I’m not trying to start a fight here, but after working on the fifth iteration of a bodice muslin recently, I was wishing I was working on a quilt instead. Here are some reasons that making quilts is awesome. If you’ve never made one then you should give it a try!

1. You get to use fun fabric ranges that you wouldn’t use on clothes. There are so many gorgeous fabric ranges around (hello all the Cotton + Steel). I often look at the fabric in stores and wish it came in a lawn or poplin or something better suited to clothes. Quilting cotton is perfect for quilts (no way!), so if you’re longing to use them…make a quilt!
2. You can use way more colour than you’d ever use on clothes. I love making quilts with all the colours. I used to buy a lot of rainbow clothes but never ended up wearing them a lot. I love how bright and happy they are, but wearing them makes me look like I got dressed in the dark. Want to use heaps of crazy colours you’d never dare to wear? Make a quilt!
3. There’s nothing like seeing your loved ones snuggling under something you’ve poured blood, sweat and tears into. Yes, quilting usually involves all three. I’ve made my boys plenty of clothes, but seeing them curled in up a quilt I made with my own hands really makes me burst with happiness.
4. It’s great for all skill levels. If you’re just starting out, you can make a really simple quilt or a small quilt (as the #quiltlikeaboss series explains). As your skills develop, there’s no end to the intricacy you can include in a quilt.
5. There’s no fitting involved. As someone who makes a lot of clothes this is a HUGE bonus! No need for muslins or to pull your pants off in the middle of sewing just to check that the skirt you’re making fits. Yes quilts can have intersections with lots of seams, and some even have curves on them, but QUILTS ARE FLAT! Sick of muslins? Make a quilt!
6. No zips or buttonholes required. These are two parts of garment sewing most people stress about but there ain’t no zips or buttons on a quilt so you don’t need to worry about it!
7. People aren’t afraid to outsource. If you don’t feel up to the task of quilting, you can get it done by a professional. Many even offer a basting service for those (like me) who hate basting or suck at it.

So there you go. Have I convinced you yet? Or are you already on the making quilts is awesome bandwagon? What is a bandwagon anyway?? What do you love most about making quilts?

Quilts pictured: top – Cotton + Steel quilt, bottom – Luminous quilt