Best Tips for Quilts if You Sew Clothes

If you’ve spent years sewing clothes, you already have a solid foundation in fabric selection, cutting, and stitching. But quilting is a whole different beast. Each of those steps is just a little different, so choosing the right pattern for your first quilt can make all the difference.

What’s the difference between sewing clothes and sewing quilts?

 

Fabric Requirements

This is one thing that is easier in quilting versus garment sewing; quilting fabrics are usually 100% cotton, so you don’t have to think about things about stretch or drape for the end use. The only thing that you might want to pay attention to, and also depending on your preference, is if a fabric you’re using is directional you will need a bit more to have the fabric facing the same direction across the quilt. But there are no rules saying you have to do that, have your fabric go every direction!

 

Seam Allowances

Unlike garment sewing where seam allowances can vary, quilting pretty much always uses a ¼-inch seam allowance. It can feel like you’re sewing too small of a seam when you’re used to sewing ⅝-inch seam. Consider investing in a ¼-inch presser foot for your sewing machine to help maintain accuracy as you sew.

 

Quilt Sizes are Flexible

Though you can depend on a mattress being a certain size, quilt sizes and projects vary. Many quilt patterns don’t label the quilts as throw or queen size, but give you the dimensions of the finished project instead. 

 

What should you look for in your first quilt project?

 

Just like learning to sew a basic skirt before tackling a tailored blazer, try to start with a beginner-friendly quilt pattern. Look for designs with straightforward shapes like squares or rectangles. Patterns labeled “beginner” or “easy” often have fewer pieces and simpler construction, which helps you focus on mastering quilting techniques like a perfect quarter inch seam and matching points.

 

Here are our go-to patterns for beginner quilters who can sew clothes:

 

Yellow Brick Road

By Atkinson Designs

It’s a classic fat quarter friendly quilt, fast, and fun! It also includes instructions for a baby, lap, twin, queen, and king sized quilt.

 

Squared Up

By Cotton and Joy

Looking for something to show off a pretty set of 10” squares or a Layer Cake? The Squared Up pattern from Cotton and Joy is beginner friendly and gives instructions for a baby, throw, twin, and queen sized quilt.

 

Jewel Frame

By Kaffe Fassett

If you’re into collecting all the pretty quilt fabrics but not sure how to put them together, this FREE quilt pattern from designer Kaffe Fassett is a great way to show everything off.

 

Light Your Way

By Poparazzi

If you love rainbows, and who doesn’t, you can have fun with the layout for this beginner quilt from Poparazzi called Light Your Way. Mix in a little contrast print with each block to make things cohesive across the quilt. 

 

Intertwine

By Robert Kaufman

If picking out lots of different fabrics seems like too much, the free Intertwine quilt pattern only uses three to create a really fun quilt. Pick from our solids or make it with prints, you’ll have a dynamic quilt at the end.

 

And if you have questions about getting started with your first quilt, the experts at Quilting Mayhem are always here to help. You’re going to do great!