Modern Ombre Puff Quilt: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve been following my quilting journey, you might recall the cherished Puff Quilt my grandmother made for me when I was just seven years old. This quilt, lovingly crafted from various scrap fabrics and old clothing, holds a special place in my heart. Each time I look at it, I discover new details—recycled tablecloths from the ’80s, pieces of my grandfather’s button-down shirts, and remnants from previous quilt projects. This quilt is a beautiful tapestry of memories, and it inspired me to create my own version with a modern twist: the Ombre Puff Quilt.

The Inspiration Behind the Ombre Puff Quilt

My grandmother’s quilt, which she affectionately called a “Puff Puff” quilt, took her seven months to complete. She hand-stitched every part of it with patience and love, creating an heirloom that I treasure deeply. This quilt not only keeps her memory alive but also serves as a testament to her dedication and craftsmanship.

Inspired by her work, I decided to create my own Puff Quilt, but with a modern spin. I chose to use a rich gradient of colors, or “ombre,” to give the quilt a contemporary feel. This Ombre Puff Quilt is the third quilt in the Lois Quilt Collection, a series of quilts inspired by my grandmother’s creations but infused with my own modern ideas.

Choosing Your Fabrics

For the Ombre Puff Quilt, you’ll need fabric for both the top and back of the puffs. I recommend using a variety of scrap fabrics for the back, as these won’t be visible once the quilt is assembled. For the top, you can use curated fabric bundles from our shop or your favorite fabric collection.

Here are the materials you’ll need:

• Fabric for the top of the puffs: Check out our curated fabric bundles.
• Scrap fabric for the back of the puffs: Any scrap fabric will do.
• PolyFil: Approximately 36 ounces for a small throw size.
• Batting: I prefer Quilters Dream for its lightweight feel.
• Curved Safety Pins: For basting.
• Painters Tape: For basting.
• Needle and Thimble: For hand quilting or binding.
• DMC Pearl Cotton #8: For hand quilting or binding.
• Sewing Machine: I use a Janome 6700P.
• 90/14 Needles: For sewing through multiple layers of fabric.
• Thread: For your sewing machine.

Cutting and Preparing Your Squares

To start, you’ll need to cut your fabric squares. For each puff, you’ll need one 4.5″ square for the top and one 4″ scrap square for the back.

Here’s how to assemble the puffs:

1. Align and Sew: Place the 4.5″ square on top of the 4″ scrap square with the right side facing up. Align the top right edges and sew along the right edge using a scant 1/4″ seam.
2. Create Pleats: As you sew, gather the fabric to the middle of the square to create a pleat. Hold the pleat down as you sew over it. Repeat this for the remaining sides, leaving the fourth side open.
3. Chain Piece: To save time, chain piece each side of the puffs.

Assembling the Quilt

Once all your puffs are created, organize them into color families and lay them out to form the ombre gradient.

Here’s how to assemble the quilt:

Sew Rows: Sew each row of puffs together using a regular 1/4″ seam, ensuring the open edges are on the same side.

Stuff the Puffs: Starting with the first row, stuff each puff with batting and sew up the open edge using a scant 1/4″ seam.

Join Rows: Sew the rows together, ensuring the seams are opposite the open edges of the puffs.

Basting and Quilting

To baste the quilt, tape the backing fabric face-down on a flat surface, place the batting on top, and then the quilt top. Use curved safety pins to secure the layers together.

For quilting, I chose to replicate my grandmother’s method of using ties. This adds a handmade touch and ensures the quilt is secure.

Here’s how to tie the quilt:

1. Thread the Needle: Insert the needle through the back of the quilt at the intersection of four puff squares.
2. Create an “X”: Stitch through the quilt a few times to create an “X.”
3. Tie Knots: End with the thread tails on the back and tie them together using square knots.

Binding the Quilt

For the binding, I used my grandmother’s method of folding the backing fabric onto the front.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Stitch Around the Perimeter: Stitch 1/4″ around the quilt’s perimeter.
2. Trim the Backing and Batting: Trim the backing/batting 1″ from the quilt top, then trim the batting to align with the quilt top.
3. Fold and Stitch: Fold the backing fabric to cover the top stitches and stitch it down.

Final Thoughts

Creating the Ombre Puff Quilt was a labor of love, and it holds a special place in my heart, just like my grandmother’s quilt. I hope this guide inspires you to create your own modern puff quilt, blending tradition with contemporary design.