Making A Snuggle Quilt With Heat n Bond Soft Stretch

As we head into colder weather, it’s time to bring out warm and cuddly quilts to snuggle in. Those little ones in our lives love to snuggle up with soft quilts, too! Using fleece to make the Sleepy Bunny Snuggle or the Three Bears Snuggle is wonderful for its warmth and softness. Kids will love wrapping up in the big one and holding the little one for comfort. The little one could also be used to keep a doll warm. Therm O Web’s new Heat n Bond® Soft Stretch is amazing when adding applique pieces because it keeps the quilt flexible and comfortable.

Sleepy Bunny Snuggle and Three Bears Snuggle Quilt

by Carol Swift from Just Let Me Quilt

Sleepy Bunny Snuggle – Finished size: 14” x 15”

Three Bears Snuggle – Finished size: 32” x 32”

*Patterns were designed to be used with stretch and cotton fabrics, but they can be made using only stretch or only cotton fabrics.

Fabrics used in both quilts are from Moda’s Manderley designs by Franny and Jane. The fabrics make these little Snuggles even more adorable! Every fabric is so beautiful with such sweet designs and bright colors.

If you look close, you’ll even see a couple of bunnies in one of the prints.

What you’ll need for both quilts:

Therm O Web Spray n Bond® Basting Adhesive

Therm O Web Stitch n Sew™ Fleece Sew-in High Loft/Batting

Therm O Web Heat n Bond® Soft Stretch

Optional: Heat n Bond® Fusible Interfacing – Light Weight

Fabric – Cottons, knits, fleece, and/or flannel

Embroidery thread

Sleepy Bunny Snuggle Cutting Instructions:

Cut 1 – 4” x 10½” fleece strip (top row)

Cut 1 – 2” x 10½” fleece strip (row above ruffle)

Cut 1 – 3” x 36” cotton print strip (ruffle)

Cut 15 – 2½” x 2½” various cotton print squares

Cut 4 – 1” x 11½” cotton print strip (inner border)

Cut 2 – 2” x 12½” cotton print strip (outer border)

Cut 2 – 2” x 14½” fleece strip (outer border)

Cut 2 – 2½” x 44” strips (binding)

Cut 1 – 14½” x 15½” for backing (or larger if needed for special quilting)

Cut 3 bunnies using templates – fleece

Three Bears Snuggle Cutting Instructions:

Cut 1 – 9½” x 32½” fleece strip (top row)

Cut 1 – 3½” x 32½” fleece strip (row above ruffle)

Cut 2 – 5½” x 36” cotton print strip (ruffle)

Cut 40 – 4½” x 4½” various cotton print squares

Cut 4 – 2½” x 44” strips (binding)

Cut 1 – backing

Cut 3 bears using templates – fleece

Snuggle Quilt Directions

Sewing Directions: Directions are given using fabrics from the quilt shown above. Replace pattern designs, textures, and colors with your choice of fabrics. Be sure to square up pieces as you go along, especially when using fleece because it can stretch out of shape when sewing.

 Step 1: Trace applique designs on the smooth side of Therm O Web Heat n Bond Soft Stretch.

Follow the package directions to iron adhesive pieces to the wrong sides of the fabrics. *When ironing on the fleece, it is important to cover it with a pressing cloth before ironing to avoid melting fabrics or marks from iron.

Applique

Step 2: Cut out applique pieces.  Center bears/bunnies on fleece strip (top row) lining the bottom of bears/bunnies to raw edges at bottom of the fabric. Cover with pressing cloth and iron bear/bunny heads to fleece. Add the flower to the center bunny or add a tail to bear. Embroider eyes on bears/bunnies.

Step 3: Line up paws on raw edges of fleece strip (row above the ruffle.) Cover with pressing cloth and press paws in place.

Step 4: Sew bear/bunny row to paws strip. Cover with pressing cloth and press seam row down. Sew a blanket stitch, zig-zag stitch, or straight line around bear/bunny pieces.

Step 5: Sew squares of various prints together to create one row. Continue to sew squares together to create rows. Press seams to the side.

Step 6: Sew rows together, matching and nesting seams. Cover with pressing cloth and press seams down.

Step 7: Sew cotton print strips (ruffle) together lengthwise. Fold strip for ruffle in half lengthwise. Press on the fold. Using a machine gathering foot or a basting stitch, gather raw edges to create a ruffle.

Step 8: Baste raw edges of the ruffle to the top edge of the square row section. Trim off excess ruffle.

Step 9: With the right sides together, sew the bear/bunny row section to the ruffled section. Press seam down.

Finishing the Quilt

Step 10: Finishing the quilt:

Optional: Heat n Bond® Fusible Interfacing – Light Weight ironed to the back of the fabric can help stabilize the appliques and blocks to keep their shapes and sizes. Cover with a pressing cloth and follow the manufacturer’s directions to apply it to your fabrics.

Finishing the quilt without batting: Lay quilt backing with right side down on protective cloth or paper (to prevent overspray.) Spray the wrong side of the fabric with Therm O Web Spray and Bond Basting Adhesive following manufacturer’s directions. Lay quilt top, wrong side down, on the wrong side of the quilt backing. Smooth to remove wrinkles and creases. Quilt as desired. Add binding using your favorite method.

Finishing the quilt with batting: Lay quilt backing with right side down on protective cloth or paper (to prevent overspray.) Spray the wrong side of backing with Therm O Web Spray and Bond Basting Adhesive following manufacturer’s directions. Lay the batting on backing and smooth to remove wrinkles and creases. Spray the batting with Therm O Web Spray and Bond Basting Adhesive. Lay quilt top, wrong side down, on sprayed batting. Smooth to remove wrinkles and creases. Quilt as desired. Add binding using your favorite method.

Quilting: Three Bears Snuggle was quilted using Wonderfil SC07 Cream, 35 wt 100% lint-free cotton thread. It was just the right thickness and was amazing to sew with!

Making a matched set of the Sleepy Bunny Snuggle and Three Bears Snuggle would make a perfect baby gift!

You can find the templates and PDF instructions separately at Just Carol’s Etsy Pattern Store HERE.