Quick Quilt Semi- Homemade

Do you need a quilt to give as a gift and need it like yesterday? Here is a fun quick quilt you can make in a day (maybe less) once you have your supplies. It features homemade raw edge, scrap back ( a different way of doing needle turn) hand applique, and hand embroidery. Plus you can use scraps from your scrap stash. That’s a bonus! It’s my go to secret and your quilt still turns out adorable and thoughtful.

Let’s get started!

• 1 toddler sized blanket (this size is perfect for a lap quilt)Read on for more info.
• Some low loft batting for raw edge applique and how to Raw Edge applique
• How To Scrap Back Applique (better than Needle Turn)
• Perle Cotton of your choice for embroidery
• Applique pattern
• Applique thread for hand applique
• Fabric scraps from your fabric stash
• Applique your blanket and put it all together.

I am going to tell you a secret. This quilt idea will change your quilting life. Well maybe not exactly change it but make it a lot easier for you when you are in crunch mode and need a handmade (we’ll call it semi handmade) quilt quickly. A quick quilt that still has your homemade goodness on it and is made with love and personal creativity. I love designing quilts and quilt patterns however I came up with this idea when I had zero time and three quilts I needed for grandchildren gifts pronto pronto. Love the finished product. Permission granted to save time and create this quilt with semi homemade success!

Toddler Sized Blanket (Great Lap Quilt Size For Any Age)

Who’d a thought that a toddler size blanket could work for a lap quilt! Found a cute patterned blanket on Amazon with several colors to choose from. It is the perfect thickness for hand applique and for keeping someone warm. It is not super heavy but has three layers to it and the inside of the quilt is just as cute as the outside. I ordered a couple of these quilts with a bit of hesitancy because you never know exactly what you will get but reviews were good. Score! I was very pleasantly surprised at the feel and look of the blanket. And the quality of course! It is sold by NT Bay store on Amazon if you want to check it out.

To begin with, find the blanket that will fit the quick quilt you want to make. When you are looking for a quilt to applique on, take my advice and look for a good quality cotton, or a guaze type quilt. This particular blanket is a nice guaze with three layers. Stay away from furry or fleece type blankets. It’s hard to hand applique on those fabrics. You also don’t want it to be too thick because that will also make it hard to hand applique on.

Raw Edge Applique And Low Loft Batting

I came up with a discovery of my own not sure it was an original idea but playing around with some raw edge applique I came to this conclusion that putting low loft batting underneath my applique made it “pop”. It gives your applique more of a 3D effect. if you want to try it, it has a really cool look to it. Here is how to do it.

With each raw edge applique you cut out, you will need a matching piece of low loft batting. Place your low loft batting applique on your quilt, set your cotton fabric applique cut out right side up on top of the low loft batting . Position it where you want it to be on your quilt and gently pin. I say gently pin because you may need to adjust your pins as you sew. Sew just inside the edge of your raw edge applique. I recommend you sew slowly and smooth out the quilt as you go. It’s easy to get your applique too tight or bunch up your quilt. Take pins out if needed and smooth around the applique with your left hand and smoothe the blanket with your right to make sure your applique is flat and smooth when sewing. it to your quilt. I say emphasis smooth because that is the outcome you want with your raw edge applique laying flat and a bit poufy with the batting behind it. This gives the raw edge of your applique a skinny border of low loft batting. I like the look! Trim excess low loft batting being very careful not to cut into your quilt.

Scrap Back Applique (Needle Turn Sort of) And Scraps

I like to back my applique with scrap fabric. Needle turn no more. It’s kind of tedious. Why go to all that trouble you smirk, well maybe not smirk but you give me a concerned look. Don’t shoot the messenger and I’m here to tell ya that the little bit of extra work, goes a long ways. There is no chance of your applique fraying later. It gives your applique more prominence and a really nice look on your quilt. It is also easier to attach to your quilt than needle turn.

After cutting out your applique, take your scrap piece of fabric. Lay your applique right side down on your scrap.

Cut a square just a bit bigger than your applique. Sew around the applique close to the edge. Then trim around your applique.

Carefully cut a slit in the back of the scrap piece of fabric you just sewed to your applique. Turn inside out and with your scissors gently push out the edges of your applique. Press flat. You will hand sew your applique to your quilt.

Perle Cotton For Handwork

Adding some embroidered words or flowers to your to give your quilt a soft homemade look. I love putting embroidery with patchwork and applique. Perle Cotton works well for embroidering words on your quilt. I usually use brown or black to embroider my words and if you want to use DMC embroidery thread instead it works too. Perle Cotton comes in a variety of colors and is easy to use.

Applique Pattern

Once you purchase your ready made blanket, you can decide what you want to applique on it. There are many, many pattern optons you can find out there. Want to know where to find inspiration for applique? I often find mine in coloring books, storybooks, greeting cards, and nature. Already designed patterns, are an option too or just get creative and make up your own pattern. I am a religious gal and I like to give each of my grandchildren a blanket when they turn 8 and are baptized into our church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is a very special time in their life. My hope is by commemorating this event with a blanket, they will remember how much the Lord loves them and hopefully it will inspire them to make good choices as they grow up. I came up with two designs. For my 12 year old grandson I came up with a Moroni pattern. He was a valiant leader found in The Book of Mormon and he stood for truth, righteousness, family, freedom, and liberty. I added a message on his flag or title of liberty. For my 8 year old grandson, I designed an applique with Jesus and the words, “Jesus is the answer.”

Applique Thread

There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing thread for appliquing your hand applique to your quilt. I once heard Lori Ann Holt of Bee In My Bonnet say she likes to see her stitches when she appliques. I don’t mind mine either. I usually use an organic cotton thread that works well for my applique. For putting words on fabric, I mostly use Perle Cotton. It comes in so many great colors that the sky is the limit so to say and I like how my embroidered words look, once they are. done.

Have Fun With It

These quilts came together much faster than putting together a quilt all hand sewn. They still have the cute homey look to them. I was really happy with how they turned out and believe me it’s worth cutting a few good corners when you don’t have a lot of time. The quilts themselves are a cute fabric but add the applique to it and you have a win win outcome. No guilt making this tpe of quilt and I can return to a really big quilt project that I need to finish. Now the real test…giving them to my grandsons and seeing what they think as they test them out.

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