October 11 ~ Crayon Box Quilt Tutorial + Winter Peach Giveaway
Check in every day for your chance to win something special in our Baby Shower!
Rae from Made by Rae and our Sew,Mama,Sew! Editorial Board created this fabulous Crayon Box Quilt tutorial for our Baby Shower celebration. It will be the hit of any baby shower! Rae has a binding tutorial at Made by Rae to help you complete your Crayon Box Quilt too, so be sure to check it out. Rae will also be back next week with another fun baby-related tutorial too. We’re so lucky!
From Rae: I had always thought it would take forever to cut out all of the pieces for a quilt with lots of triangles. But the secret to this one is that you start with just squares! You’ll be amazed at how simple and quick this is and it makes a great gift for a new baby. I made this one for baby girl after she was born last year using the same technique. When she was really small I used it as a play blanket, and now that she’s over a year old she sleeps with it in her crib. The bold solid colors in this version remind me of a box of crayons, but you can also use near-solids or designer prints like I did on my daughter’s for a more eclectic look.
Materials:
- 1 yard of white quilting cotton for base color
- 1/4 yard of solid broadcloth in six different colors
- 1 1/4 yard solid or near solid quilting cotton for back of quilt
- 1 square yard of cotton or bamboo batting (a little extra is helpful though, so you might want to cut a 42” square)
Other things to have on hand that are helpful:
- rotary cutter with self-healing mat
- fabric marking pen with disappearing ink
- safety pins or spray starch
Sewing Instructions:
Make a 7″ square template out of a piece of cardboard. Fold part of the quarter yard solids into thirds and place the template on top. Using a rotary cutter, cut through all three layers at once to make three 7″ squares.
Repeat for the other five solid colors. You will have 18 colored squares when you are finished (three of each color).
Using the same template, cut 18 white squares. When you are finished you should have 36 squares total (18 solid color, 18 white).
Match each colored square to a white square with right sides facing.
Take a fabric marking pen and make a line on each square going diagonally from one corner to the other as shown.
Sew each pair of matched squares together by stitching on either side of the center line with a 1/4” seam. Backstitch at the beginning and end of each seam.
Cut each square in half down the center line, being careful to leave enough allowance next to each seam (if you get too close to a seam, the fabric can pull apart and fray when you wash the quilt)
Open up and press seams towards colored half of square. As you press, keep the iron pointing parallel to the center seam so that the squares don’t warp.
Repeat for the rest of the squares.
Sidenote: At this point you could put the quilt together as shown below if you like. I like how this looks too and sometimes you just want to be done!
Or you can keep on keep on going to finish the blocks…
Take two matching squares and cut them in half down the center diagonal line:
Swap the right side of one square for the left side of the other and match the two new triangles up right sides together with contrasting fabrics opposite from each other. Repeat with the rest until they are all cut in half, swapped, and re-matched.
Line the center seams up carefully before sewing the two sides together:
Sew each pair together along their long sides with a 1/4” seam. I start with a stack of matched triangles next to my machine and sew them all together in one go without lifting my presser foot or clipping my thread. It makes a big bunting-like string of triangles and goes really quick!
Cut the them apart and press the seam you just sewed open (results in a better looking quilt) or to one side (faster), remembering to keep the iron pointed along the seam to reduce warping on your square.
It is worth your time at this point to evaluate the size and evenness of your squares. I usually trim any squares that are not exactly square or those that are a little bigger than the others. Taking the time to do this will help your quilt top look even and neat.
Next arrange your squares in a pleasing manner in six rows and six columns. For me this means placing them as randomly as I can without like colors touching.
Take the first two squares in the first row and sew them together with 1/4” seam and right sides facing. Repeat until you have a strip of six squares sewn together. I find it helpful to sew from left to right across each row and always place the right square on top of the left so I don’t forget what order they go in.
The ends of these seams always end up with little points on them, and I clip these off (be careful not to clip too close to the seam though).
Then press all of the seams in each strip in the same direction, say to the left.
Repeat with the next row and press all of the seams the other way, say to the right.
By alternating the direction that you press each row, you’ll reduce the bulk at the places where four squares come together. Continue sewing the rows together and pressing in alternating directions until all six rows are complete. Trim the edges of the rows with a rotary cutter to make them as even as possible.
