I need baby quilt advice!
 

I need to make a baby quilt STAT! (Last minute invitation.) So I bought a charm pack of 5" squares, some cute baby prints, some solids. But I'm not sure about the size/proportions. Does it matter? If I make it 5 x 5 squares, I could do an X of solids. But is square weird? I want it to be small - any thoughts? I'm such a rank beginner, I truly don't know where to start!

Square would not be weird. Someone will come up with a great idea for you. Good luck.

I've made square baby quilts, but they were 40" square. I presume you plan on adding borders? Post pictures when it's done so we can all see.

I hadn't decided about borders. Just bought the squares and a backing. It really can be small, it's for a teeny tiny baby. I'm going to try laying out some squares tonight and see where I get.

I like 40x40 for newborns, that way they can use it for a while and it's a good size for a toddler to drag about.

You can get by with as small as 36 x 36 - it won't be 'big enough' very long if baby grows quickly - but then it would be a perfect 'drag around' size.

Square is nice for wrapping babies up burrito or papoose style. Which I did way back when - - - -Does anyone do that anymore?

In fact, I preferred the small quilts to be square .

I'm going for the burrito!

Square is not weird! Every baby quilt I've made has been square - anywhere from 36" to 42" square.

How many squares are in the charm pack?

One fun way to approach this is to deal the fabric squares out like cards by setting them side by side in a grid, then switch them around until you're happy with the arrangement.

Square is perfectly fine . . . but I wouldn't make it any smaller than 36" x 36". If that's "too big" for the baby, then she probably will be wrapped in a soft blanket, instead. Besides, tiny babies grow very quickly and by the time cool weather sets in, a smaller quilt would probably be too small.

Here is one that is fast and easy and uses print charm squares and solids. http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransso...d-pattern.html

I just finished 2 baby quilts with cut out 3-4" squares. I made one and someone else seen it and wanted me to make them one. They liked it better cause it was different. It's different from the usual nursery scenes/noah's ark, etc., scenes. Be sure to post a pic.

I make baby quilts for the babies christened in my Church. They are usually between 36" to 42" square. No set rule so it is your choice.

cute! I wish I could quilt that well, though.

Don't forget your seam allowances when you figure your final size. Add alternating plain blocks if you need more to get the size you want.

I need baby quilt advice
 

There's nothing wrong with square! I usually (but haven't done that many since I am a rank amateur) try to make a quilt crib size (45" X 60"). You can choose your size and decide what you want to do with it. The baby quilt I made about 10 years ago, was a Sunbonnet Sue, and the pattern book was originally supposed to be 28" X 36" (I think that's too small, by a long ways). The Sunbonnet Sue quilt is a LOT of work -- with all the appliqued blocks -- I enlarged the patterns and doubled the number of blocks to end up 45" X 60" on that one. I goofed on the one I working on -- math-wise, but it's still turning out pretty good!

Good luck with your quilt and be sure to post your pics!


Jeanette Frantz

For years baby quilts were 36X44. I still think is a good size. I sold many preprinted panels that size at JoAnn's when they were the rage and patterns were designed for that size, too.

well, because I was sort of in a panic today I only bought 3/4 yard of the backing. And I am under serious time pressure here! So it's going to be 25 x 30 and that's all she wrote. It'll be a nice little crib blanket and if the baby likes it she can carry it around as a "lovey" when she's bigger. If I had more time I'd get more creative, but this needs to be done by 9/5! I'll post a picture, for sure!

Sounds good to me. Be sure to show us the finished quilt.

Don't forget you can also pick up some matching fat quarter blenders and cut 5" squares to mingle in amongst the others. I think I would want it to be at least 36 x 42. They do grow.

Ok, you've all convinced me! I'll make it 36 x 40 and add a border to the backing.

Remember babies "wrap" differently than we do, so square sounds good.

Start sewing!

I make mine square too, usually 42" x 42". I see you mentioned that you only have 36" of the backing. You can either add a border all around the backing or use one of the diagonal piecing methods to stretch that out. There are several threads with the title "diagonal backing" on this board that will help you. Good luck!

Personally I think 36 x 40 or 42 is a great size. You can wrap baby up in it or use it for a cover. Good Luck,