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Unlike sewing patterns, quilt patterns are generally short and sweet and don't contain as many basic instructions about assembly. When you purchase a quilt pattern, you'll find many are only a few pages long, even if the quilt looks quite complex. This is because many quilts quilts are made up of a block or two, and because of they way they are placed within the layout, they create the more complex patterns you see on the finished quilt.

Quilting has many conventions that are unspoken, but known to quilters. For instance, most quilts use 1/4" seam allowance, and most of the time, the seams are pressed to the darker fabric. So, a pattern author may not publish those instructions, as they are assumed.

Let us take you through a typical quilt pattern and explain the elements.

1. The Pattern Cover contains a photograph, the name of the quilt, and information about the author. It might also contain the finished size or sizes of the quilt. On YCQT, we also list this information under the description on the product page. If you study the photograph carefully, you may be able to see a pattern of blocks. You'll also be able to see if the quilt has appliques or other decorative elements. Check the quilt size to see if it suits your needs, but remember that if it's a little too small, you can typically add borders or additional blocks (with some practice and math) to increase the size.



2. The next page of the pattern gives required fabrics and other materials. Pay close attention to the yardage listed and what form it takes. While some quilts can be assembled with fat quarters or charm squares, others require off-the-bolt yardage to make certain elements work. By the same token, some quilts will only give fabrics in terms of pre-cuts, such as a jelly roll. You'll also find that some designers only list fabric colors in terms of value. Therefore, the designer leaves it up to you to select fabrics in colors you like within the value listed. Important: Some quilt patterns list yardage for batting, backing and binding; others do not. Learning how to back and bind a quilt is part of the quilter's skill set and is typically assumed knowledge. Be sure to check into Quilting 101 on YCQT for instructions on how to perform these tasks.



3. The next page of the pattern contains cutting instructions. Most quilts patterns require certain types of cuts, including strips, squares, triangles, and other geometrics. It is very helpful to print out the cutting instructions and place a check mark next to each category as you cut the fabric. Keep sticky notes next to the cutting board and write down the size of the cuts, placing a note on each pile as you go to keep the pieces organized For applique quilts, you might be given templates that have to be traced upon cardstock or template plastic. The templates are then used to draw the appliques upon fabric for cutting.We recommend cutting out and checking carefully all the pieces for your quilt before you start assembling. Quilts can sometimes take a long time to finish, and you don't want to get to the end only to find out you don't have enough fabric to complete the project.



4. Next in the pattern are assembly instructions. The designer will give you various block layouts for the quilt and will give instructions for the block layout. Follow the instructions closely! The way the seams are sewn affects the final product! Then s/he will give you various color combinations required to finish each block. If no seam allowance is listed, assume it is the standard 1/4". Another standard: be sure to press each seam immediately after sewing it, even if not directed to do so. Continue assembling separate blocks until you complete all that are required.



5. Most patterns give a diagram of the finished quilt that you should study carefully. In many cases, you'll see a diagram with some of the blocks spaced apart so you can see what they look like before being sewn. Again, follow instructions carefully when assembling the blocks together, and press the seams as you sew. For a particularly large quilt, it is helpful to lay out the pattern on a design wall (a fabric wall on which the pieces cling) or on a carpeted floor to make sure everything is in it's proper place and that you have all the required elements.



6. Border directions are now given, if required.



7. At this point, the designer typically leaves backing, binding, and quilting up to the quilter. There are several styles of binding that can be used on quilts. You'll find some simple backing, binding, and quilting instructions on the Quilting 101 page of YCQT. As with backing and binding, there are many forms of quilting (sewing the front, batting, and backing together) that are available. These range from hand stitching the quilt in various patterns, to stitch-in-the-ditch(stitching in the original seamlines), to hiring a quilter to sew your quilt on a long-arm machine. Over the next few months, we will be posting many free articles and resources for stitching your quilt together.

We hope this tutorial will help you to understand how to work through a typical quilt pattern. If you have quesions or concerns about your pattern, contact the author or drop us a note. We will do our best to help!