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Have you been swept up in the viral puff quilt trend? You're not alone! When I first saw this puff quilt video on TikTok, I knew my kids would love these cozy, squishy quilts. I decided to make each of them one for Christmas, and let me tell you—it's a fun (though repetitive!) project that's totally beginner-friendly. While it does require some patience, I think the end result is worth the effort!
Step 1: Choosing Your Fabrics for the Puff Quilt
When selecting fabrics for the front of my puff quilts, I chose cotton fabrics from Joann’s. I spent a good amount of time picking patterns and colors that reminded me of each of my kids. To keep things cohesive, I followed a loose color scheme for each quilt without stressing over perfection. The goal was to create something heartfelt and visually appealing without overthinking.
Fabric Requirements: For each quilt, I used 8 different fabrics for the front, purchasing ½ yard of each fabric, for a total of 4 yards. From each ½ yard, I was able to cut 21 squares measuring 6” x 6”, which resulted in minimal fabric waste. However, those tight margins left little room for cutting mistakes, so if you're new to quilting, I recommend buying a little extra fabric just in case (yes, I made a few errors!).
Backing for Puff Squares: I used white muslin for the backs of the puff squares, but you can use any scrap fabric you have lying around. You'll need about 4 yards of backing fabric.
You make this quilt as large or as small as you wish! The fabric requirements above left me with a finished size of roughly 60 inches wide by 70 inches long, making it a perfect, large-throw size!
Step 2: Cutting Your Squares
To create the puff squares, you'll need:
168 - 6” fabric squares for the puff fronts
168 - 5 ½” muslin (or scrap fabric) squares for the puff backs
Use a rotary cutter, quilting ruler, and cutting mat to carefully measure and cut your squares. Precision is key to ensure your puff squares align correctly during assembly. You can customize the size of your squares, but remember the puff backs must always be ½ inch smaller than the puff fronts.
Step 3: Sewing the Puff Squares
Now comes the fun part—sewing your puff squares!
Create the Puffs: Take one 6” x 6” fabric square (the front) and one 5 ½” muslin square (the back). Place the muslin square underneath the fabric square, matching the top-right corner of the larger square to the bottom-right corner of the smaller square. This extra fabric creates the pleats that give the puff its signature look.
Sew the Pleats: Using a scant ¼-inch seam allowance, start sewing along the right edge. After a few stitches, align the bottom-right corners of the squares and fold the excess fabric from your top square toward the center of the edge to create a pleat. Hold the pleat in place as you sew over it (I highly recommend watching a video tutorial to see how this part is done - it's much easier then it sounds!).
Repeat Pleats: Repeat the pleating process on two more edges for a total of 3 pleats. Leave one edge open so you can stuff the puff later.
Step 4: Arranging Your Puff Squares
Once all your puff squares are sewn, it's time to lay them out. I laid mine out in 14 rows of 12 squares. Experiment with the color and pattern placement to get a balanced look. This is the perfect opportunity to get creative with how you arrange the fabrics.
Step 5: Sewing the Rows
Assemble the Rows: Now, sew the squares together into rows. Place two squares right sides together and stitch along one edge with a ¼-inch seam allowance. Continue adding squares until each row contains 12 squares, ensuring that the open edge of each square is positioned at the top.
Stuff the Puffs: Starting with the bottom row, stuff each square with polyfill through the open edge. Be careful not to overstuff, as you want the puffs to maintain a uniform look.
Close the Puffs: Sew along the open edge of each square to seal it up, creating the final pleat. Once the bottom row is completed and stuffed, move on to the next row, attaching the next empty row to the filled one. Stuff, sew, and repeat until all the rows are completed.
This method is easier than trying to sew two stuffed rows together!
Step 6: Adding the Backing
For the quilt backing, I chose fleece because it’s soft, cozy, and wide enough to avoid piecing multiple pieces together. My finished quilt measured 62” x 71”.
Attach the Backing: Place the puff quilt top and the fleece backing together, right sides facing. Pin them in place, then stitch around the edges to secure the layers, leaving an opening wide enough to turn the quilt right side out.
Finish the Quilt: Once you’ve sewn the edges, carefully turn the quilt right side out. Sew the opening shut, then quilt or tie the layers together if desired for extra texture and durability.
Final Thoughts
While this process can be a bit monotonous, I really love how each of the quilts turned out. It was so fun to watch them open these up and see their personalties reflected in the fabrics I chose. Now that we're a few weeks out from the holidays I can confirm they both continue to sleep with these every single night! Though there were a few challenges along the way, the effort was absolutely worth it for such a personal and cozy creation.
If you're new to quilting (like me!), don’t stress about perfection. Embrace the process, enjoy the journey, and know that you’re creating something unique and full of love!
With love and creativity,
Jacquie Atom Heart Cross Stitch
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