Quilting is a craft that has been around for hundreds of years and has seen an increase in popularity recently with parents and grandparents making beautiful keepsakes for their children.

Learning how to quilt is a relatively easy process, which you can then extrapolate to make even more intricate pieces when you feel confident enough.

1. Preparation is key

Find a design you love or create your own. Beginners usually start with blocks or strips which are easy to fit together. If you are using a pattern, check which seam allowance they recommend – they tend to range from 0.5 inches up. When you choose your fabrics, remember you need enough to cover the seam allowance as well as fabric for backing and binding. Measure out and cut up your fabric, laying it out on the floor or tabletop so that you can see your pattern.

2. Sew the quilt top together

Whilst some quilt by hand, sewing machines are the best at keeping straight lines and tend to be faster. If you have chosen blocks or strips, sew them row by row and then sew each row together. Keeping a strict seam allowance will allow you to easily match the rows up.

3. Quilting

The next step is quilting, which is when you layer your top, batting, and backing fabric and sew them together. Pin the three layers together first, to ensure it stays flat as you are sewing. Keep it simple with straight lines to start, and then you can move onto the intricate patterns when you are more confident.

4. Binding

The final stage is binding. Binding is the material that folds over the edge of the quilt to give it a tidy, finished look.

Once the binding is complete, ensure all loose threads have been removed. Your quilt is ready to use!