Simple Instructions on Quilting Paper

For quilting paper, use two identical colored images, which can be square or rectangular. Make sure to include margins or spaces around the image when you cut them. You must be able to divide the images evenly by whole numbers either horizontally or vertically.

Other things you need to prepare for quilting paper are a pencil, metallic pen, a round toothpick or stylus and quick-setting glue. Do not use a glue gun because it is too fast to set up. Prepare a card stock 2 to 3 inches larger than the image or picture that you are using.

To start quilting paper, draw pencil lines on the back of one of the colored images to form a square 1 to 2 inches in size. Make sure to draw to draw the square completely. There should be no open sides. Then cut along the lines. Take the metallic pen and line each of the 4 edges of the square.

With the other un-cut image as your guide, glue the cut up square pieces to the card stock. You should leave a margin on all sides about 1/16 to 1/8 inch. Instead of a plain card stock, you can use a colored paper or patterned paper to make a sashing effect.

To continue with your quilting paper, cut up the second image as you did the first one to create the second layer. The design of this layer should be different. You can get ideas from quilting magazines, books, quilting graphics and other online resources. Some examples are zigzags, sunshine, lightning streaks, pinwheel and etcetera.

When you have finished cutting up the second of squares, you need to decide if you will fold them into a triangle or a rectangle. Either one is fine or you may also combine the two shapes. When you fold the squares, make sure the side with the design is out. Remember to fold in the direction that corresponds with the design or pattern that you have selected. After folding all the squares, glue the outer corners and set them aside to dry. Once dried, trim the pieces if there are any uneven sides.

Another feature to consider in quilting paper is whether you want a soft or crisp look. Crease the rectangle/triangle pieces using a bone folder if you want the crisp look or roll them over a round toothpick or stylus to achieve a soft look.

Place the pieces row by row right on top of the square pieces you have already glued down on the card stock. Following your design, start to glue the pieces from the top all the way down. Make sure you are gluing the wrong side of the pieces to the corresponding square. Continue doing this until you have glued all the pieces in place.

To finish your quilting paper project, you can create a bordered effect by gluing the entire paper quilt into an extra colored paper. Alternatively, you may add any desired trimmings or embellishment.