How to Embellish a Quilt — Buttons, Beads, Chenille & Creative Trims
⚡ Quick Answer: The easiest ways to embellish a quilt are with buttons, fabric yo-yos, Chenille-It Blooming Bias tape, beads, rickrack, and embroidery. Always match your embellishment to the quilt's purpose — soft and flat for snuggle quilts, dimensional for wall hangings and decor.
(Excerpt from Feat Article - BLOCK Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 5)
A quilt on its own is a piece of art, but if you want to give it a creative twist, add embellishments! Cute buttons, beads, and vintage trims add a fun vibe, while intricate embroidery and delicate lace and ribbon can create sentimental or romantic feelings.
Tips for Choosing the Right Quilt Embellishments
When you're considering embellishing a quilt, always keep the recipient and the quilt's intended purpose in mind. For safety, quilts for babies and toddlers should never include buttons, ribbons, or anything that could be torn off and cause choking. For quilts that people of any age will cover up with or snuggle under, consider how the embellishments feel as well as how they look. The same goes for pillows. For these projects, soft embellishments such as embroidered designs, flat rickrack, or smooth appliquéd shapes would be more appropriate.
Also, consider how much use the quilt will get. Some forms of embellishment, such as delicate beads, will not hold up to frequent washings. Save fragile embellishments for decorative projects such as wall hangings.
How to Embellish Quilts with Buttons
Many people like to decorate their projects by sewing on buttons. It's an easy way to add interest and dimension. Arrange them into shapes such as flowers or snowflakes, or use them for facial features on appliquéd snowmen. A winding row of brown buttons could be a cobblestone path on a quilt with a landscape scene, and lines of yellow buttons radiating from a circle could be rays of sunshine. Novelty buttons in the shape of bees could buzz around your quilted flowers!
Adding Chenille to Your Quilts
There's something about wrapping up in a quilt that generates warm, fuzzy feelings. But if you want to take that literally, add a touch of chenille! Chenille bedspreads, with raised, fluffy lines in patterns such as flowers and geometric shapes, are one of the first things many people think of when they hear the word chenille. An easy way to embellish your quilt with this distinctive style is by using Chenille-It Blooming Bias.
How to Use Chenille-It Blooming Bias
It is so easy to use! Sew a straight stitch down the center of the ⅜" or ⅝" thin, flat tape. When you toss your project into the washer and dryer, the tape fluffs up to become a soft and fuzzy chenille-like strip! You can use it to outline raw-edge appliqué shapes, make frames around quilt blocks, write words or messages, make swirls or scallops, or simply put down straight lines to create stripes.
Check out these free tutorials where Misty shows you how easy it is to make great projects with Chenille-it: Embellished Pillows With Chenille, Chenille-IT Freeform Flowers, and How to Make a 'Tis the Season Chenille Panel.
How to Make Fabric Yo-Yos for Quilts
Make fabric yo-yos to add interest and dimension to your quilted projects. This vintage craft is a fabulous way to use up scraps!
Yo-Yo Maker Tool Tutorial
To make yo-yos, cut lightweight fabric in a circle shape with a diameter of about twice the size you want your finished yo-yo to be. With the wrong side of your fabric circle facing you, turn up a ¼" hem, so you'll see a narrow strip of the right side of the fabric along the edge. As you hold sections of the folded-over edge, use a hand-sewing needle and thread to sew long running stitches around the circle, about ⅛" away from the folded edge. Then just pull the thread to gather the circle, tie a knot to secure the thread, and flatten the yo-yo into a round, puffy shape.
The Clover brand Yo-Yo Maker tool simplifies yo-yo making even more. Jenny Doan demonstrates how to use the tool in the Yo-Yo Valentine's Project tutorial.
Creative Ways to Use Fabric Yo-Yos
The ways to use yo-yos are limited only by your imagination! One large yo-yo could be a flower to adorn a springtime quilted wall hanging. A button in the center of the yo-yo flower would add even more dimension. Sew yo-yos onto a pillow. String together yo-yos to create floppy arms and legs for stuffed animals. Tack small yo-yos onto a quilted Christmas tree to decorate it with ornaments, or even make a garland of yo-yos to drape around a real tree!
More Quilt Embellishment Ideas: Beads, Trims & Beyond
Most sewists and quilters have at least one box of buttons and trims that have been sitting patiently waiting for their moment to shine! Rummage through that box with a set of fresh eyes. Consider turning tiny seed beads or sequins into twinkling stars. Sew rickrack, pom poms, or fringe around the edge of a quilted pillow. Put decorative zippers, such as Missouri Star Fancy Zips, on a tote bag to turn an everyday accessory into a stylish one. Don't be afraid to experiment. Stretch your creative muscles and see what a little bling can do!
Love what you just read? Keep the inspiration coming by subscribing to BLOCK Magazine! Every issue includes 10 exclusive patterns, skill-building tips, technique guidance, trend insights, and plenty of ideas to spark your next quilting project. It's more than a magazine — it's an idea book offering a creativity boost. Whether you are new to sewing or an experienced quilter, there's inspiration to be found in every issue. Subscribe to BLOCK Magazine today so you never miss a stitch!
