This is a guest post written by my friend Zoë. She makes quilts! Today she is sharing her Blue and White Postage Stamp Quilt Tutorial here on the blog. Her online store is called Zoë Dawn Quilts. Go check her out!
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Hi friends of Mavis!
I recently made a quilt for Mavis and what fun I had! She asked if I could take pictures along the way so if you’ve been curious about the quilt making process, look no further.
First I received a package in the mail. In it were thousands of patches Mavis had cut as well as fabric options for the quilt backing. I love the prints she chose!
First step, after patch cutting, is to arrange the patches.
Some quilt designs require all of the patches being arranged on the floor or design wall so you can see the entire design at once.
Mavis wanted the whites and blues to be a random checkerboard so I simply picked and chose blues and whites until I had the appropriate amount in each little pile.
After the rows are all stacked, time to sew! My favorite method for piecing squares is called chain piecing. Can you see the “chains” of patches being made?
Once all of the patches are chain pieced, I can breathe easier because I know the cat won’t snatch a pile of patches and run off with them. This is also one of my favorite quilting “textures”. Chain pieced patches always look so cool to me!
Then it’s time to sew the rows together, matching each corner carefully.
Next it’s time to press the seams.
This can be a bit tedious. Some quilters choose to do small amounts as they sew but I prefer turning the iron on once and just getting it done. Less jumping up from the sewing machine that way.
After pressing it’s time to think about the back of the quilt. Often the back is just a single large piece of fabric but Mavis wanted something a little more interesting than that.
Check out what we came up with based on her fabrics. We even snuck in a few leftover patches from the front.
Second to last step is quilting.
After the three quilt layers (back, batting, and top) are loaded into the longarm, I can quilt. Mavis chose a wavy line – perfect for her beach theme.
Quilting stitches hold the quilt layers together. It’s done either by hand or like in this case, machine. For the wavy line, I guide the machine over the quilt to create the waves.
When quilting is finished, the quilt edges get trimmed even and then binding is applied. First it’s sewn on the front.
Then the quilt is flipped over and it’s sewn on the back. This finishes off the raw edges so nothing frays as the quilt is used.
And the quilt is finished! Isn’t it beautiful?
Mavis picked out a gorgeous array of blues and teals. The variety of color values helps to give the quilt so much depth. The back is so interesting, too. Just flip the quilt over for a totally new quilt!
Thank you, Mavis, for the honor of completing this project for you!
Zoë Rohrer
Note from Mavis: Well done Zoë!!! I love how this quilt turned out. It’s everything I was hoping for and more. 🙂 Thank you for the Blue and White Postage Stamp Quilt Tutorial!
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Karen says
So pretty!
janie says
Well Done! Enjoy, Janie
Mary3M says
Gorgeous! This ‘tutorial’ shows the extensive amount of time ‘hand-made’ items take. And why they are so expensive. Unless a person is a crafter (quilter, knitter, needlepointer or any other ‘craft’) the amount of time and talent needed to create is hidden. No one realizes how much goes into the craft. Very nice and such an heirloom! Nicely done ladies!
Meg C says
I 100% agree! You said exactly what I was going to!
Patty says
Beautiful! I agree with Mary3M, hand made are without a doubt, a labor of love.
Tracey says
So fun! My Mum is a quilter and I have several of hers. I have one that was a wedding gift with chicken/rooster print backing. I love whimsy and fun in a quilt. It’s a beautiful art.
Kelly says
It turned out beautiful!!
Jamie says
Turned out great! Let’s see the finished project in your room Mavis!
Barbara says
WAIT A MINUTE!
WHY did I not think to chain piece like this? Zoe, did you cut the rows apart before sewing them together? I’m guessing not and it made the corners easier to line up as well!
Always something to learn….
zoe says
Hi barbara!
I did not cut the rows apart. If you like to press your seams open you’ll need to cut but otherwise that would be an unnecessary step!
Barbara says
LIFE CHANGING MOMENT! Thank you
Kath says
Beautiful!
Patti Vanderbloemen says
It is gorgeous! My mother is a quilter and I am blessed to have several quilts on our bed! Well done Zoe!
Kathy Wolfe says
Love it!
Holley says
It is so beautiful!!! I love the fabrics you chose, Mavis! Zoe you are very, very talented!