Next you will sew the rows together. Take two rows and place them right sides together. You will probably notice that the individual seams between each square don’t exactly line up across the entire row. That’s OK! I sew one square at a time as I go across the row, matching the seams up with my fingers. This means that I sometimes have to stretch my squares a little to make the seams line up, but it still seems to work fine.
Press the row seams open. Then press entire quilt top on the front and again on the back. Don’t skimp on this step– good pressing pays off! My finished quilt top was about 36” square.
At this point it is time to layer your quilt with the batting and backing, quilt the layers together, and bind off the quilt. Since there are so many different ways to go about doing this, I will just outline the way I did mine below, but I found these links from past Sew Mama Sew quilting archives to be very useful and you may want to take the time to read peruse these, especially if you are a beginner quilter:
I placed the quilt top on top of the batting square and the 1.25 yard of backing cotton and centered it as much as possible. I pinned the layers together with as many pins as I could stand. Then I machine-quilted in the horizontal and vertical seams and added three lines of stitching along the diagonals in one direction.
I like to use my “cheater bind-off” method to finish the quilt. Briefly it consists of trimming my batting to the edge of the quilt top, trimming my cotton backing to 1” all the way around my quilt, and folding it over to make a faux binding for my quilt. I’ve put together a tutorial of this method on my blog if you’d like to see a more detailed explanation.
I am certain this breaks some rules about binding off your quilt and has some of you real quilters spitting out your coffee, but I have found this to be a quick and painless way to bind off my quilts. It certainly doesn’t look as nice as homemade bias tape binding (especially on the back), but it is faster and makes me love quilting more. And that’s worth something, isn’t it?
Comment today for your chance to win…
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Today Winter Peach is giving away an Open Toe Knotted Baby Bootie/Vintage Flair pattern (baby-sizes only) and a Mary Jane Flats pattern (baby & mama sizes) combination package to one lucky winner! View prize details here, and comment today for your chance to win! |
119 Responses to “October 11 ~ Crayon Box Quilt Tutorial + Winter Peach Giveaway”
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Love this! Totally adorable, and much less “fussy” than I thought a triangle quilt would be!
Lovely simple quilt.
That quilt and those shoes are adorable.
That knotted baby shoe is adorable.
I’m in love with the simple color choices. They’re awesome!
The quilt is adorable and looks so doable! Those booties are super cute too. It would be so fun to have matching slippers for me and my daughter on the way
. Thanks for the great tutorial and giveaway!
This is amazing! So colorful!
I’m very impressed by geometric designs (wich I love) and bright colors, mainly after seeing this exhibition http://www.tricotaria.com/2010/10/nadir-afonso.html.
Thanks for this tutorial!
love that binding off method!
Cute quilt!
Such a beautiful quilt! I don’t know if I have the patience to make this one–I haven’t tried anything beyond basic squares or strips of fabric!
very cute. I love the simple quilting as well.
I have a new little grandson and love all the ideas and projects to make. I also have two little granddaughters who love something hand made. The blanket is adorable.
I love this pattern – and I love Rae too!
It’s so pretty! Marking for use in the near future.
Thanks, Rae, for this great tutorial!
I LOVE this – - I am ready to get into quilting!!! thanks for the inspiration – it’s a definite “bookmark”! – Mandy, Sugar Bee Craft Edition
I am making a christmas tree quilt like this! Love the idea for a kiddos blanket. too cute! and it works for a boy or a girl!
I would love to win these!
tmsatterwhite@hotmail.com
Great tutorial! Thanks for the chance!
This is gorgeous, Rae. I’m definitely bookmarking.
what a wonderful tutorial! and the booties are SOOO cute. I’d love to have the mama & baby slippers!
love them! perfect for matching slippers for christmas.
I have been trying to get some binding on a quilt I’m making forever, I think I’ll try this binding tutorial!
They are so cute! And thanks for the tutorial!
I love this quilt! I have been wanting to make one out of only solids.
What a great quilt and excellent instruction as well. LOVE Made by Rae. All her stuff is wonderful. I wish I was as creative as she is.
