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Home » sewing » I Spy Quilt!!

I Spy Quilt!!

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I love how the I Spy Quilt turned out, it’s so fun.  Can’t wait to share all the details! This post may contain affiliate links.

I Spy Squares Swap

I signed up for a couple of swaps.  It was fun to see what squares were shared! If you don’t have a swap to participate in, I’d highly recommend grabbing I Spy Squares from Etsy – you get tons more variety than trying to create your own squares.

I Spy Picnic Blanket

I thought it would be perfect for taking to all those outdoor things – mainly, my son’s flag football games, so the other kids could have a place to sit and be entertained all at once.  We’re well into the season, so I almost didn’t make it, but I can still tote it along to the final 2 games.

how to make an i spy quilt

So a quick rundown – – if you are a real quilter, you might want to avert your eyes……

How to make an I Spy Quilt

I participated in 2 different swaps.  I cut a bunch of the same fabric into squares, then mailed them off and the swap host puts everyones fabric into a big pile then divys it out, so I got back a bunch of different fabric squares.  Perfect – except for that the 2 swaps I signed up for were different sized squares – whoops.

I’d highly recommend finding I Spy Squares HERE.

I laid out the squares into larger square pods.  Each larger square had 2 big squares and 6 small squares inside of it.  I sewed those 8 squares together into their pod.

Some I Spy quilts have plain fabric between each square, but I liked the look of them all touching, jumbled together (make it tougher on those kiddos!) You can lay everything out to get a visual idea of your quilt:

Picnic Blanket Backing

Since I wanted an outdoor blanket, I knew I was backing it with denim.  For durability, and because I have a huge pile of discarded overalls from my uncle.  I pieced those together until it was a piece big enough for the whole back of the quilt.

Quilting an I Spy Quilt

Since I wanted to back it with denim, I didn’t think I could quilt it very well – sounded too thick to swirl around, etc.  I was worried about all the layers.

I took each “pod”, or square of squares, put a piece of batting under them, and quilted them individually.  There’s a name for this type of quilting, without the back on – but I’m not sure what that is called.

My pile of progress:

Then I took those quilted squares (well, they’re kind of rectangle-ish) and sewed them together – – see the back, you can tell what I’m talking about:

To hold the front to the back, I did some minimal quilting.  I layered the quilt top on top of the denim quilt back and sewed up and down a few rows, just straight.

To finish it off I sewed binding around the edge.
A view of the wonky back – I just claim that “wonky” was the look I was going for:

I Spy Quilt Cards

The original plan was to embroider a whole list of all the things to find on the quilt – sounded very long and involved and I just wasn’t looking forward to it.  Instead I made cards.  I cut off the front pocket from the overalls and just zig zagged it right on the back of the quilt – it has snaps and everything, so it’s perfect to hold the cards in.
I used a laminator to make the cards durable – and it was awesome.  I love using a laminator!! (If you’ve never used a laminator, I have a tutorial on How to Use a Laminating Machine)

DIY I Spy Quilt

A view of most of the front (quilts are so hard to take pictures of!):

In this picture you can see I sewed in a couple of ties when I put the binding on:

That way when I’m traipsing onto the football field with 3 kids in tow and dragging various chairs, jackets, etc, it’ll be easily transportable – I can hand it to a kid to carry and if they drop it, it won’t come unfolded or anything.  All tied up:

And of course, the fun of playing with it – – it’s been a huge hit so far.  The younger kids can point out things and name what they see, etc.  The older kids can read the cards and hunt around.

I love my I Spy Quilt – – you should make one!  Underneath it all, it’s just sewing straight lines – you can do it!

How to make an i spy quilt ispy idea

Quilt Project Ideas

If you love quilt projects, you’ll also want to check out:

About Mandy Beyeler

Mandy is a craft blogger who loves to blog and enjoys all things crafty, sewing, and DIY - she feels that if she can do something, you can too, and provides tutorials to help you along the way. She loves being a mom to 4 awesome kiddos and blogs from the Kansas City Area.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Christy says

    I love it! I’ve been thinking of making my first quilt…but have been a little scared. I may try this one since you explained it so well! 🙂

    • Sandy Meyer says

      Ive cut a bunch of 5 in. squares for my Great Nephew’s “I Spy” quilt. I was going to ‘frame’ each square but like your sewing them side-to-side instead. And, I LOVE the idea of the cards in the pocket! Fantastic idea!
      The denim backing is really a great idea, too, for wear and just using it outside or on a trip.
      Thanks!

