He has made everything beautiful in its time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Making a quilt is often a long and time consuming process. In the beginning stages of quilting, the mountain of fabric scraps that need to be cut into accurate shapes can seem overwhelming. It takes a lot of preparation. Depending on the size of the quilt, you may not see the finished results of your stitching for a long period of time.

Working consistently on a quilt is important if you don’t want it to end up as one more unfinished project.  It’s easy to feel excited about beginning a new quilt, but then life often gets in the way. Your good intentions can easily end up stuffed in a drawer and forgotten.

Losing weight is a lot like quilting. It’s exciting to start a new weight loss plan, but for emotional eaters who typically have a lot of pounds to lose, it can seem overwhelming at the same time. It can be a long journey to the finish line, and the motivation to keep going can dwindle over time.

However, those who love quilting and those who have lost a lot of weight will tell you it’s worth all the hard work and effort when you see the finished results.

Making a weight loss quilt is a good way to turn your excess pounds into a lovely tapestry. It’s a great way to record your progress and celebrate your success. In the end, not only will you look great and feel better, you will also have a beautiful new wall hanging to enjoy and use as a visual reminder of your transformation and hard work.

Even if you’re not a sewer, you can still enjoy the beauty of a weight loss quilt.  Collect your quilt squares. Once you reach your goal weight, you can have a seamstress complete the quilt for you.

Getting started

1. Subtract your goal weight from your current weight to determine the amount of quilt squares you need to cut.
2. Cut your quilt squares from 100% cotton fabric. The size of the squares will depend on how big you want your quilt to be. A good size is two inches.
3. If desired, decorate two mason jars (see photo above) to use for keeping track of the pounds you need to lose and pounds you have lost. You can place motivational quotes or scriptures on the jars for extra encouragement. These can be found in the scrapbook section of most stores.
4. If you would rather see your quilt in progress, you can make a project board and place a square on the board for each pound lost. A medium-sized cork board, bulletin board, or an artist canvas covered with felt or flannel will work fine. The fabric squares will naturally stick to the felt or flannel.  Cut a piece of flannel or felt about an inch larger than the board on all sides. Stretch the felt or flannel over the board, and secure it to the back of the board with staples or glue.
5. Once you reach your weight loss goal, stitch your squares together by hand or machine. Finish your quilt with batting, backing, and border fabric. Quilt all layers together to finish your quilted wall hanging.

Making a weight loss quilt is also a good way to take something negative and turn it into something positive. If you are an emotional eater, you’re probably already aware of the negative thoughts and feelings connected to obesity.

When another attempt to lose weight becomes one more time you failed, it can be difficult to see anything good about your attempts to lose weight. You may look in the mirror and only see rolls of fat or a double chin staring back at you. Your self-confidence suffers and you become depressed and discouraged.

Making a weight loss quilt can help you see each excess pound in a positive light. As you watch your quilt come together, you will have a visual reminder that you’re on your way to a healthier lifestyle and a thinner body.

At the end of your weight loss journey, your finished quilt will tell a beautiful story of perseverance, transformation, and victory over emotional eating.