HOW TO MAKE A CATHEDRAL WINDOW QUILT

Popular in the 1930s and 40s these quilts are again experiencing an upsurge in popularity. More correctly defined as a coverlet as most of these quilts are meant for show.

A Cathedral Window quilt is not hard to make. It does however take time and the work can be tedious. I find however that the work is relaxing if I do it while watching TV. I also make my cathedral window quilts when I am at my farm market booth. I usually make miniature ones that are used for doll quilts or art quilts. But occasionally I go all out and make a king/queen size one. These measure about 99 inches x 99 inches.

Here are the steps to making this type of quilt. Remember - no batting is ever used in one of these quilts. It is the folding of the backing material that makes the thickness.

I use white cotton sheets for the backing material. Wash and iron before cutting your 12 inch squares. (1)

2 Fold your square in half and sew the short ends by hand or by machine. Then open out and match up the two sides of sewn seams (3)

4 Sew to the corners by hand or by machine leaving a gap near the center for turning. Whip stitch the gap shut once the piece is turned.

Lay your square out flat with an x of seams in the center. Bring each corner to center and pin in place as shown in 6. Tack the center points together.

7 shows two squares sewn together. Now you are ready to add a colored square. Pin the colored square into the square formed over the seam of the two joined white squares. (8)

9 (just above) shows the material slip stitched in place over the raw edges of the colored square. This will be a curved edge on all 4 sides of the colored square when finished.

10 shows 4 colored squares added to 4 white backing folded squares. This is repeated over and over until the quilt is the size your want. On the outside edges you might like to add triangles of material. The back requires no further finishing. If you like before you add the colored square you can tack the 4 points of the white folded square through itself to secure it. This is optional and I never do this.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A CATHEDRAL WINDOW QUILT?

Well that is the stickler. This is pick up work for me. I usually carry a bag everywhere with my current project so I can work on it whenever I am waiting at doctor’s offices and so on. I would say it takes me 4 or 5 months for one quilt but that is working on it on a very part time basis.

Can you make money selling these quilts on eBay? Yes you can. The last one I sold went for $300.00.