Trip Around the World
Amish quilts are among the simplest designs to make, yet their attention to detail is the reason they are frequently regarded as works of art. Make your own Amish-style quilt by picking a classic pattern, sewing it in the traditional way and doing highly detailed quilting in classic styles.
Instructions
1. Pick your quilt pattern. Amish quilts are made from simple geometric forms such as squares and rectangles. Study samples of Amish quilts to decide which one you'd like to do. If this is your first quilt or if you are unsure of the style, pick a very simple design.
2. Choose your fabric. Amish quilts are made of cotton or wool fabrics, but we will use cotton in this example. All Amish quilts are made of solid color fabrics, no prints. The colors are muted yet rich. Your quilt can have two or three colors or a wide variety, depending on your quilt pattern and your particular taste.
3. Sew your quilt top. Use scissors to cut out each individual patch, and sew the patches together to create your top. Use the smallest and most even stitches that you can. Keep your seam allowance at an even quarter inch throughout the top. When your quilt top is finished, make a fabric sandwich consisting of the backing fabric, the batting and then the top. Spread these out on a large table or clean floor. Baste the three layers together using large stitches or safety pins. When the entire quilt has been basted, use a quilting hoop or frame to hold your fabrics while you quilt. This will make the fabric taut and easier to quilt and keep the three layers from shifting around.
4. Do your quilting next. The quilt design is at least as important as the fabric design in an Amish quilt, so choose wisely. You may use an allover design such as hanging diamonds or a fan, or smaller motifs like pumpkin seeds. Don't be afraid to make the quilting elaborate and highly detailed within the Amish style, as these quilts frequently are richly quilted. Use small and even quilting stitches in an unobtrusive color.
5. Finish your quilt. Sew the binding along all the edges, neatly slip-stitching to the back of the quilt. Traditional Amish quilts don't generally have labels on them, but you may want to create one for your quilt. If you do, include such details as your name, the name of the quilt, the dates you began and finished the quilt, your location and any other important details about the quilt. Make the label small, and sew it to a back corner of the quilt.
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