With crisp leaves, cooler nights, and cozy afternoons in sight, fall is the perfect time to pick up your quilting supplies and start something warm and beautiful. If you're new to quilting, or just want a project that’s not too complicated but still satisfying, here are some great ideas + tips to get started.
Why Quilt in the Fall?
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Cozy vibes: Nothing beats wrapping up in a handmade quilt when it’s chilly.
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Social time: Quilting fits perfectly into quiet evenings. Great for bonding with friends or family.
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Gift season prep: Make quilts for holidays and family gifts without rushing.
What to Look for in Quilting Fabric
When you’re shopping for fabric, especially if you’re a beginner, a few things will make your life much easier:
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100% cotton is your best friend: It behaves well, is easy to cut, and presses nicely.
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Medium-weight cotton: Not too flimsy, not too thick. Choose “quilting cotton” fabric from a reliable source. All About Fabrics has an excellent Quilting Fabrics collection to browse.
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Coordinating prints and solids: A mix of prints + some simpler or solid fabrics helps in balancing the design without overwhelming it.
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Backing fabric and binding: Don’t forget these — a quilt is only as good as its back and edges.
If you want, you can view lots of options here: [All About Fabrics – Quilting Fabric Collection]
Tools & Supplies You’ll Need
Here are the basics to get started:
| Item | Why It’s Useful |
|---|---|
| Rotary cutter + cutting mat | Cuts fabric cleanly and quickly. |
| Quilting ruler | Helps keep your pieces straight and accurate. |
| Sewing machine with a walking foot (optional) | Better feed-through, especially with thicker materials. |
| Thread | All-purpose cotton/poly thread works well. |
| Batting | The “filling” inside the quilt. Choose cotton or cotton blend for beginners. |
| Pins or clips | Holds your pieces together. Clips are great if the fabric is thick. |
| Iron & ironing board | Pressing flat seams helps your quilt look more polished. |
Simple Quilt Patterns to Try
Here are three patterns that are beginner-friendly, yet will produce quilts you’ll be proud of. Each is described with steps you can follow. Pick the size you want; I give approximate material needs for a lap quilt about 50″ × 65″. Adjust up/down as desired.
Pattern 1: Strippy Quilt
Why it's great: Repeats only one kind of block (long strips), easy piecing, forgiving if seams aren’t perfect.
What you’ll need:
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5-7 different fabrics (prints or solids)
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for lap size: ~2½ yards total strips + ~1½ yards for backing + ½ yard for binding
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batting (about 60″ × 75″)
Steps:
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Cut strips from your fabrics, e.g., 2½-inch strips (width + seam allowances). You’ll cut many strips of each fabric.
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Sew strips together side by side until you have enough to reach the width of your finished quilt (about 50″). Press the seam allowances open or to one side.
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Make several of these “strip panels” until their combined length reaches the target (65″).
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Layer: backing (face down), batting, quilt top (face up). Baste with pins or spray baste.
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Quilt: Follow the seams or do straight lines through the quilt to secure layers.
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Trim edges to square.
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Add binding: sew binding strips around the edges.
Pattern 2: Patchwork Squares
Why it's great: Looks classic, you can use squares of many sizes (4-inch, 5-inch, etc.), and it's easy to assemble.
What you’ll need:
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9-12 coordinating fabrics
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for lap size: about 25-30 squares (5″) across × about 13-15 rows = ~325 squares (for 5″ finished)
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backing & batting similar to above
Steps:
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Cut squares from your fabric (e.g., 5″ × 5″). Include a ¼-inch extra for seam allowances.
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Lay out your squares in a pattern you like – maybe checkerboard, maybe random.
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Sew squares in rows, matching seam allowances, and press seams.
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Sew rows together to build the quilt top.
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Layer top, batting, and backing; baste.
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Quilt through – you can quilt in the ditch (along seams) or do straight lines across or even diagonal quilting.
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Trim, then bind.
Pattern 3: Half-Square Triangles (HSTs)
Why it's great: Slightly more advanced, adds shape variety, but still very doable for beginners.
What you’ll need:
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Two fabrics per triangle block (so for variety, pick several pairs)
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For lap size: you might use blocks that finish at 4″ or 6″, so adjust fabric accordingly
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Backing & batting as above
Steps:
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Cut two squares of fabric (e.g., 6½″ × 6½″) for each block (this gives you 6″ finished after sewing and trimming).
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Draw a diagonal line on the back of one square. Place the two squares right sides together. Sew a ¼-inch seam on both sides of the drawn line.
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Cut along the drawn line. Press open; you have two half-square triangle blocks. Trim to a perfect square.
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Lay out your HSTs in a pattern (chevrons, diamonds, mixed, etc.).
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Sew blocks into rows; press. Sew rows together.
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Layer, baste, quilt, trim, bind.
Tips to Make it Easier & More Enjoyable
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Choose forgiving fabrics: Medium prints or small-scale prints hide little imperfections better.
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Press often: Pressing after sewing each seam keeps everything flat and easier to assemble later.
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Stitch length: Use a slightly longer stitch on your machine when quilting through all layers.
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Take your time with basting: Having fewer wrinkles or puckers in your basted layers makes quilting much more pleasant.
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Practice with scrap fabric: If it’s your first time quilting a real piece, try a small block or throw to test tension, quilting lines, etc.
Material Estimates at a Glance
| Quilt Size | Quilt Top Fabric Needed | Backing Fabric Needed | Binding Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lap (≈ 50″ × 65″) | ~ 4¼–5 yards (depending on block size) | ~ 4–5 yards | ~ ½ yard or ¼ yard strips totaling ~300–350" (depends on design) |
Choosing Fabrics from All About Fabrics
All About Fabrics has a wide and beautiful Quilting Fabric collection to choose from.
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Look for seasonal prints or leaf and autumn patterns — these add a fall feeling.
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Mix solids or “tone on tone” prints with bolder prints for balance.
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Grabs samples if you want to test color combos. Many prints are available per yard or as small samples.
Care and Finishing
After you’ve finished piecing, quilting, and binding:
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Give your quilt a gentle wash (cold water, mild detergent) before first use.
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Use a delicate or gentle cycle & avoid harsh bleach.
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Dry on low or air dry so the batting stays lofted.
When You’re Done: Enjoying & Gifting
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Use your quilt on the couch, in your reading nook, or draped over your bed.
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Quilts make heartfelt gifts for birthdays, weddings, new babies, and the holidays. Doing them in the fall gives you time to finish before the holiday rush.
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Document your first quilt, even sharing photos in sewing groups helps you see your progress and get feedback.
Let’s Get Started
Ready to make your first quilt this fall? Start by exploring the Quilting Fabric Collection at All About Fabrics to pick your prints, solids, and complementary fabrics.
Then choose one of the simple patterns above: Strippy, Patchwork Squares, or Half-Square Triangles, and gather your tools.
Visit the store now, select your fabric, backing, batting, and binding, and order today so you can begin stitching before the weather turns cold.