classic pattern that uses only squares. I'm sure if you Google 9-patch you will find lots of patterns and videos.

Donna
jennifer_in_va
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/22/e4/e4/22e4e4949a2f6e67100023484550fab6.jpg

This is a Rail Fence pattern done with 4 varigated solid colors, plus a black. Looks way more difficult than it really is, and I think, a good beginner quilt. You would sew 5 strips of colors (lightest, slightly darker, medium, slightly more medium, dark, and black) together, then cross-cut into blocks of the desired size. These blocks then get laid out, and sewn together.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/9f/1c/92/9f1c92e93880553005bd121c90ae71e7.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.pinterest.com/explore/rail-fence-quilt/&h=235&w=236&tbnid=a99SzIEyeJHBsM:&docid=zCo7rw8hxmw_yM&ei=I4i8Vu_mFoHjmAHupZ2wCQ&tbm=isch&ved=0ahUKEwivhLei5O_KAhWBMSYKHe5SB5YQMwg_KBcwFw

Here is the same pattern, but with fewer 'rails' and done more monochromatic. The layouts on a Rail Fence pattern are numerous. Sewing these quilts is good practice for sewing a consistent seam allowance.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/eb/da/e3/ebdae336ea50295aa38aff88f89b6637.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/56787645278597416/&h=236&w=236&tbnid=wOXBmMGjaL2pYM:&docid=kOW9hC_jzrfNNM&ei=I4i8Vu_mFoHjmAHupZ2wCQ&tbm=isch&ved=0ahUKEwivhLei5O_KAhWBMSYKHe5SB5YQMwiFAShdMF0 here's another layout with fewer rails.

A block with few seams will be the easiest to start with. The least number of seams, the easier the blocks will go together.

The pattern you were interested in isn't so difficult and follows the same idea. The center portion of the blocks are like a rail fence (rectangles or strips sewn together and sub cut), some are larger, some are smaller with white strips sewn around the edges. I think it would be okay to start on this one too, if that's what you really like.

You can ask questions here along the way and all these amazing ladies will be sure to help you out!
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grammyp
10 years ago
Welcome to the quilter's world. I think that pattern would be very doable for you. Jennifer also has good suggestions and Donna's alternating 9 patch is super easy. There are a lot of free patterns out there and most of them are simple if you break them down into small section. Here is a link Quilter's Cache with lots of patterns. The easy ones have one yellow pin after the name.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks, everyone! I appreciate the help!
grammyp
10 years ago
You are most welcome. Please note, we love pictures, so please share.
trouzernc
10 years ago
I've been making charity quilts for the KindQuilt.org organization and can suggest 6.5" blocks of a lively, bright print paired with 4-patch blocks in bright solids or read-as-solids fabrics. Then a narrow border of a solid (cut 1.5-inches to finish at 1-inch) and a wider (cut 3.5-inches) final border.

Here is a link: http://kindquilts.org/for-quilters/guidelines/
Kathleen Breen
10 years ago
Most quilt shops have kits for baby quilts which include a panel. You can easily find a "just add borders" quilt. I would use fabric from a quilt shop, rather than Joann's, especially for a baby quilt which will likely be washed often. The baby quilt kits with panels are pretty reasonably priced.