I absolutely LOVE Winter Peach even more now than a few minutes ago after wandering around her Etsy site more. I SO desperately need new slippers and have been looking everywhere for the perfect pattern and I think I’ve finally found it in her store. I’m SO excited. I wish my checkbook was as excited since it just groaned when it learned I wanted to spend more money that’s not in there. LOL Maybe I’ll get lucky and win. My cold feet would be very thankful. HAHA
Fantastic tutorial ! I wish I had enough time to do everything I want, but I am feeling blessed to have so many projects on hand … and in my head !:))
Thanksss
Lovely! I can’t wait to try this, just in time for Christmas.
Cute quilt. I love the solids and simplicity of it!
just darling! Would love those
Oh Rae, those two different quilts are so beautiful in their own styles, even if its he same technique. Thank you for sharing!
Very nice! Thanks for sharing.
Cool pattern! I hate cutting triangles, so this looks like a cool way to have a triangle quilt but not cut them!!
What a fun, cheerful quilt.
Such a great quilt tutorial, but I especially like the look of the one linked to that used printed fabrics. Makes me want to run out and buy more fabric
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so easy and so cute, handy too as I’m just about to start sewing a shirt strip quilt together and using the same blocks in different sizes, thankyou for the tutorial
thanks for a the chance to win!
thanks for a the chance to win!
I’m surely trying this one… I’m making 40 quilts to donate to an orphanage and this will definitely be one of the designs… Thanks for making it so simple and sharing it with us…
Cheers from India
very cute shoes!
Beautiful quilt and tutorial. I made similar one from Quilting for Peace, and I love the trick of sewing squares in half to make triangles. Thanks!
I love this quilt. Even though I’m not a quilter, I think I feel daring enough to tackle a project like this and possibly pull it off.
I love this quilt block and want to use it for a quilt for my new babe due Valentine’s Day 2011!
What a fun and quick quilt! Thanks for the instructions!
Love this quilt! Easy gift for friends, too!
Beautiful quilt!
That slipper pattern is adorable!
Those shoes are absolutely the cutest!!!!!
So cute!
This is a lovely quilt and I loved the tutorial. I have some babies coming soon and this looks simple enough to make in a weekend.
Thanks!
such a beautiful quilt. would definitely capture any baby’s attention.
This is a beautifully simple quilt project.
great tutorial!
I’ve always been so intimidated by those complex quilts with a billion triangles! Your method is sooooooo much easier to do! I might go ahead and try this one out this month. Thanks for a great tutorial (and for your generous giveaways!!)
What a great pattern! Thanks!
The colors of the quilt are beautiful! Nice that Kermit the frog could pose for a picture too.
Great, easy, simple quilt! It looks as if it goes together quickly! I have a couple baby quilts that need to be made in the next 6 months. This pattern will be one of them. Thank you for the tutorial!
I just started quilting and this may have to be my second project!
Wow, thanks for the tutorial! It doesn’t look too complicated!
Loveit! I like how simple and bright these colors are. The name is perfect! But this pattern is great with any number of fabric choices!
Great and easy to understand tutorial. Thanks!
Thanks for the tutorial of a great quilt.
Thanks for the chance to win!
A simple but stylish quilt. Thanks for the tutorial and the giveaway.
what a fabulous simple quilt. and the easy “binding” is such a timesaver.
Such a simple pattern but so perfect. I can’t wait to try this.
wow, perfect timing, I was just contemplating making a quilt for a baby who just entered the world. thanks for making it seem so easy–great tutorial.
What a simple but striking quilt! Love the bold, bright colors. The booties are cute, too!
Love the cheater binding method. Just in time to quilt and bind my baby grandson’s quilt. Thank you so much.
Ohhhh! I love the simplicity of that quilt. And I have to say–that method of binding is enough to convince me to finish that quilt I’ve been dreading. Thanks!
I love this. I have been psyching myself up to making a quilt for so long now, I’ve got the fabric, the batting/wadding and everything, but I’m not brave enough. After reading this tutorial (especially the “cheat” binding) maybe I am brave enough after all.
I have been quilting for 20 years and never have heard of your “cheating” binding method. I LOVE it! Especially for quilts and blankets I make for kids etc. Thanks for sharing!
