“The all year round warmth and coziness of a quilt is a feeling unlike any other.”
This is a common dialogue told by quilt lovers worldwide alike. A perfect combination of a blanket with the feel of homeliness, quilts are a nostalgic element for most of us.
Despite their cozy warmth during those chilly winter months, quilts are also a great option for summer months. Specially designed summer quilts are not just part of a traditional heirloom but even modern households.
Wondering how quilts can be used during the warm summer months?
Summer quilts are lightweight and leaner than normal quilts. These quilts have better aeration and minimal layering. This makes them easy to use during warmer temperatures without feeling too uncomfortable.
Commercially Purchased Summer Quilt Vs Homemade Quilt. Which Is A Better Choice?
Though specially designed summer quilts are easily available in markets, the choice of making one at home is better. Yes, this requires a bit of manual labor and time dedication, but the end result is much better.
Why??
So, at the end of the day, summer quilts that are a “Do it yourself” project are often a far better choice than the easy to choose commercial summer quilts.
Tips For Making The Perfect Lightweight Summer Quilts At Home
A summer quilt is much easier to make than a normal and heavier winter quilt. A few small but very important tips and tricks can help in making the perfect and best handmade summer quilt you have ever seen.
The choice of optimal fabric
Fabric is the most important component of a quilt. The fabrics used in a summer quilt are different than those of a winter quilt. They need to be thinner and lighter than traditional quilt fabric. That’s why cotton should always be the first and only preference for summer quilts.
The wrong fabric choice will make the quilt unusable during the summer months. Traditional Denim, flannel, and Chambray are definitely not the right fabrics for a summer quilt. They are heavy and thick, which makes them a better choice for cold weather quilts.
However, the choice of cotton fabric should not be very thin to make it a see-through and flimsy quilt. So, rather than choosing cotton fabrics like broadcloth, cotton voile, or cotton lawn should be used.
Voile and lawn cotton are soft, lightweight, crisp, and durable fabrics that have optimal thickness for making quilts. Another famous choice of fabric used in the Japanese summer quilt is the Japanese double gauze cotton fabric.
Batting vs No batting
Yes, that’s true. The best summer quilt is the one that does not have batting. Rather than having an interim middle layer, it is best to stitch the top and bottom layers in case of a summer quilt.
The batting layer makes it warmer than usable during the summer months.
In case you do want a mid-layer, instead of the conventional choice of flannel, a thin cotton layer can be used in the middle. Thin cotton batting does not hinder the lightweight nature of a summer quilt.
Polyester and other synthetic fibers should be totally avoided. These fabrics are non-breathable, making them a very uncomfortable and warmer combination for summer quilts.
Using wool is also best avoided in summer quilt batting, as wool has a tendency to retain heat. This makes the quilt way warmer than needed in the summer months.
Worried About Your Quit Wash! Check Out: How To Wash And Care For Your Quilts?
The choice of color
Are you wondering why the choice of color is important for a summer quilt? Well, contrary to popular belief, color plays a very vital role in the perfect functioning of the summer quilt.
Why??
Remember your science class during school years? The chapter on Heat had a statement, “Darker color absorbs heat.” That actually holds a great deal of truth in practical life.
Darker color tones like Black, Red, Brown, and Maroon absorb heat at a faster rate, while lighter shades like White and Pastel hues reflect heat.
So it is always better to choose light colors for summer quilts. Research has proven that light-colored fabrics are much cooler and comfortable in warmer climates.
The art of stitchwork
Quilts should always be sewn inside out. This gives a cleaner and crisper outer border to the quilt. Once all three borders are sewn inside out, there is no need to flip the quilt outward immediately.
The fourth border can be sewn inside out with a sufficiently spaced gap and an unstitched corner to help in flipping the quilt outward. Once done, the open end can be hand-stitched.
We all know that there is simply no better alternative to a home-sewn quilt. These easy tips will help you make the perfect lightweight summer quilt at home that is custom made specifically as you wanted.