Modeled by Benjamin Capp and made by Caroline Reardon, QM Editor.

Anticipating a baby's arrival is a time of happy expectation--and quiltmaking. Caroline Reardon, our editor, designed and made this cozy flannel quilt for Benjamin Tucker Reardon Capp, her first grandson and second grandchild.

This quilt pattern appeared in the September/October 1999 (No. 69) issue of Quiltmaker magazine. To check back issue availability, go to www.quiltersvillage.com.

For more detailed instructions on each step of the quiltmaking process, see our Basic Lessons.

 Instructions

Half-square triangle foundation papers make piecing speedy and accurate. Thangles™ come in many sizes, including 4" finished, and are perfect for this quilt.

Step 1 Making the Quilt Top

Follow the block piecing diagram to make 4 blocks. Join the blocks, orienting them as shown.

Sew the side strips for the inner squared border to the quilt. Repeat for the top and bottom strips.

Join the A's to make the pieced border strips. Sew these to the quilt in the same order as you did for the squared border.

Step 2 Quilting

If you wish to mark the Tortoise and Hare Charm Tacks and Star Quilting (shown below) on the quilt top, do so now. Or you can trace them onto tracing paper and machine quilt through the paper after the quilt has been layered and basted.

Layer and baste together the lining, batting and quilt top.

Quilt the motifs and quilt the A's, B's and inner border in the ditch as shown. If your sewing machine has individual embroidery motifs, use them for tacking in the inner border as indicated by the dots in the quilting diagram. A good alternative is to tie the quilt in these areas with the tails to the back.

Step 3 Adding the Blanket Binding

Caroline added a wide satin blanket binding to finish the edges of Ben's quilt. To do this, you will need to trim the lining and batting 1 3/4" out from the raw edges of the quilt top (fig. 3a).

The blanket binding will cover 1/4" in from the raw edge of the quilt top, sandwiching all the quilt layers into the fold.

Starting a few inches from one corner, use a wide zigzag to sew both front and back edges of the blanket binding at one time.

At each corner, stop 1/4" from the lining/batting edges and remove the needle. Fold the binding back on itself and lightly mark a 45° angle. With a straight stitch, sew to the mark and backstitch (fig. 3b). Remove the needle and unfold the binding. Tack at the inside corner and zigzag the next side (fig. 3c). Continue in this manner until you reach the beginning. Trim the binding 1/2" beyond the raw edge and fold under 1/4". Complete the zigzag and tack. Blindstitch the openings closed.