How to make your quilts plump and three-dimensional: Trapunto technique

Date created:: 2020 years 04 month 06 date (month)

Update date:: April 10, 2025 (Thu)

The trapunto technique creates a cute, plump, three-dimensional effect. Once you get the hang of it, be sure to try incorporating it into your crafting projects!

table of contents

◇What is Trapunto?

This technique involves stuffing batting or hand-knitting yarn between the top and bottom layers of a quilt to create a three-dimensional effect, but it may be unfamiliar to many. You may be familiar with "boutis," a pure white quilt from France that features a similar fine quilting pattern. While both look quite similar, in Japan, quilts with batting are called "trapunto," and those without are called "boutis."

◇Materials and tools required

Please gather the materials and tools needed to make a quilt.

·cloth

Prepare cotton fabric that is easy to sew through for both the top and bottom layers of the quilt. The top layer is generally white, but you can choose whatever you like. For the bottom layer, choose a fabric whose color or pattern won't show through to the top layer.

・Quilting batting

A thin type of quilt batting is recommended.

·needle

While there are long needles specifically designed for trampt, you can substitute them with needles that have a large eye and a rounded tip, such as tapestry needles or cross-stitch needles.

• Hand-knitting yarn

Use a medium-weight white cotton thread or similar.

・ Disciplineneedle

・Quilting thread

・Basting thread

・ Quilting needle(A hand-sewing needle is also acceptable.)

・Toothpick

Chalk pen

・ Scissors　etc.

◇ How to make a quilt

First, let's draw the design on the fabric and start making the quilt.

Here is the trapunto design.

Transfer the quilting pattern onto the outer fabric.

Layer the lining fabric (back), batting, and outer fabric (front) in that order, and baste them outwards from the center in a radial pattern.

Furthermore, they also discipline those around them.

Quilt according to the pattern. Sew from the center outwards with stitches approximately 0.2 cm apart. (Note: Colored thread is used in the explanation for clarity.)

Once all the quilting is finished, remove the basting stitches.

◇ How to do trapunto

Let's take on the Trapunto challenge.

- To make thin areas appear fuller

*Colored threads are used in the explanation for clarity.

Trampto: To make the seams appear fuller, follow step 1.

Thread the knitting yarn through the tapestry needle, and insert the needle from the backing fabric side into the area you want to make puffy. Insert the needle as far as it will go, then remove the needle.

Let's do a trumpet! If you want to make the seams look fuller.

Only pick up the backing fabric, and pass the thread between the backing fabric and the batting. Cut the end of the thread, leaving 0.1 to 0.2 cm at the end.

Let's do a trumpet! If you want to make the seams look fuller, step 2

Do not cut the thread; instead, insert the needle back into the same eye and continue threading.

Let's do a trumpet! If you want to make the seams look fuller, step 3.

Thread the thread through in the same way, being careful not to pull it too tightly.

Let's do a trumpet! If you want to make the seams look fuller, follow step ④.

Finally, trim the end of the thread to 0.1-0.2 mm, and use a needle or toothpick to push the end in, or smooth it with your fingers, to make the hole less noticeable.

- When making a large area fluffy

Next, we'll apply trapunto to the petals.

Let's do some trumpeting! To make a large area fluffy: Step 1

First, thread the thread through the center and cut the end. Then, as before, thread the thread through the batting into the backing fabric.

Let's do some trumpeting! To make a large area fluffy, follow step 2.

Shift it slightly and thread the needle through using the same method.

Let's do some trumpeting! To make a large area fluffy, follow step 3.

You can also thread the needle through the same eye again to add volume.

Let's do some trumpeting! To make a large area fluffy, follow step ④

Thread the yarn through in a balanced manner according to the design.

Let's do a trumpet! To make a large area fluffy, follow step 5.

Trim the ends of the threads short and finish them so they are not noticeable.

Let's do a trumpet! To make a large area fluffy, follow step 6.

As you can see from the front, it has a three-dimensional finish.

The Trapunto is complete.

Finishing the edges completes the small quilt. The quilting pattern stands out softly, giving it a warm, handmade feel.

Transform your usual embroidery into a three-dimensional piece with Trapunto.

Quilts are inherently appealing for their soft, fluffy texture, but by applying trapunto stitching, the design becomes even more raised and expressive!

The Couturier blog features a variety of crafting tips and lots of helpful information. Don't miss the Couturier shop, where you can buy crafting kits, and our official social media accounts!

▽Click here for the Couturier Shop

The products featured in this article are listed here.

A group of people creating pure white quilts by connecting beautiful floral reliefs.

Among the many popular quilts, the high-quality white quilt holds a special place. Take this opportunity to experience the "trapunto" technique, where a pre-printed design is quilted, and then cotton thread is used on the backing to create a three-dimensional effect. The plump, raised floral pattern becomes even more striking the larger the stitches you sew together.

Click here for product details