Easy Scrappy Patchwork Baby Quilt Tutorial

This baby quilt was made from both my scraps and my stash.  I tried to use mostly low-volume prints and the background solid is Kona Snow (I've been using the leftover solid from this quilt but I actually think I prefer Kona Oyster now which I used in this one.)  Note:  The measurements are based on a scant 1/4" seam throughout.

1.  Choose 16 different fabrics and cut strips measuring 3" x 18".

2.   Sew together in groups of 4.

3.  Cut into 6 - 3" strips.  Keep the strips in individual piles.

4.  Take one strip from each pile and make 5 blocks (you'll have one strip leftover in each pile - set those aside for now.)  Trim to 10.5" square.

5.  Fussy cut 4 novelty prints.  You can use any size that makes sense for the print you are using but each fabric should be somewhere between 2.5" and 5" (square or rectangle.)

6.  Your goal is to end up with a 10.5" square block with the solid fabric framing the print.  Measure your print - for this example, let's say your print is 3" square and you want it off-center.  Take a strip of solid fabric that is also 3" wide and sew a 2.5" piece to the top of the print and a 5.5" piece to the bottom.  Since you are stitching together 3 pieces of fabric, you want it to measure 1" more than your finished size to account for the seam allowances where you stitch them together - basically you add 1/2" for every place where two fabrics are stitched together.

7.  Next, you want to calculate what you need to add on either side to end up with a 10.5" block.  Still using the 3" square print as an example, you would want to add a 10.5" x 5.25" piece on one side and a
10.5 x 2.5" piece to the other.  Hope this makes sense (and that my math is right!)  Trim block to 10.5" (your block might not need to be trimmed - mine usually do since I always use a bit more fabric to be sure that I don't end up with a too-small block.)

8.  Arrange your blocks in the order shown below.  Sew together in rows of 3 and then sew the 3 rows together.  Take the leftover strips from step #4.  Take one of the strips and unpick the seam so that you have only two squares remaining.  Cut a piece of solid fabric 3" x 5.5" and sew it to the two squares.  Choose two other strips and sew together one long line of squares and sew the strip to the top of the quilt as shown below.  Use the remaining strips for the quilt back or save for another project.

9.  Quilt it, bind it, and your done!

Linking to Sew Cute Tuesday and Finish it Up Friday.