half square baby quilt

My first half square baby quilt from 2 years ago is interesting to look back at what I started with and where I am now.  I can see many things I would do differently but I think it is important to show how someone starts a craft and the progress.

When I told my son I was making a half square baby quilt he raised an eyebrow and gave me a crazy look.  As I have dabbled in various craft forms over the years I have learned that each craft has its own vernacular.  Crazy words that make sense only to those in the “know”.  A half square in quilting and sewing terms is really a triangle.  But it is easier to sew a triangle when working with a square. You get a truer shape and it is easier to make points line up.

The half square baby quilt I made is completely my idea.  Well, not the way to do half square but the way that I joined them.  So if the squares happen to have a name I would love to know it. You can leave it in the comment section below. I am totally making this up as I go and there most likely is a better, faster and neater way to do this AND this is a practice baby quilt for me.

Pre-cut fabric is a great way to get started in quilting. It saves so much time especially when you are practicing and learning. I am sure when I am comfortable in my skills I will cut my own.  Maybe… It might be worth a little extra to have precuts than to spend the extra time to make all the pieces. I think next I want to make a jelly roll quilt.

Materials for half square baby quilt:

• Precut square pack with 52 pieces. (I did not use them all – pot holders are next)
• Noir Black batting
• 1 1/2 yards of grey Kona solids
• sewing machine and thread
• scissors
• Cutting mat and rotary cutter
• rulers

Instructions for making half square baby quilt:

Now keep in mind I am totally making this up as I go and there most likely is a better, faster and neater way to do this AND this is a practice baby quilt for me. Also I like to free motion stitch and again I completely make it up as I go.

1. Play around with the squares and range them in a manner pleasing to you.
2. Sew squares together and then iron open seams on all sides of the squares.  Yes ironing is really needed and makes a HUGE difference.
3. Once you have your center design made add long strips or more squares to get the quilt to the dimension you want.
4. Lay the batting and back fabric under the top layer.  This is when I do my free motion stitching.  Once the sewing is complete I square them up.
5. Bind the half square quilt.