Simple Quilting Projects that AREN'T Big Quilts!
Sewing an entire quilt can be intimidating, especially for a beginner who’s just getting their feet wet! The good news is, quilting on a small project involves the same quilting processes as making a big quilt. The cutting, piecing, top stitching and the binding go together the same way on small quilt projects as they do on a big quilt. You can learn to quilt on small projects, just as easily as you can on big ones.
Maybe you have the itch to quilt something, but don’t have the time, the money, or the fabric stash to make an entire quilt, or maybe you just want to sew something up in an evening or a weekend. OR, maybe you want the chance to try a bunch of different techniques without committing to a big project! This list of small quilting projects is for you. Here are easy, beginner quilting projects that aren’t big quilts.
Things to Quilt that Aren’t Big Quilts
Table Runners
Awhile back I was making some flying geese, but ran out of steam long before I had enough for a quilt. So I turned what I had into a table runner instead and it turned out so great! Watch my flying geese tutorial here.
Here are a few more of my favorite quilted table runner tutorials and ideas:
Merry & Cheer Christmas Table Runner Pattern (this one’s free)
Aztec Diamond Quilted Table Runner Pattern (this one is beautiful!)
Good Morning Mugs Table Runner I LOVE this! So cute.
Mini Quilts
Again, endless options. I absolutely love making mini quilts and have made so many over the years. They make great gifts because they’re still very special and personal, but without the time involved in a large quilt. It’s also a good way to try some intricate blocks without committing to an entire quilt.
I was once gifted the book, The Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt, which includes something crazy like 100 small paper pieced blocks. Eek! I think I made 6, ha! When I realized I’d never be able to finish the quilt, I quilted and bound each little block I’d made, and gifted them to my family members that Christmas. The book includes letters written from the farm women of the Great Depression, who had written in submitting quilt blocks for publication to a ladies’ magazine, so I printed the letters for each block I’d made and included them with the gifts. (it’s a really cool book and is worth buying for the stories and letters from the women, even if you never make a single block!)
I had one leftover block to keep for myself and it’s something I’ll always love.
Mini quilts can be used as wall hangings of course, but they can also be table mats, plant mats, or used as table decor or even hot pads during parties. I recently made a 70’s Mod Mini Quilt for my living room, which you can hop over and grab the tutorial for. It was inspired by a 70’s quilting book I found at a used bookstore. Such fun stuff in there!
Coasters
One of my favorite things to gift! I love picking fun novelty fabrics to feature in them. I’ve made all kinds, for all kinds of loved ones, they’re so easy to personalize. Check out my beginner friendly tutorial for quilted coasters. All the quilting techniques you really need, in a perfect little project.
Here are a few other quilted coaster projects I like:
Becky’s Easy Quilted Star Coasters. I’m in love. I might make these as ornaments this Christmas!
Thread and Whisk Quilted Coasters (free tutorial)
Quilt Block Coasters. This one’s free and also showcases cute fabric.
Quilted Coats
These are trending big right now and there are some real beauties out there! I’ve seen coats made from vintage quilts and others who have quilted the fabrics themselves. Both are so, so cool and, I’m sure, great conversation starters for their wearers. Check out this post by The House that Lars Built on how to make a quilted coat, or try the Beachcomber Quilted Jacket Pattern.
Book, Journal, or Bible Covers
Quilted journal, book or Bible covers are super easy and would also make great gifts. It’s a special thing to spend time on that you get to look at over and over. I have a complete tutorial on how to sew a Bible cover or cover for any size book or journal. I also have a pattern in my shop specially designed for Moleskine journals, which are my favorite journals for any purpose. I was able to use some crazy quilt blocks I’d hand sewn on vacation to make some journal covers and they’re in constant use in my life.
Baby Bibs
Baby bibs are already the cutest thing to sew up for a baby shower gift, and would be even more special if the bibs were quilted. My simple baby bib tutorial is my most popular post of all time, so check that out if you want to give bibs a try! Watch this video to see how I used my bib pattern to make quilted baby bibs. They’re the cutest!
Bookmarks
Stay tuned for a tutorial for this coming NEXT WEEK! (EDIT: IT’S HERE!) Bookmarks are one my favorite things. I’m a total book nerd, plus a homeschool mom, and I have bookmarks stashed all over the house, anywhere I might need one. I’ve perfected a quilted fabric bookmark that’s scrap friendly and so much fun to get creative with!
Tote Bags.
Awhile back I started a quilt block of the month club, but only got two months in and got behind, ha! So instead of letting those blocks sit around until I could finish (as if), I used them as the front and back of a tote bag. You can get my beginner’s tote pattern here and watch a video here on how I inserted blocks into it.
