How To Make A Quick & Easy Halloween Mini Quilt

Halloween Scary Ghost Eyes Mini Quilt

Get ready for Halloween with this easy-to-make, 27-inch square, make-in-a-day, four-block quilt. This amusing Halloween quilt visualized the question:  

What is so scary that it can scare a ghost? What monsters are hiding in those shadows? Ok, perhaps I’ve watched one too many scary movies but I guarantee you this quilt will be a conversation starter. This Halloween Ghost Eyes Mini Quilt is very versatile, use it as a table topper, wall hanging or Halloween decoration.

And if you’re worried that the eyes are pieced or applique – don’t. In this quilt we use glue to secure your Ghost Eyes to your Halloween Quilt. This make-in-a-day mini quilt can also be a new game for a kid’s Halloween party: Use the quilt as a wall hanging and do a variation of pin the tail to the donkey. Instead of pinning a tail, the kids can stick the ghost eye in a box.

You can really tap into your creative side and use this mini quilt as a multi-use wall hanging. Replace the Ghost Eyes with Fall images, Thanksgiving images or use it as a frame for your favorite photos. No matter how you use this mini quilt you will be glad you made it. Now if that creative twinkle is in your eye then let’s get started. Choose your favorite fabrics and use this step-by-step blog to whip up this Halloween quilt in a few hours.

In this quilt tutorial you will learn how to make a simple quilt top featuring 4 blocks with sashing and two borders. And I’ll share a quick and easy, no applique way, to attach the Ghost Eyes to your quilt.

Some of you may not have the supplies, or fabric or are not fully prepared to do this project. Find out what you will need below in "Supplies", "Fabric" and "Getting Ready To Sew". Everyone else, please scroll to “Before You Start Making The Quilt Top”.

• Your Favorite ¼ inch presser foot
• Walking Foot
• White Thread for piecing
• Coordinating Thread for quilting and binding
• Quilting Pins
• Heat Erasable Marking Pens
• Rotary Cutter
• Cutting Mat
• Sewing Snips
• 6 x 6 Inch Square Quilting Ruler
• 6 x 24 Inch Quilting Ruler
• Measuring Gauge
• Sewing Stiletto
• Thread Stand
• Wool Pressing Mat
• Ironing Mat
• Steam Iron
• Fabric Starch
• Quilting Gloves
• A Black Permanent Marker
• A White Permanent marker
• School Glue or Fabric Glue (Optional: Stick on hook & loop dots)
• Small scissors

The width is based on 44-45 inches wide fabric.

• ¼ yard Black cotton fabric: [Cut four 6-inch Square Blocks]
• ¼ yard coordinating dark cotton fabric for sashing. [Cut two strips that are 44 inches long by 2-inches wide. You will be cutting this strip to fit the 4 Black Blocks based on the ‘Sashing Layout’.
• 3/8 yard coordinating Dark fabric for Border 1. Cut 3-inches wide by Length Of Fabric (LOF).
• ¼ yard Pumpkin Orange fabric for Border 2. [Cut 4 inches wide by LOF]
• ¼ yard coordinating fabric for binding. [Cut binding fabric 2 ½ inches wide by LOF]
• 3 yards of coordinating cotton fleece fabric backing
• Scraps of White Fabric
• Scraps of Black Fabric

This checklist has helped to make the process of sewing and quilting so much easier and stress-free for me. You might like it too.

• Clean the lint from your sewing machine before each project.
• Check under the needle plate and in the bobbin holder.
• Start with full bobbins for piecing and quilting.
• Use a new needle for piecing (90/14 or 100/16 Topstitch Needle is recommended).
• Workstation: A “U” shaped workstation is ideal, it makes it easier to create the Quilter’s Workstation Triangle. What is a “Quilters Workstation Triangle”? Many are aware that the stove, sink, fridge triangle is the best room design for a small space kitchen. Quilters also have a workstation design that helps them keep the tools they will need within easy reach. The recommended three points of the Quilters Workstation Triangle are: The sewing machine in front of you; the pressing station to your preferred side (This depends on whether you are right-handed or left-handed) and your tools on the other side.
• Sewing Ergonomics: Don’t forget to make your quilting experience more enjoyable. Try adopting the correct posture shown in the illustration below.

                                                                Correct and incorrect sewing posture

Any quilter will tell you that the most fun of quilting is not the prep work that is required. I highly recommend getting the prep work out of the way first. My method is to delay the start of my quilt project by a day. Dedicate the day prior to the prep work. During the prep work I will choose the fabrics, starch and iron the fabrics, cut the fabric, prepare my sewing area, clean & oil my sewing machine, choose the presser feet I will use and get all the supplies I will need handy and ready to use. All that prep work the day before is a gift to myself because the next day I am free to enjoy the quilting process. Try it, I think you might like it.

