No, it isn’t!
If you still would like to create a beautiful handmade quilt before Christmas, you just need to choose the right pattern and be smart about it.
Here’s my 5 tips for choosing a quilt that you can complete.
Keep the colour scheme simple
By sticking to a simple colour scheme with only a limited number of fabrics, you don’t have to make lots of choices or worry about which colours to use where in your quilt. Similarly, choosing only a few patterns to work with can also make your life easier. Think about a single background colour with just 2 or 3 or 4 colours in the pattern, or keep it even more simple with just 1 contrasting colour on the background.
Use jelly rolls or other pre-cut strips of fabric
I’ve talked about my love of jelly rolls many times before, and they really do make your choices easy. A jelly roll is a set of fabric strips in coordinating fabrics that are pre-cut into 2.5″ strips. You save so much cutting time with these! Plus you get a coordinated colour scheme without having to individually choose a bunch of fabrics, like in this quilt.
Repeat a Pattern
It is super common to repeat a pattern in a quilt, either repeating a block or, like this quilt, using a pattern of strips. Repeating a pattern can often allow you to chain piece your quilt and make it come together quicker. (I explain about chain piecing in this post.)
Use Charm Squares
Charm squares are another pre-cut fabric choice that will make your quilt come together faster and provide a coordinated colour scheme. You can use your charm squares just as they are, or cut them to create triangles or rectangles for a slightly more intricate pattern. One pack of charm squares can create a lovely baby quilt like this.
Keep it small
Not all quilts need to be as large as a bed. Children and babies only need small quilts, and lap quilts are perfect for throwing over your knees on the couch. Save some time by making a smaller quilt that will still be loved by the recipient.
I hope you got some ideas! heck out these posts for a few more ideas:
