Have you ever dreamed of making a beautiful, cozy quilt but felt overwhelmed by the size of the project? Many sewers, both new and experienced, know the feeling. You start with excitement, but soon you’re wrestling with a huge, heavy pile of fabric, trying to fit it under your sewing machine or manage it in your lap for hand stitching. It can take the joy right out of the process.
But what if I told you there’s a better way? A simpler, more manageable method that lets you create a stunning quilt without the struggle.
Welcome to the quilt as you go kantha technique. This wonderful method breaks down the quilting process into small, easy steps. You’ll build and quilt your project one strip at a time. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make your own beautiful patchwork kantha quilt with ease. Let’s get started!
What is the Quilt As You Go Kantha Technique?
This technique sounds fancy, but it’s actually two simple ideas combined to make your life easier. Let’s break it down.
First, there’s Kantha stitching. This is a traditional hand-stitching style that uses a simple running stitch. The beauty of Kantha is its organic, imperfect look. The stitches don’t have to be perfectly even or straight, which makes it a relaxing and forgiving craft.
Next, there’s the Quilt As You Go (QAYG) method. Just like the name says, you quilt your project in sections as you build it. Instead of making a full quilt top, then making a “sandwich” with the batting and backing, and then quilting the entire thing, you do it all in small, manageable strips.
When you combine them, you get the quilt as you go kantha technique: a simple way to create a hand-stitched patchwork quilt without ever having to handle the full weight and size of the project at once.
Gathering Your Supplies for This Easy Method
Before we start sewing, let’s gather our tools. The great thing about this project is that you don’t need a lot of special equipment. Here is a simple list of what you’ll need to get started.
| Supply | Notes and Tips |
|---|---|
| Fabric for Strips | Cotton is a great choice. You can use different colors for the front and back or match them. Pre-cut “jelly rolls” (2.5-inch strips) work, or you can cut your own 4-inch strips. |
| Flannel for Batting | A layer of flannel in the middle gives the quilt a lovely weight without being too heavy. It’s much lighter than traditional quilt batting. Important: Pre-wash your flannel to prevent shrinking! |
| Machine Sewing Thread | A neutral color like white, grey, or beige works well for assembling the strips. |
| Hand Stitching Thread | This is for your Kantha stitches. You can use embroidery floss or a thicker thread like Perle cotton. Choose a color that stands out to show off your stitches! |
| Basic Sewing Tools | You will need a sewing machine, scissors or a rotary cutter, a cutting mat, a long ruler, pins, and a hand-sewing needle. |
Step-by-Step Guide to the Quilt As You Go Kantha Technique
Now for the fun part! We are going to build our quilt strip by strip. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll see your quilt come to life before your eyes.
Step 1: Prepare Your Fabric Strips
First, you need to cut your fabric. Decide how long you want your finished quilt to be. For a good-sized throw, a length of about 70-72 inches is perfect.
Cut your front fabric, back fabric, and flannel into strips of the same width. A width of 4 inches is a great size to work with. You will need one strip of each (front, back, flannel) for every row you add to your quilt.
Step 2: Assembling Your First “Sandwich”
This is where the magic begins. We are going to create our first finished strip.
Take your first front strip and your first back strip and place them with the right sides together. The “right side” is the pretty, printed side of the fabric. Now, take one strip of your pre-washed flannel and lay it on top of the stack.
Line up all the long, raw edges on one side. You should have a three-layer sandwich: flannel, back fabric (facing up), and front fabric (facing down).
Go to your sewing machine and sew a straight stitch all the way down that one long edge, sewing all three layers together.
Step 3: Press and Secure Your First Strip
Take your sewn strip to your ironing board. Open up the fabric so the wrong sides are now together, with the flannel hidden in the middle. You’ve just created one finished edge for your quilt! Press it nice and flat with your iron.
To make the next steps easier, run another line of machine stitching along the other long, raw edge. Sew very close to the edge. This stitch is just to hold all three layers together so they don’t shift around.
Step 4: Adding Your Next Strip
Congratulations, your first piece is done! Now, we just repeat the process to add the next strip.
Lay your new front strip down, right side facing up. Place your finished piece on top of it, so the front fabrics are right sides together. Now, take your new back strip and place it on top of the pile, right side down. Finally, add your new flannel strip to the very top.
Line up all the raw edges and stitch them together, just like you did before.
Then, you’ll fold the new pieces open, press them flat, and sew along the raw edge to secure the layers. You have now successfully added your second strip! You are already using the easy quilt as you go method. Keep adding strips this way until your quilt reaches the width you want.
The Magic of Hand Stitching Your Quilt
The reason we love this quilt as you go kantha technique is that you can start the beautiful hand stitching at any time. After you’ve added two or three strips, you can take a break from the machine.
Grab your hand-sewing needle and your special thread. Start making simple, long running stitches through all the layers of your quilt. You can stitch in straight lines down the length of your quilt.
Don’t worry about making them perfect! The charm of Kantha comes from its organic, handmade feel. Your stitches can be uneven and varied. This is what gives your quilt character and soul. Doing the hand stitching a quilt in small sections is much more relaxing than trying to do it all at the end.
Finishing Your Kantha Quilt
Once you’ve added all your strips and completed your hand stitching, you just need to finish the two short ends of the quilt.
The easiest way to do this is with binding. You can buy pre-made quilt binding or make your own from a matching or contrasting fabric. The binding will cover the raw edges and give your quilt a beautiful, professional finish.
FAQs
What is the technique of kantha?
Kantha is a type of hand stitching. It comes from the Bengal region of Asia. It uses a simple running stitch. The stitches hold layers of fabric together. This creates a beautiful, wrinkled texture.
What is the quilt as you go technique?
This is a method for making quilts. You build your quilt in small sections. You quilt each section as you add it. This makes large projects much easier. You do not have to handle a big, heavy quilt.
What is the difference between quilt and kantha?
A quilt is a type of blanket. It has at least three layers. Kantha is a style of hand stitching. You can use Kantha stitches to make a quilt. So, one is an object, and one is a technique.
How is a kantha quilt made?
A Kantha quilt is made with layers of fabric. Often, old or soft fabrics are used. The layers are stacked together. Then, they are stitched all over by hand. Simple running stitches hold everything together.
What is a Kantha style quilt?
A Kantha style quilt is a special type of blanket. It is known for its visible hand stitching. It is usually lightweight and very soft. The many stitches give it a comfy, crinkled feel.
Conclusion: Enjoy Your Beautifully Simple Quilt
And there you have it! You’ve learned the quilt as you go kantha technique. By building your quilt one simple strip at a time, you avoided the struggle of working with a large, bulky project. You were able to combine machine sewing for speed and relaxing hand stitching for beauty.
Now you have a wonderful, one-of-a-kind quilt that is filled with your own personal touch. It’s perfect for snuggling on the couch, adding a splash of color to a room, or giving as a heartfelt gift.
What color combination are you dreaming of for your first Kantha quilt? Share your ideas in the comments below!