How to Sew a Baby Quilt - Create a Baby Clothes Patchwork Quilt

If you’re looking to make a special gift, or are awaiting a new arrival soon, this baby quilt is a fantastic project to get you started with quilting!  Why not take this design from Hobbycraft Blog a step further and use fabric squares from your baby's own clothes to make the quilt, creating a gorgeous personalised keepsake to cherish forever. 

For the basic Quilt design;  

You Will Need

• 2 Charm packs 
• Bias binding 
• Cotton wadding 
• Backing fabric – available in store

Craft Essentials

• Pins 
• Cutting tools 
• Sewing machine 

How to Make

1. Lay out the charm pack squares to make a design and size you like.

2. Cut out a shape from some spare squares or backing fabric to applique on the design.

3. Sew the shapes onto their squares.

4. Sew the squares right sides together by row, using a ¼ inch seam allowance.

5. Press the seams open.

6. Sew the rows with right sides together using a ¼ inch seam allowance.

7. When the quilt top has been assembled, press all seams.

8. Lay out the backing fabric and wadding on a flat surface.

9. Place the quilt top, right side up and pin through all 3 layers.

10. Make sure the quilt sandwich is secure and cut to the size of the quilt top.

11. Sew the layers together, stitching in the seams where the squares are joined.

12. Cut enough binding to reach around all 4 quilt sides.

13. Unfold the bias binding and pin to the reverse side of the quilt, matching the edges.

14. Sew the binding to the quilt, stitching as close to the edge as possible.

15. Fold the bias binding over the quilt edge to the front side.

16. Sew to the front, stitching close to the inside edge of the binding. Make sure to catch the binding on the reverse side in the stitching.

Keepsake Ideas for Old Baby Clothes - Creating Memories

1.Keepsake Frames - Baby Clothes

My youngest is just about to start school and since I have no intentions of adding to the current brood, I have had to start thinking about what to do with the vast amounts of baby grows, gorgeous little clothes, Christmas bibs etc that have taken over not only our loft, but also my in-laws!

It's probably fair to say that I'm a hoarder but surely when it comes to those teeny tiny little outfits, that remind us just how small our children were, you can't blame me...?

2.Memory Keepsake Quilt:Baby Clothes

So the first step is to be ruthless (or try to be) and only keep my most favourite and sentimental items. Next is to try and decide what to do with them..... 

Rather than leave them festering in the attic, I've come across some pretty creative ideas that could help me preserve those special memories and have a clear out:

1. Keepsake Frames.

An obvious answer is to frame them.  Whether it's the first baby grow, a tiny little dress or even your baby's first shoes, you can create a modern keepsake display simply using a deep shadow box frame.

3. Keepsake Memory Scrap Cushion

2. Memory Keepsake Quilts / Blankets.
 
This idea is perfect if you have too many favourites items of clothing to frame.  Using from 15-20 items of your favourite clothing you can create a memory quilt or blanket that has an everyday use and that will become a special keepsake for your child and family heirloom .

3. Keepsake Memory Scrap Cushion. 

A really unique idea - this particular cushion uses a tree as the main image and cuts from the clothes as the leaves to create a colourful and modern, but also sentimental, keepsake cushion.

4. Padded Hanging Decorations / Bunting.

Following a similar theme, this next idea uses old clothes to create hanging Christmas decorations - they look fab and could be switched for padded hearts or bunting, made from baby clothes and hung in the child's bedroom or playroom!

5. Mini Dress Keepsake Frame.  
Another great idea for those of you with lots of clothes - create mini versions of your favourite dresses and frame them. You can even use some of the buttons and trim for your keepsake artwork.
 

5. Mini Dress Keepsake Frame

6. Framed Sun Prints - Baby Clothes. 

And last but not least is another original idea which is great if you want to remember how tiny the clothes were but don't want to frame the clothes themselves. Using the clothes, sun and some special light sensitive paper you can re-create the clothes in bold realistic looking prints.

For more information on any of these ideas, please click on the links underneath all the images to see the original  blog posts and further information/ instructions/ tutorials for creating them.

6. Framed Sun Prints: Baby Clothes

If you are looking for frames to frame your keepsakes - visit www.forkeepssake.co.uk for a wide range of deep shadow box frames, designed specifically for keepsake displays.

And finally, If like me you are not too handy with a sewing machine but love the idea of having a keepsake memory quilt or blank made from your precious baby clothes, blankets and even comforters curtains and bedlinen, then watch this space. We have an exciting new range that is coming very very soon.....!

Thanks for reading.  Please share any comments or ideas you have - also if you've tried any of these we'd love to see some pics!

FKSx