Do-it-yourself things are symbols of a cozy home, filling with warmth. One of such products is a quilt sewn using the patchwork technique, which you can make yourself, even without a lot of experience in needlework. This article gives recommendations and suggests simple ideas for implementation, so that the handmade blanket will work out well with a minimum level of qualification.
What is unique about this style?
This advantage will always be the first on the list when any thing will be evaluated: whether it is a patchwork blanket, tea set or coffee table - uniqueness, that is, the only one in nature.
This quality is inherent in all things made in the style of patchwork, because it is almost impossible to sew two identical things. Even if you discard the fact that if you have the necessary funds, you can purchase a sufficient amount of the same fabric for sewing, during the manufacture of a thing it will certainly prove itself and will turn out with an individual feature. And if you consider that many elements of blankets (especially with small details) are sewn by hand, then the fact of repetition is simply impossible. Are there people who do not want to possess a unique thing in their uniqueness?
Leftover Blanket
A patchwork patchwork blanket can be made from pieces of fabric left over from sewing, old but high-quality clothing that for some reason has not been used for a long time, or decide to buy completely new pieces of fabric for sale. You should also take care of the threads in color, edging (processing the edge of the product) and filler. If you plan to sew a warm blanket for the winter, then you need a synthetic winterizer, and if a light blanket is for cool evenings, then a fleece or just dense fabric such as teak, flannel will do. It is important to calculate your strengths and not tackle complex variants of schemes if there is not much experience in the manufacture of such products, because disappointment from a failed process can follow for a long time and leave a negative imprint on life.
In this case, you should take into account the color scheme and choose the fabric harmoniously so that the future blanket does not look like a tasteless color blur.
To the delight of children
You can make a patchwork blanket with your own hands in original pieces of fabric depicting your favorite cartoon characters - children really like these things. Even having matured, they do not want to part with their beloved rug sewn by mother with love.
In modern departments for needlework, a lot of patchwork kits are sold with such patches that were selected in accordance with the idea, for example: different colors of kittens, cubs, Disney heroes, etc. From these pieces you can make a great blanket for a child by placing them in the center products or squares from smaller parts, can be cut around with strips of colored squares, creating a unique masterpiece.
Application is always in fashion
A patchwork-style baby blanket can be decorated with an applique in the form of various shapes of animals, trees, flowers, tree leaves, etc. More experienced craftswomen can use their skills to create an applique to every taste on a single piece of fabric. Also, depending on who the blanket will be intended for, the patterns and colors should be thought out in advance, because it is unlikely that the girl will want to have a blanket with cars, and the boy with pink ponies and dolls. More experienced craftswomen can add applications in the form of letters from which you can lay out the name or initials of the person to whom the product will be intended, this will additionally make it clear how important it is for you.
You should also take into account the capabilities of your sewing machine, and your own: do not make small parts if technical skills are not enough. In such cases, it is better to use the time-tested option: manual sewing. With it, you can make applications of any size, but remember that it takes two to three times more time and effort.
Simple schemes for beginners
The presented patchwork-blanket scheme is recommended for those who take their first steps in this labor-intensive art. Thanks to her, you can be sure that the desired product will turn out as intended.
Another version of the scheme for beginners in the patchwork: the simplicity of the lines and sewing creates the illusion of a complex pattern, despite the fact that it is created from simple stripes cut into pieces.
Fabric Recommendations
Patchwork rugs and blankets are usually made from natural fabrics such as linen, teak, and cotton. Of synthetic and silk fabrics, this is also possible, but with extensive experience, and the product will be more for demonstration than for everyday use, because such fabrics do not give that feeling of comfort and warmth, like cotton.
It is important that all the patches are approximately the same thickness, because a plaid made of mottled pieces of different thicknesses: from satin to wool, is unlikely to please the eye, and it will be difficult to create a single composition from them.
It is also necessary to check the entire fabric: does it fade during washing? To do this, we stretch all the pieces in warm water and observe if there is a “scout”? Next, dry the flaps, iron them thoroughly, and only then begin to create a blanket.
Step-by-step operations: a brief description
In order to sew a patchwork blanket with your own hands, you must:
- Decide on the size of the product, its color scheme and pattern design. For beginners, it is recommended to take schemes based on simple squares of at least ten centimeters in size, because initially it is important to “fill” the hand using the technique of stitching parts.
- Prepare the fabric for the product and cut it in accordance with the scheme, not forgetting the allowances for the seams (usually 5 - 10 mm).
- Sew the flaps according to the pattern, ironing each seam. This must be done to achieve a smooth canvas and straight lines.
- Cut the back side of the blanket and the filler the same size as the front side, of course, also with allowance for seams.
- Put together a patchwork - a blanket around the perimeter, pinning pins as thick as possible. Quilting the product, retreating from the main seams by a centimeter. Important: make sure that the shape of the blanket does not warp.
Next, the final part remains: cut the edging, immediately notice with pins, and then with a sewing machine, making sure that the corners are wrapped carefully. That's all, an exclusive thing is ready to please yourself and your household!
Some more ideas
The quilt in the patchwork style does not have to be sewn, why not knit it from the remnants of woolen threads that every needlewoman must have? Such a warm miracle will warm on dank autumn and winter days, giving the comfort of a home. Make it much easier than fabric, because everyone knows how to knit with a simple scarf pattern. Knit squares of the same shape, and then use a hook and a contrasting thread to connect them into a single fabric. Then tie around the perimeter with a thicker thread to give a finished shape and, voila, the warm blanket is ready!
You can also combine two ideas. Firstly, use flaps of fabric that are crocheted and then joined together, turning into a canvas. Or do it differently. To make two such canvases, between which you can put the fleece, if you want the blanket to get warmer, and then quilting in the center of each square (not along the knitted seam). Next, make the edge of the edging made of fabric or crochet and thick threads, after stitching three layers of the blanket together with a buttonhole stitch.