The Batik Braid Quilt Tutorial
Welcome to my Braided Quilt Tutorial. This tutorial is just a “how I did it” and “this is how it turned out” kind of tutorial. The one jelly roll makes a nice lap sized quilt, roughly 50″ square.
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Edited to add- It has been pointed out to me that the math for this tutorial is off a bit, for a standard jelly roll. The jelly roll I used is from Walmart. (My current wallies still sells fabric.) I think there might be more strips in their roll or something because I used the math listed below and I even have pieces left over. BUT if you are using a traditional 40 strip jelly roll- you’ll need to divide your 7 x 2.5″ strips {there should be 240 of them} equally in to then start the tutorial. (8 piles of 30 strips OR maybe 6 piles of 40 strips.)
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The following directions are for the quilt I made, with the roll from Walmart. Here’s how it shakes down:
I took the plunge and decided to finally cut into my jelly roll pack. I own 5 packs (well, 4 now) But I’ve been hesitant to cut into the beautiful strips… ’til today. LOVE these batik fabrics, by the way!!!
I made the quilt by cutting the jelly rolls into 7″ lengths. (2.5″ x 7″) I then sorted the strips into 7 piles of 40 pieces each.
Then using one stack of 40 at a time, start sewing in the above fashion. I grabbed the strips quite randomly, so the quilt has that absolutely scrappy feel. Stitch them in the order illustrated above, alternating right and left sides.
Updated to add: Holding piece 1 in your left hand, right side up, lay piece 2 on piece one, right side down. Sew that short seam (where piece one is touching piece two) using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Open this piece. Next add piece 3, match right sides, use a 1/4 seam allowance and make sure piece 3′s short edge is in line with piece 2- as in the picture. I hope that helps. Your quilts are looking really cool.
Next you have to trim the long braid. You’ll trim it twice; the sides and the ends. First trim off the triangles on the sides. My strips turned out to be about 8″ wide. (The picture below represents all 40 strips, not just the 10 or so shown.)
Next you’ll need to square up the top and bottom ends. (The picture below represents all 40 strips, not just the 10 or so shown.)
The long strips will not have intersecting seams, so its ok to square off the ends at “the point where you run out of fabric”. Does that make sense?
After the 7 wide braided strips are complete & square, ya just sew them together. When the quilt top is complete, you will need to go back with your rotary cutter and trim the top and bottom edges so they are flush and even with one another.
Go forth and cut into those jelly rolls!!!
Lets talk quilting. I’m thinking I should quilt this in a colored thread. Which color are you guys thinking? Blue, Pink or Brown?
If you make it, feel free to share it in the ReannaLily Designs Flickr pool. And if you like this tutorial, check out some of ReannaLily Designs patterns and ePatterns, in the pattern shop.
~jen~
21 Responses to “The Batik Braid Quilt Tutorial”
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Oh, that is so pretty and you make it look so easy, thanks!
Hugs – Lurline♥
I am new to quilting. Would it work to make the strips 3 1/2 inches long? thank you
Blue. You made that just today? It would have taken me weeks! Looks great
I'm leaning towards quilting with the pink thread. Go bright!!!
dawn
LOVE this! Can't wait to put this together!
How big was your finished quilt? I have a giant pile of new fat quarters. I was thinking of doing this pattern with some of the fabric.
[...] Reanna Lily Designs – Batik Braid [...]
You are correct about this jelly roll being much larger than the normal ones that are sold at fabric store.
I had two of these jelly rolls also. I have made two quilt tops that are double bed size and still have enough left to make a small baby quilt/lap quilt. I did add sashing and border material, but not a lot. I fell in love with the colors. I really like the pattern that you did with the strips. Turned out absolutely wonderful!
What did you use for your backing and border fabrics? I know you did this back in April, but I am just now connecting to this through http://www.allfreesewing.com/Sew-a-Quilt/The-Batik-Braid-Quilt/ml/1 which was posted today, July 4, 2011.
Very pretty. It looks like a Shelly Burgess pattern.
LOOKS LIKE A GOOD SCRAP QUILT I WILL FIND OUT THIS WINTER
VERY PRETTY
I LOVE this pattern… i found this on quilter’s cache a while back, printed it out and finally used it as a “border” around a Tween quilt i was making and needed to “make bigger”… i LOVE your batik… People need to know how quick this can go and it’s simple and relaxing.. Makes a great quick gift.. thanks for bringing this to the attention of so many… b.johnson
I recently scored dozens of rolls of vintage British ribbon in all sizes and colors. The lady sold me a big sealed box of what she called “craft stuff” for $2.50. Wouldn’t that make a cool quilt?
thanks for this lovely design and instructions – have lots of jelly rolls and now i know what to do with them.
I love this design. I am a fan of scrap quilts. Did you sew each strip on the right side onto the base strip or did you sew it on the wrong side and then flip it over and iron it flat? please send me an email when you answer.
Thanks, Carole
I love this and would like to make it. But I really don’t understand how you are pieceing these strips together. Can you show a diagram on how the 1/4″ stitching is done to piece these together?
Love the quilt, but just wondered if you have ever seen the Binding Tool by quiltersmerc to make the braid. When you cut your strips with this tool, you will have the diagonal on the edges of the braid already cut perfectly, no trimming needed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpHAp_pyVXQ
This link shows how to use the tool to make your braid.
Have my strips all cut and ready to sew. I’m using tons of scrap fabric so this will be quite interesting also have a ton of navy blue fabric with white polka dots, plan on using 2 1/2 inch strips in between the rows, then making a border all around. can’t wait to see how it all works out, plenty of fabric left over to make jabots to match, using in spare/guest bedroom
This quilt is so beautiful! I’ve been wanting to make a braided quilt for so long and haven’t gotten around to it. Thank you for your clear directions, I have always been a little confused about which you piece together first. I will definitely be saving this tut!
I am working on a braided quilt right now out of scraps I’ve accumulated over time. I plan to use a variegated thread to quilt it, eliminating the decision to choose just one color.
I have recently started making braided table runners, but I have a really hard time keeping the points in a straight line despite having drawn a line on the backing. Any suggestions? From anyone? I would love to make a quilt but am afraid it would never fit together. This quilt is sooooo pretty.
I have been wanting to make one of these braids for a while, I don’t have that tool. but plan now on getting one. I have to make a quilt for my Grand-daughter who recently married, but didn’n know what kind of quilt I wanted to make for her. I think this will fit the bill, I think I will make sashing strips to separate the braids in black.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Mary