Creating a quilt can be an incredibly rewarding experience, allowing you to showcase your creativity and craftsmanship.
The “Left The Nest” quilt pattern is a charming and intricate design that represents birds leaving the nest, making it perfect for any nature lover.
In this detailed tutorial, we’ll walk you through the steps of creating this beautiful quilt pattern, including fabric cuts and measurements. Let’s dive into the world of quilting and create something stunning together.
Gathering Materials for Your Quilt
Before you start quilting, it’s essential to gather all the materials you’ll need. Having everything on hand will make the process smoother and more enjoyable.
Fabric Selection: Choosing the right fabric is crucial for any quilt pattern. For the “Left The Nest” quilt, you’ll need a variety of fabrics to represent the birds, nests, and background. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need:
- Bird fabrics: 1 yard of assorted prints or solids
- Nest fabrics: 1 yard of assorted prints or solids
- Background fabric: 2 yards of a solid or subtle print
- Binding fabric: 1/2 yard
- Backing fabric: 4 yards
- Batting: 60” x 60”
Tools and Notions: In addition to fabric, you’ll need some essential quilting tools. These include a rotary cutter, cutting mat, quilting ruler, sewing machine, thread, pins, and an iron. Having these tools on hand will make the cutting and sewing process more efficient and precise.
Choosing Thread: Select a high-quality thread that matches or complements your fabric colors. Using the right thread ensures that your quilt is durable and that the stitches blend seamlessly with the fabric. Polyester or cotton thread is usually a good choice for quilting.
Cutting Instructions for the Left The Nest Quilt
Accurate cutting is the foundation of a successful quilt. The “Left The Nest” quilt pattern involves several different shapes and sizes, so it’s important to follow the cutting instructions carefully.
Cutting the Bird Fabrics: From your bird fabrics, cut:
- 20 squares, 4” x 4”
- 20 triangles, 3.5” sides (cut squares diagonally) These pieces will form the birds in your quilt, adding a vibrant touch to the overall design.
Cutting the Nest Fabrics: From your nest fabrics, cut:
- 20 squares, 4” x 4”
- 20 strips, 2” x 6” The nest pieces will create a cozy and contrasting element against the birds, giving the quilt its characteristic theme.
Cutting the Background Fabric: From your background fabric, cut:
- 40 squares, 4” x 4”
- 40 rectangles, 2.5” x 8” The background fabric ties all the pieces together, framing the birds and nests in a cohesive manner.
Cutting the Binding Fabric: From your binding fabric, cut:
- Strips, 2.5” wide These strips will be used to bind the edges of the quilt once it is assembled and quilted.
Piecing the Left The Nest Quilt Blocks
With all your fabric pieces cut and ready, it’s time to start piecing the quilt blocks. This is where your quilt begins to take shape.
Assembling the Bird Blocks: To create a bird block, take one bird fabric square and two background fabric triangles. Sew the triangles to opposite sides of the square, forming a point. Press the seams open or to one side, as preferred. Repeat this step to create 20 bird blocks.
Assembling the Nest Blocks: For the nest blocks, take one nest fabric square and two background fabric strips. Sew the strips to opposite sides of the square. Press the seams. Repeat this process to create 20 nest blocks. The nest blocks should alternate with the bird blocks to create a balanced pattern.
Creating the Full Quilt Blocks: Now, you’ll combine the bird and nest blocks with additional background fabric pieces. For each block, sew a 2.5” x 8” background fabric rectangle to one side of a bird block. Then sew a matching nest block to the opposite side of the rectangle. Repeat for the remaining blocks, alternating bird and nest blocks to enhance the overall design.
Assembling and Finishing the Left The Nest Quilt
The final steps involve assembling the quilt top, adding batting and backing, and finishing with quilting and binding.
Assembling the Quilt Top: Lay out your completed quilt blocks in a pattern that pleases you, alternating the bird and nest blocks to enhance the design. Sew the blocks together in rows, and then sew the rows together to form the quilt top. Press all seams carefully to ensure a smooth and flat top.
Quilting the Layers: Layer your quilt top with batting and backing fabric. Baste the layers together using pins or spray adhesive. Quilt as desired, either by hand or using a sewing machine. You can choose a simple grid pattern, echo quilting, or a more intricate design to highlight the “Left The Nest” theme.
Binding the Quilt: Finally, bind the edges of the quilt using your binding fabric. Cut the binding fabric into 2.5” wide strips. Sew the strips together end-to-end to create one long binding strip. Attach the binding to the quilt edges, folding it over and stitching it down to finish the quilt. This step gives your quilt a polished and professional look.
Creating the “Left The Nest” quilt pattern is a rewarding project that combines beautiful colors and a meaningful design.
By following this step-by-step tutorial, you can make your own quilt that will be a stunning addition to any home.
Remember to take your time with each step, ensuring accurate cuts and precise sewing for the best results. Enjoy the process and the beautiful quilt you’ll have at the end!
