How to Make a Quilted Wall Photo Quilt
A quilted wall photo quilt is one of the most personal and cherished gifts that can be given to someone. Perfect for anniversaries, weddings or baby showers, these simple handmade gifts soon become heirlooms to be passed on to children and grandchildren. The only things required are basic sewing skills and a few craft items.
Supplies Needed:
- 4 laser printed photos to be transferred
- White cotton squares or framed print pattern cotton
- Acrylic gel medium
- Spoon or sponge brush (optional)
- Cotton fabric to make back and alternate squares of quilt
- Quilt batting
- Fabric or seamstress scissors
- Sewing machine
- Thread matching quilt fabric
- Sewing pins
Procedure to Transfer Photo to Quilt Block:
**DO NOT USE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS, THEY WILL BE RUINED IN THE GEL TRANSFER PROCESS
- Choose four pictures appropriate for the person and occasion.
- If you need to edit the photos, use a photo-editing program to remove background, retouch blemishes and remove artifacts and make your photos clean and ready for gel transfer.
- Go to the local print shop and have four laser prints made.
- Choose four cotton fabric squares for image transfer.
- Iron the quilt squares on a firm surface. Make sure there are no wrinkles or ridges in the fabric.
- Using your finger, sponge brush or spoon, spread a thin even layer of acrylic gel medium on the fabric square completely covering the surface where the picture will be transferred. Be careful to not get gel onto pre-printed graphics, such as empty frame or square where photo will be placed.
- Place photo on the wet gel medium.
- Working from the center to the edges, smooth all bubbles with fingers. Remove all ridges from the photo. The contact must be complete, without air pockets, ridges or the end product will show these blemishes.
- Allow to dry overnight.
- When thoroughly dry, place quilt square under running water.
- Peel away the paper until no paper remains.
- Allow cleaned quilt block to dry.
- Repeat with all four quilt blocks.
- If you make a mistake, have a duplicate photo and quilt block ready.
Procedure to Make Quilt
- Make additional quilt squares matching the size of the photo quilt squares to complete the quilt.
- Make borders for your quilt squares using cut 2-inch fabric strips of the same color and pattern.
- Sew borders on your panels, mitering corners for a clean look.
- Sew quilt squares together making a pleasing pattern. Allow for a 1 1/2-inch border, giving you 1/2 inch when you sew pieces together. This completes the front of your quilt.
- Cut the backing fabric 2 inches larger than the front.
- Measure the quilt backing of your quilt the same length and width as the front.
- Starting from the center, pin the three layers together along the seams of the front quilt pieces. If you are planning to sew inside the squares, pin those first. Allow around 4 inches per pin.
- Double-check that all pieces are in place.
- Put all three layers into the sewing machine. Sew inside details first, and then sew the squares starting from the inside out. Sew middle square details, then borders, go on to the next square. Watch for bunching and fabric shifting. Adjust fabric to create a smooth, clean quilt.
- Trim the edges of the quilt batting so it is even with the top layer.
- Take the cloth backing and pull it over the edges, sew neatly. If your sewing machine has pre-set embroidery patterns, this would make an attractive finish to the quilt.
- Finish with fabric loops, or decorative rings sewn on with matching or decorative fabric.