Create a wonderful memory of your baby's first year by sewing a patchwork quilt from baby clothes. These directions are for someone with a basic level of sewing ability. Patchwork baby quilts are a good project for a beginning quilter.

You will need the following supplies:

• minimum of 25 baby clothes (preferably more)
  
• fabric for the backing and solid material for the borders
• double fold binding (1/2" wide after double fold)
  
• polyester batting
  
• quilting needles
• quilting thread
• large safety pins
• template
• cutting board
• scissors
• iron and ironing board
• spray starch
• chalk
• lap frame

Directions:

1. Gather the baby clothes that will be used in the quilt. Wash them with a basic detergent but no additives. Line dry or put in dryer without any dryer sheets.
2. Do the same with the backing and border fabrics. Do not wash these with the baby clothes if they are new material and especially if they are a dark color. Although most material today is colorfast, there still is the chance of bleeding onto the baby clothes.
3. Cut out the good areas of the baby clothes using the template. A good beginner's size template is 3" squares. Put all of the squares in one pile. Set the rest of the baby clothes aside for complementary projects such as a pillow.
4. Starch and iron the fabrics. Fabrics which are starched are easier to quilt since they keep their shape during the quilting process.
5. Using the chalk, mark a 1/4" seam on all four sides of all of the squares.
6. Clear off the dining room table and lay out the squares. Play around with different arrangements until you see the patchwork design that you would like for your quilt. Make sure that neighboring color tones coordinate and that striped pieces have the stripes facing in the right direction.
   
7. Pin the top row across only. Sew these blocks together on the chalk seam line. Then proceed to the second row across and continue in this manner until each row is a sewn strip.
8. Pin the top row to the second row. Sew these two rows together on the chalk line. Then spin the second row to the third and continue until all of the rows are sewn together.
9. Measure the finished patches. Determine how many more inches need to be added in order for the patchwork quilt to be your desired size. This amount will be how much border material will be added. If the quilt needs another 6 inches, then a 3 inch border will add 6 inches (3" on left, 3" on right).
10. Cut the solid color fabric for the border. Pin all four sides but not the corners. For a professional look, fold the corners into a diagonal and then pin in place. Sew the border onto the patches along the chalk seam lines. You have just finished the patchwork quilt top.
    
11. Measure the completed top. Cut the backing material several inches larger so allow for a margin of error when quilting through the batting.
12. Lay the backing on the dining room table, then layer the batting, and finally place the quilt top. Using the large safety pins, start at the center of the quilt and work out toward the edges. Place a safety pin every 2 inches so the material will not move during quilting.
13. Place the center of the patchwork quilt in a lap frame and begin quilting through all three layers. Use very small stitches. Continue until the top is completely quilted. Remove safety pins.
14. Attach the double fold binding to the edges of the quilt with the safety pins. Make sure that the corners are square. Sew the binding to the quilt.
    

The patchwork quilt from your baby's clothes is now complete. The memories of your baby's first year will be preserved for many years.

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