• Presser Foot: Your favorite ¼ inch presser foot
• Walking Foot
• Needle Plate: Zig Zag (You may need to adjust the needle position to achieve an accurate ¼ inch.)
• Stitch Type: Straight Stitch
• Stitch Length: 2.0 (This length makes a stronger seam.)
• Stitch Width: 0.0
• Needle: 90/14 Top Stitch Needle
• Needle and Bobbin Thread: White Cotton 40 WT
• Check that the needle position is ¼ inch from the right of the walking foot sole. (Use scrap fabric and measure it with a ruler)
• Remember to use a leader fabric for smooth stitches at the beginning of your sewing. (Definition: A leader fabric is a small piece of fabric that you place at the beginning of your seam.) Start sewing on the leader fabric and then properly align your fabric as you approach the needle. Any thread nests will be caught on the leader fabric and not your seam!)
• Hold the needle thread to the side of the walking foot as you take your first stitches. (This will also avoid thread nesting.)

Use your favorite method to add sashing to a block or try mine. My method is the easiest way I’ve found to sew sashing to quilt blocks. Included with the sewing instructions are pressing guides that will help with nesting the seams. Now pick up your black fabric blocks and let’s get ready to sash them.

                                                            Sashing Layout Steps for each of the four center blocks

Step #1: Block A

Follow the number sequence to sew sashing to all four sides of column 1 Row 1 Block. The sewing sequence is the left side, top, bottom and right side.

Step #2: Block B

Sew Sashing to three sides of column 2 row 1 block. The sewing sequence is the top, bottom and right side.

Step #3: Sew Block A to Block B

Sew Row 1 - Sew Block A to Block B. (There is no need to sew sashing to the left side of Block B)

TIP: The best way to align seams is to nest the seams.

Use the pressing guide to make it easier to nest the seams.

Step #4: Pressing Guide for Row 1 Center Sashing

Row 1 Pressing Guide for center sashing. Press Row 1 center sashing seams outward (See Visual)

                                                                Row 1 middle sashing seams are pressed outward

Step #5: Block C

Sew sashing to three sides of Column 1 Row 2 Block. The sewing sequence is left side, bottom and right side. (There is no need to sew sashing to the top. In this method Row will be sewn to Row1)

Step #6: Block D

Sew sashing to only two sides of Column 2 Row 2 Block. The sewing sequence is bottom and right side. (There is no need to sew sashing to the top and left side.

Step #7: Sew Row 2 – Sew Block C to Block D

Step #8: Row 2 Pressing Guide for Center Sashing.

Press Row 2 center sashing seams inward. (See Visual)

                                                                  Row 2 middle sashing seams are pressed inward

Step #9: Sew Row 1 to Row 2

Sew the bottom of Row 1 to the top of Row 2 with right sides together.

Step #10: Pressing Guide for Row 1 Far Right Seam

Press Row 1 far right seam outward (See Visual)

                                                                          Row 1 far right seam pressed outward

Step #11: Pressing Guide for Row 2 Far Right Seam

Row 2 far right seam is pressed inward. (no visual)

Step #12: Pressing Guide for Row 1 Far Left Seam

Row 1 far left seam is pressed outward. (See visual)

                                                                            Row 1 far left seam pressed outward

Step #13: Pressing Guide for Row 2 Far Left Seam

Row 2 Far Left Seam Pressed Inward (no visual)

Step #14: Pressing Guide for Row 1 Center Seams

Row 1 Center Seams are pressed outward (See visual)

                                                                            Row 1 center seams pressed outward

Step #15: Pressing Guide for Row 2 Center Seams

Row 2 Center Seams are pressed inward (See visual)

                                                                            Row 2 center seams pressed inward

Step #16: Nest The Seams

Remember to nest the seams to get the best seam alignment. (See Visual)

                                                                                    Side view of nested seams

Step #17: Check The Nested Seam Alignment

Sew ten stitches before and after the aligned nested seams. Check the alignment by looking at the front of the block. You do not want a gap between the two seams. If the alignment is satisfactory, then continue to the next seam alignment and repeat the ten stitches before and after this method. If the alignment is not satisfactory, then rip out the stitches and sew again. It is better to rip out twenty stitches than the entire sewn seam. Ask me how I know this! When all seam alignments meet your satisfaction, then finish sewing the seam. This is my tried and true method of achieving perfect seam alignments.

Use your favorite method to sew Border 1 and Border 2 to the sashed 4 Block Center Patch.

You’re Almost Finished With The Construction Of This Quilt!

Your Halloween Ghost Eyes Mini Quilt features a no batting method of quilting. The coordinating cotton fleece fabric will be the batting and the backing!