Here are a few more great quilted tote ideas and patterns to inspire you:
Modern Fans Tote Bag — a free pattern by one of my favorite quilt pattern designers, Suzy Quilts.
Pouches
Any zipper pouch can easily be amped up with a quilted design. I’ve made countless pouches and so many of them have been made from languishing quilt blocks. You can learn how to make zipper pouches in any size or shape with my pattern, and you can watch the video tutorial here.
Wallets
I was gifted a quilted wallet once and it was so special! Nowadays it’s nice if your wallet fits your phone, and the Flower Garden Wallet pattern fits the bill. Fat Quarter Shop is one of my go-tos for quality quilt advice, techniques and patterns.
Pin Cushions
I especially love this cathedral window pin cushion tutorial. What a great way to learn a classic quilt technique! This pin cushion is cute too .
Pot Holders
Another great gift idea! Here is my tutorial for easy pot holder mitts that can be made as a quilt project, and I also have a tutorial for oversized hot pads (another of my most popular posts!) Either of these can be made in a quilted version. It would be so fun to piece together scraps!
Mug Rug
My mom made my daughter Layla the cutest mug rug for her birthday and included a cool mug. I love how she personalized it by machine embroidering her favorite book titles. Here is the mug rug pattern she used, but you can get creative on your own with this idea too.
Book/iPad sleeves
It’s very easy to turn sleeves or any kind into patchwork projects. Try using my book sleeve pattern to create a quilted cozy for books, or eReaders.
Tea Pot Cozy
If you’re a tea person, or if you know a tea person, of course you’ll want a quilted tea pot cozy to keep the pot warm! As a side note, I became a tea person over the winter and I just order the Black Cask Bourbon black tea from Harney & Sons. It’s my new favorite, it’s so good. Teeccino Mocha Mint is my other top favorite (and it’s decaf).
French Press Cozy
I’m still collecting tea toys, so I do not yet have a proper tea pot, so I brew my tea in my Bodum French press.I really need to make a cozy for it! I think I’ll pick a fun novelty fabric that makes me smile and use this tutorial to make one. It would be very cool to make a patchwork version.
Ornaments
Once again, endless possibilities! Ornaments are my favorite things to make for friends at Christmastime. I have a post about many of the ornaments I’ve made for friends over the years, and one about the paper pieced cottage ornaments I made last Christmas. You can get that pattern here. I can’t wait to make more, I love paper piecing! A quick search on Etsy or Pinterest for quilted ornaments will turn up a ton of great ideas too.
Embroidery Hoop Art
I had one of my tween sewing classes make hoop art once and they came up with the most creative ideas. Hoop art would be a great way to practice some intricate quilt blocks, paper piecing or techniques. Here is some inspiration to get you started. Or here. Ooh, or here!
Framed Art
After taking the time to paper piece this At-At (free pattern!), I didn’t want to turn it into a pillow that would get dirty and worn, no way! I bought a square shadowbox and framed it instead. We have quite a bit of Star Wars art (the classy kind, I swear! Haha), so it fits right in with our family room decor. Any intricate block or paper pieced block would be great as art all on its own.
Throw Pillows or Pillow Covers
Quilted pillows are so fun. I’ve done many versions of quilted pillows over the years, from the most basic to the more intricate. Quilting can add so much to a single fabric pillow cover, like I made for my daughter’s bed to match her quilt. You can also see my tutorial for a single fabric quilted throw pillow cover. Or check how I make holiday and seasonal covers for my living room throw pillows as a budget friendly way to change up the decor without having to buy and store extra pillows. Making quilted slipcovers for your existing pillows would be such a fun way to try some fun quilt blocks.
Here are some fabulous quilted pillow patterns and tutorials:
Clara Quilted Pillow Pattern (I love the fabric pairings there!)
Quilted Zipper Pillow, another tutorial by Suzy Quilts, one of my faves.
Business Card Wallets
I love this cute quilted version of a business card wallet. I was gifted one of these for my business cards while I was teaching sewing and it was the best. It keeps the cards from getting roughed up in my purse! Mine was more basic, like this one.
Sleeves and Cozies of all kinds
It’s very easy to adapt coffee, can, or jar cozies into quilt projects. Watch my video here for how I turned my mason jar cozy pattern into a little quilted cozy.
There ya go! How’s that for a list a small size quilting inspiration?? This post was a beast to write, but I kept thinking of more things that would make great small quilted projects. I hope it’s beeen inspiring for you! Be sure and save this next image to Pinterest to you can find it easily later and come back to it when you’re ready to sew.
Cheers!
Nikki
Learn to choose fabrics for your quilts with confidence!