  3. Jenna says

    Love your quilt Mandy, it’s fabulous!!! 🙂 Doing an exchange for the fabric squares is such a smart idea! Makes me want to do one… Anyone else???

    If you’re interested email me at mommydiaries at hotmail dot com.

  4. Bree says

    Looks great! I especially like your idea to back it in denim & use the ties. I still need to work on my i spy project.

  5. Cranberry Morning says

    That is absolutely perfect! I love the pocket with the tags also. Where did you find those swaps? I’ve been wanting to do that ever since I saw one of these last year. What fun for the kids. This is a family heirloom for sure!

  6. Jenny says

    Very cute! May make one for a now-toddler who didn’t receive a baby gift from me. (oops) Since she can’t read yet, I may put pictures AND words on the cards before I laminate. Thanks for sharing!

  8. Kimbo West @ a girl and a glue gun says

    it’s fan freakin tastic! and holy. a ton of work. i was totally just going to print up whole list….not individual words. you always have to one up me! lol. love the jeans..wonky back especially! and the pocket! sorry to make you have a time limit..i totally even forgot what it was! lol. i’m about a month and half overdue on mine.

  11. Megan says

    I love the pocket with the cards… oh and the ties… actually, I guess I just love the whole thing! haha. Thanks for sharing, Mandy!

  12. Tina says

    This looks awesome! I love the look of the big and little squares. The pocket and ties is pretty genius too! All your quilts have inspired me to make a quilt. Maybe I’ll try out an I-spy one. I think I’m capable of sewing straight lines….

  13. saras says

    I made one too, well okay I cut the squares and a friend made it! But I love yours much better! Maybe I should make another one… 🙂

  15. Liz says

    Fantastic! I haven’t done anything with mine yet, but you’ve given me some great ideas! I love seeing the fabrics I swapped in your quilt!

  17. Creating Sarah says

    I love it! I was part of that swap and I can see some of the squares I sent!! That’s so cool. =)

    I love the idea of putting a pocket on the back. I may have to use that! I haven’t finished mine yet. Good job getting it on time!

    Sarah

  18. folkhaven says

    This is great, kinda like Where’s Waldo but better because you made it, and it’s a quilt! I’m going to start saving my scraps to do this someday, or maybe I’ll try to track down a swap… Anyway, thanks for this idea!

  32. Pam says

    I just LOVE this!!! … the colours, the tie, the denim, the pocket, the I Spy…. BRILLIANT!!! Hope you don’t mind, but I’m pinning this. It won’t happen any time soon, but I’m going to make one. Thanks for sharing.

  34. Virginia says

    My thought was, why not put a big border around the eye spy part so the kids can sit on the quilt while ‘spying’.

  36. Clarissa Hooper says

    Oh my goodness- I LOVE the addition of the denim pocket!! We have an I Spy quilt that grandma made us. We love laying on it and using a magnifying glass to explore all the fun pictures hidden throughout!
    Clarissa Hooper recently posted…Un-toy Friday: PastaMy Profile

  37. Sherrill Koss says

    Love this quilt! Especially love the idea of having the categories on laminated strips! Can you tell me how you formatted those colorful borders around the text of the strips? It’s such a great addition to the quilt for playing games with it!!! And I’m assuming you have a laminator, which I don’t, but one of the reviews on Amazon for the laminating pouches stated that she used an iron to laminate rather than the machine.
    Thanks for your help!!!
    Sherrill

  38. Pauline Perry says

    Thanks so much for this terrific tutorial on your fabulous I Spy Quilt – I have long thought I’d like to make one and your ideas are perfect. I am tempted to purchase your leftover squares but I am thinking that collecting them will be half of the fun since I do have 5 grandchildren and A LOT of fabric I should be able to find a lot of things to spy. Thanks again for the inspiration and great ideas like – the cards laminated and kept in a pocket!! – backing with jeans!! – prequilting the front squares with no backing!! (whatever that is called) – and the all important ties to secure the rolled up quilt!! – great ideas and I didn’t have to hurt my brain thinking of them. Ha ha
    Pauline

  40. Dee says

    What a fun quilt!!! I have lots of leftovers from a Grandmothers flower garden. The fabrics are what I call fantasy (humpty sumptuous, Jack and Jill, etc. My original plan for my quilt was an ispy while I cuddled under it with the grandchildren, but I’m afraid it has take a few too many years!!! (But I have enjoyed the journey). Looks like I’m already lining up another fun quilt!!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!

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