A Baby Quilt Tutorial and Free Pattern

Beginner Quilt Tutorial

This is a great project if you're just starting quilting or want to use up some scraps.  I made most of this quilt with leftover fabric from a Block of the Month class at my local quilt store.  I may have seen something like this on the internet but I didn't have a pattern and just made it up as I went along.  It's actually pretty straightforward and I'll share the steps with you.

Basic Steps

1. Cut the angled shapes and sew together to make blocks
2. Cut small pink strips (sashing) and sew to the blocks
3. Sew blocks together to form 4 long rows
4. Sew long pink sashing strips between the rows
5. Sew outer borders on top and bottom and both sides

I cut the main shapes with my Easy Dresden template by Darlene Zimmerman.  I got mine at Joann's.  You can use scraps or strips of fabric that are 8” wide. (Stick adhesive sandpaper dots to the bottom of the template to help hold it steady while you cut around the edges of the template to make your shapes)

1. Cut shapes and make blocks

After cutting all the angled shapes, alternate them so the wide end of one is next to the skinny end of the next one. Then join them, sewing right sides together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Press the seams to one side. 

For variety I used a different number of shapes for each block before trimming the edges straight and adding the short pink pieces. In the picture below, one block has 5 shapes and the other block has 8 shapes.

2. Add sashing strips between each block

Trim the top & bottom of each block straight so you can add the sashing.  Since this is for a girl, I used a solid pink fabric (3/4 yard from my stash, yay) for sashing and for the borders. Cut your sashing strips 1 ½” wide and add a strip to the bottom of each block.

3. Sew the blocks into four rows

In the picture below, you see the 4 long rows or columns.  I trimmed the rows so they were all 46 1/2 inches long.

4. Sew long sashing strips to join each row

Combine the rows by sewing long sashing strips between them.  These sashing strips were also 1 1/2 inches wide.  This is what you have so far:

5. Add the outer borders

Cut the outer borders strips 2 1/2 inches wide.  I attached the side borders and then the top and bottom borders.  Now you're ready to quilt.

The Quilting Motif

I quilted this using an allover paisley design.

Quilting Summary

Finished size: 36" x 50"
Superior King Tut thread in Harem
Quilting Motif: allover paisley

Quilting Adds Great Texture

Before

After