How do you make quilts?

[MudAndGlitter]

Could I use the DCs old clothes? I've never made one before so I'm at a loss as to what I need and what I have to do.

What type of quilt do you want to make and why?

If it's for craft ideas with children then DC's old clothes will be fine just the quilt will be a bit lumpy. Cut two large squares of fabric, sew around the square inside out leaving the bottom edge free, turn out so the stitching is now on the inside and then stuff. Once you've stuffed with old clothes etc then sew up the bottom edge Most quilts have some kind of polyester wadding in them, you can buy it off the roll from fabric warehouses.

If it's for proper use then I wouldn't bother making one. It will be far cheaper to buy as most quilts will have fire retardent/hypoallergic filling which is very expensive to try and buy

My grandma used to make the most lovely quilts - I still have several of them and they are beautiful. I also wish I knew how to make them but don't think id have the patience - they're so intricate and took a long time to make.

You need 3 layers - the top which would presumably be from your children's old clothes, the middle which is the wadding and the backing fabric. The top is usually constructed first then you quilt together the three layers by stitching through all three.

It can be as hard or as easy as you like. You could just cut 4 inch squares and sew them together for the topping. Do be careful though as stretchy fabrics won't work well in a quilt so if you have jersey you might not be able to do it. Usually, if you were making a quilt from scratch you would use 100% cotton although that doesn't mean you have to use that, just that it is the traditional way. Fabrics are usually of a similar weight but it all depends really on how experienced a sewer you are whether you can make it work. It won't be easy if you are using mixed fabrics and washing it could be difficult because some fabrics might shrink or stretch and others won't.

There are lots of tutorials on Youtube if you want to see quilt making in action and of course, loads of books on how to quilt.

I would hunt YouTube for tutorials and use 100% cotton squares that have been pre-washed. No stretchy materials to start off with. Cut each square or rectangle precisely so all the edges match up. Practice patchworking on old sheets first. But go hunt around on YouTube first.

You might want to google on "patchwork upcycling". I went on a workshop run by a lady called Katherine May who specialises in this - she showed us a few commissions she taken where she's made wonderful things out of old shirts, t-shirts and even jeans.
If you're using clothes you're probably going to have odd shapes, so you might want to also look at "crazy patchwork" - far more freeform.
Keep an iron handy to press your seams flat!!
Polar fleece fabric is a great backing if you want to make a snuggle quilt for your kids.