When a few people think about patchwork quilts, they usually have an image in their mind of a traditional fancy iron framed bed, with a patchwork quilt spread over the top. Each square looks like its a little pocket, filled with air that gives off a warm and cushy appeal.

I’ve had many newcomers ask ‘how do you make the puffy quilts ‘?

Well its quite simple, you have to follow a few easy steps.

Step 1

Plan out how many squares you will need. Each quilt is unique, so you can’t just pick a number and work from that.

Measure the bed size that you intend the quilt to go on. Get the size of the mattress and then plan for a minimum of one foot more of quilt to hang off each side.

For the sake of simple calculation, I’m going to say we’ll use 4 inch squares. So if you were making a quilt that was 40 X 40, you’ll need 100 squares. Calculations work this out so the quilt would be 40 inches by 40 inches - but this may really turn out a bit smaller due to seam allowances.

Step 2

When cutting the back fabric, ensure you cut it a bit larger to account for the bump. So a 4 inch square would have 4 and 3/4 inch sizes.

Then stitch the top squares to the bottom squares around the edges, ensuring the extra fabric is in the middle. Also be certain to leave a hole for stuffing.

Step 3

Stuff each square carefully, though not so much that you can’t stitch them together. Also take care that you stuff each square equally. Inconsistent stuffing will leave you with an odd, lop sided looking quilt.

Step 4

Lay the backing fabric on top of the sewn puffs. Sew the sides together around the edges, leaving room to turn the quilt out. When stitched together, turn the quilt the right side out and sew the opening closed.

And there you have it, your own puff patchwork quilt!

To get more great tips about how to make a patchwork quilt, check out Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt website now!