Cut the fleece fabric 2 inches larger than your quilt top. Then use your favorite method to pin the quilt top to the fleece backing. Remember to pin the quilt top with the right side facing you. The fleece fabric doesn’t have a wrong or right side that I can discern. So, pick the fleece fabric side you like best and make sure it faces the surface you are using to pin the quilt.

Use your favorite way to quilt your Halloween Ghost Eyes Mini Quilt. I

recommend using the stitch in the ditch quilting the fleece fabric 2 inches larger than your quilt top. Then use your favorite method around each of the four center blocks, this will make them stand out. And a wavy line quilting stitch on the sashing is the easiest way to quilt narrow areas. I also recommend that the quilt pattern you choose for border 1 should differ from border 2. The contrast adds interest to the quilt.

Use your favorite method to trim and square your quilt. Or try my method in the Madam Sew Blog “How To Trim and ‘Square up’ Your Quilt”. You will lose some width from Border 2. But that’s ok. It will not negatively change the look of your quilt top.

Use your favorite way to bind your Halloween Quilt.

like using the walking foot to sew the binding to the front of the quilt and hand sewing the binding to the back of the quilt.

If you are a show me the ‘lists and visuals’ gal like me then, you might like my step-by-step method to sew borders, quilt and bind your quilt in my Madam Sew Blog How To Use The Walking Foot To Make A Quilt In A Day.

Grab your scraps of white and yellow fabric, your small scissors, glue or hook and loop dots, along with your black and white permanent markers.

Step #1: Make The White Ghost Eyes

Cut out four ovals from the white fabric

Step #2: Make the Yellow Ghost Eyes

Cut out four half-moon shapes from the yellow fabric

Step #3: Making The Iris on the White Ghost Eyes

Use your black permanent marker to make the iris of the eye on the white oval by drawing a round black solid circle on the far right. Draw this on two of the white circles.

                                                        Close-up of the White Ghost Eyes with the Iris on the far right

Step #4: Make the iris of the White Ghost Eyes

Use your black permanent marker to make the iris of the eye on the other white oval by making a round sold black circle on the far left. Draw this on the remaining two white circles.

                                                          Close-up of the White Ghost Eyes with the Iris on the far lef

Step #5: Making The Pupil on the White Ghost Eyes

After the black permanent marker ink is dry, draw the pupil on the white ghost eye on the lower section of the iris of the eye.

              Close-up of the White Ghost Eyes with the pupil on the lower section of the iris and glued to a strip of black fabric

Step #6: Draw the Pupil on the White Ghost Eye Iris

After the black permanent marker ink is dry, draw the pupil on the white ghost eye on the upper section of the iris.

Step #7: Glue the White Ghost Eyes to a Strip of Black Fabric

Grab two strips of black fabric and glue a pair of White Ghost Eyes to each black fabric strip.

                  Close-up of the White Ghost Eyes with the pupil on the upper section of the iris and glued to black fabric strip

Your White Ghost Eyes Are Finished!

Step #8: Making the Yellow Ghost Eyes

Draw a narrow black solid oval in the center of the Yellow Ghost Eye.

You want the yellow eyes to look like cat eyes which are staring straight at you. The pupil should almost touch the top of the iris but should not touch the bottom of the iris. Do this on all the Yellow Ghost Eyes.

Step #8: Glue the Yellow Ghost Eyes to a Strip of Black Fabric

Grab two strips of black fabric and glue a pair of Yellow Ghost Eyes to each black fabric strip.

                              Close-up of Yellow Ghost Eyes with the pupil in the center, glued to a black fabric strip

Your White and Yellow Ghost Eyes are finished!

Affixing the Ghost Eyes To The Halloween Mini Quilt

Trim the black fabric strip to size and use School or Fabric Glue or a hook and loop dot to affix the Ghost Eyes to the quilt.

Your Halloween Scary Ghost Eyes Mini Quilt Is Finished!

                                                    Finished Quick & Easy Halloween Scary Ghost Eyes Mini Quilt

But this is just the beginning of your quilting adventures. Try some of the many fun and easy holiday projects in the Madam Sew blog tutorials.

• 10 Free Halloween Sewing & Quilting Projects Madam Sew How-To Blog
• Quilted Wall Hanging With Fall Embroidery Designs Madam Sew How-To Blog
• DIY Christmas Gift Ideas: 10 Free Tutorials Madam Sew How-To Blog
• Quilted Winter Table Runner Madam Sew How-to Blog

May your quilting always bring you joy!

Ernie Grant
Guest Blogger For Madam Sew

Ernestine “Ernie” Grant is an avid quilter with over 17 years experience and is the owner of the custom baby quilt business www.kalibabyquilts.com. As an African American living in Harlem, NY her view of quilting is shaped by her heritage and the elders who taught her–Quilting is not just thread, fabric and stitches. It is art, it is love, it is community.

Download PDF Tutorial Here