Quilted Wall Panels

To make quilted wall panels
This fabric made 4 panels. There's even extra, which I have big plans for and will hopefully post here soon.

You need:
1 panel printed fabric (COGSMO BY COSMO CRICKET)
2/3 yard Plain fabric for backing (Symphony Broadcloth 5468 DST GR)
2 packages Satin Blanket Edge (Sage)
2/3 yard Thin quilt batting
1 spool thread
1/4" 50" total wooden dowel
1/2" metal or plastic rings 4 each


Other Items:
Sewing Machine
Cutting mat
rotary cutters
Straight Edge 12" with cutting guides every 1/2"
Scissors
Safety Pins
Straight Pins

Cutting:
Cut fabric panels, allow 3/8" around edges for seaming
Cut plain fabric to match dimensions of fabric panels
Cut 3" strip of plain fabric same width as fabric panels
Cut quilt batting to match dimensions of fabric panels

Sewing:
I use a 3/8" seam allowance

Turn 1 long edge of 3" plan fabric strip 1/4" twice to finish edge.

Sandwich the quilt batting between the panel and plain fabric (right sides facing outward). Match 3" strip of fabric to top of sandwich (this makes a pocket at the top for the dowel).
Safety pin at center and along edges.
zigzag stitch around borders of sandwich (this step is optional on panels that are approximately 12" square, necessary on larger panels).
Repeat with remaining panels.

Trim. You can either use a single piece of satin trim to edge each panel, and make neat mitered corners, or use 4 strips of satin trim with square edges. I do the latter since I've had great difficulty trying to fold the corners over to miter them.

Cut strips of satin trim to the height of each panel plus 1". Note that the trim is 1/16" wider on one side than the other, the wider edge is the back. Straight pin in place, sandwiching the trim around the panels and in 3/8" from the edge of the panel. The trim should extend 1/2" beyond the panel at top and bottom. Sew 1/8" from edge of trim on front. Repeat on each side.

Cut strips of satin trim to the width of each panel, including the trim you just sewed in place, plus 1". Straight pin in place, sandwiching the trim around the panels and in 3/8" from the edge of the panel. The trim should extend 1/2" beyond the panel at left and right. Carefully fold the cut edges of the trim over 1/2" so that the back side of the trim folds inward and the front edge sandwiches the raw edge of the left/right trim inside of the fold. Pin in place. Sew 1/8" from edge of trim on front. Repeat at top and bottom.

Fold panel in 1/2 to find center, and handsew a 1/2" ring to the panel just below the top piece of satin trim.

Measure the width of the panel at the top. Cut a piece of dowel to this length. (I use the rotary cutter to cut part way into the dowel, spinning it to cut around, then bend to snap). Insert dowel in pocket at top of panel.

Repeat with remaining panels.

Options:
These panels strike me as kind of plain. I wish I had added additional quilting before putting on the satin edging. I'm afraid that if I did it now, I'd end up with bunching. If you add additional quilting, start at the center and work your way outward. You could add satin stitching (a very tight zigzag) around some of the borders in the print using a matching thread--for example the bodies of the robots, or try outlining the inner borders using a straight stitch. If you do either of these, make sure your bobbin thread matches the plain fabric backing.


Difficulty: moderately easy
Time: 2 hours total
Cost: $8 Cogsmo fabric, $2 plain fabric, $12 Satin Trim, $2 dowel, $3 thread. Total Cost = $27
(My cost $14 since I had most of this stuff in my craft closet already)


I made these animal panels for our nursery. The bedding set came with a bed skirt for the crib that I couldn't use since the crib had drawers beneath. I disassembled the bed skirt, cut it into square panels, and added trim to the edges using the same method described above. These panels had quilted animals on them, and don't warrant any extra embellishments.