Heather MacLeod McClain says
What size are the squares? And is the final product a king or a queen?
Those colors work so well together. Well done, team!
Heather near Atlanta
Zoë rohrer says
Hi heather!
Squares were cut at 2.5” and once sewn are 2”.
It’s a queen.
Ashley Bananas says
It came out beautiful!
J in OH-IO says
Wow, Wow, Wow!!! Beautiful!!! Thank you for showing the quilting process! Awesome and Amazing!
Tiffany V Faw says
That is beautiful! Great job choosing fabrics.
Katie C says
It’s gorgeous!! I love the colors and the wavy quilting design!
Hanna McCown says
It is gorgeous. Thank you for the tutorial. I just love the seaside vibes. Great job.
Blessings,
Hanna
Linda Sand says
Beautiful! I’m sure it is not as easy as you made it look, though.
Heidi N. says
Just beautiful! What a lovely job, Zoe. The blues & whites are perfect for a seaside theme. What a treat to be able to see the whole process of making a quilt!
Debi says
Beautiful – love the colors. My mom use to see our own cloths. As we grew older, she saved the old cloths and cut into squares. She used these to make had a quilt out of our childhood memories.
Mom also knitted and crocheted. Yes, I agree that people who are not crafters, don’t take into the price the cost of time, handmade, and materials cost.
Heather near Reno says
It’s gorgeous. Being a quilter I realize how much work was involved in that quilt. I don’t think I have the patience to make a quilt out of that size squares.
Cathy says
Love the quilt , the little squares are wonderful
Who knew It’s so cute
Dianne says
The quilt is absolutely gorgeous, Zoe. I, too, love the colors and the back pattern. That is a lot of squares to cut, Mavis! Just beautiful.
Linda Bick says
So beautiful! I love a blue and white quilt, your postage stamp is absolutely perfect!
Jeanine says
Wow…that was fast! Zoe is differently a professional! It will look fabulous on your bed…and cozy too!
Melinda says
What a beautiful quilt!
Joely says
Absolutely beautiful!
Jennifer says
Thank you so much for posting!! Such beautiful talent and such a gorgeous quilt
Kimberly Vassar says
So very beautiful
Cindy Brick says
So now, Mavis, you really need to get this piece appraised… so it’s protected on your homeowners policy. Just sayin.’
(Yes, I do this for a job. But I also know what I’m talking about. You don’t want the insurance adjuster saying, ‘We’ll go down to Walmart and get you a nice replacement…’)
Judy says
So beautiful!
Teri says
Fantastic job Zoe. Thank you for the tutorial. You sure are quick!
Bec says
I love this so much! Beautiful quilt, Zoë and Mavis. My grandmother was a quilter (made 1000+) and taught me to hands sew before I was in kindergarten. I hope to get back to it once my kids are a little older.
Cecilia Lee says
This was explained very well and the colors are perfect. Thank you for sharing and explaining te process.
Brenda says
This is a beautiful quilt! I love the colors and the way you quilted it! What fabric collection is this?
Zoe says
Hi Brenda!
It’s a mix of batiks and regular quilting cottons featuring seaside objects, chickens, and patterns that reflect the colors Mavis was aiming for. The whites are a variety of white on white prints. A couple of them might be parts of collections but this isn’t a collection itself. (I think- Mavis would know for sure since she purchased and cut the fabrics!)
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi Brenda,
There are a few in there from the Dear Stella ~ Hooked on a feeling collection but other than that, like Zoe said, the fabrics were a mix of ones I had picked up and a few different fabric stores to go along with my white and blue theme. 🙂
Rita M Perez says
Very Beautiful.. I need to start sewing again..I have been crocheting a lot ,just need to do something else..
Lynn from NC Outer Banks says
It is lovely and a treasure! Mavis, your color palette is so pretty, and Zoe’s machine work is beautiful. Thank you for sharing the quilting steps. So much work, with an amazing result. It will look so lovely on a bed and is perfect for the beach. Congratulations to Mavis and Zoe on the collaboration.
Kari says
So beautiful! Nice work, ladies! I’m curious what kind of batting was used for this quilt? I haven’t made a quilt in decades, but now I am tempted to try one.
zoe rohrer says
Hi Kari, we used a medium weight (4 oz) 100% cotton batting in natural color.