Love the quilt and shoes! Both are adorable!
rae you know we love youbaby.. those shoes rock!
Thanks for the great tutorial. That’s very easy to follow.
The shoes are darling!!
A lovely pattern, another idea for my big pile of HSTs! Gorgeous shoe pattern too! bellgirlsblog [at] gmail [dot] com
awesome tutorial. i want to try it out.
I am determined to complete one quilt in my life. And this may be the one!
Love the quilt tutorial, this would be a simple yet cute gift!
Thanks for the “cheater bind off method” tip…I will certainly be using that!
Beautiful Quilt!
Maybe I’ll start with a mini version
I love it- seems like a quilt that I can complete
Can’t wait to get started on the quilt!
The tutorial was very easy to follow and the color combination was truly gorgeous. Such simple colors and so beautiful put togehter.
And excellent tutorial! I’d love to try this with some of my bright prints.
Sigh. i really wish I had the patience to make a quilt.
So lovely. I love the simplicity of solids.
I love that little quilt! I have so many baby showers to attend this year I’ll have to add that little tute to my list of blanket patterns!
Great job on the quilt tutorial! A wonderful quilt for a little one.
Adorable! I might have to make this right. now.
How ever did you know that I needed a simple baby quilt pattern? 8-). Thanks for it and the chance to win!
Beautiful quilt!
Very cute quilt! CREATIVE binding!
Lovely quilt, if only I had the time…my 10 week old baby and 2 1/2 year old toddler are taking up most of my time!! A pair of baby shoes on the other hand… I’m sure I could find time for making those!
I will get to making a quilt one day. I’m all good to go and know it’s going to fun… this one looks very achievable. Thanks for the tricky binding instructions : )
i love rae’s blog and this is an awesome quilt ( and she claims she is not much of a quilter- ha!).
I really like the simplicity of this quilt! Thanks for the tut!
Mmmm I must pass this on to my aunt – she’s the quilt queen in our family and her gorgeous baby granddaughter might just need a light thin one for our summer which is fast approaching – well it could always just decorate the cot until next winter lol.
I love that you don’t have to buy a million yards of fabric for this quilt. That’s usually why I never start quilts!
i may just try this one!
such beautiful colors
So cute! I love little baby shoes! I would love to make these for any and all little babies to come!
Thanks for the giveaway!
~Teresa
I am tempted to try this! She makes it look fairly easy, and I am looking forward to the birth of my first grandchild. Great job!
What a great binding method!!
I don’t think there are any solids in my stash (it’s a problem, I know), but this looks really cute with the solid broadcloth.
It’s so cheerful!
I have a quilt from my great-grandmother bound similarly to what you describe. But I need to add bias binding on top because the edges are what wore out.
Wow!!! What a quick and easy pattern. I am looking forward to creating my own quilt. Thanks Rae
Such a cute quilt, love the colors.
And you don’t call yourself a “real quilter!” This is awesome and I learned so many cool, easy techniques along the way.
I am trying to learn to quilt,I googled quilting and came across this Beautiful quilt I want to try to make for both of my grandsons for Christmas….Thanks for the great instructions.
i love this quilt! and the size seems manageable . . . very cute!
Someday I’ll try to quilt . . .
In the meantime, I’d like the pattern for those booties!
so adorable! i love the colors
These are super cute, I love them. Thanks for the quilt tutorial, the instructions make it look super easy to do. I wish I had seen this before I made my first quilt- which still isnt finished because of a few bloopers. I do feel inspired to finish it and move on to this one though.
We could definitely make good use of these patterns in our family- 4 granddaughters!
jmclean at mts dot net
I’m putting this on my must make this.
Thank you so much for this fun tutorial Rae
Binding has always scared me a little, I am loving your cheeky way!
Those tiny shoes are too cute! Would love to be able to make some for my new mama friends!
Also – thanks for the fantastic tutorial; it’s def. on my to-do list now. And that quilt with the designer fabrics is beyond amazing.
Saving this tutorial, it is way too cute!
i made this!!
thanks for your tutorial, it looked so easy it inspired me to try quilting for the first time. =)