How to make: a small squares quilt
Another day, another squares quilt. But there is something comforting about being able to just sit and sew for hours and hours, listening to a good audiobook or podcast, while a quilt comes together before your eyes.
So let's get started! Instructions are to make the quilt top only.
You can either make a 72" square quilt (9 blocks by 9 blocks) or a 64" x 80" rectangle quilt (8 blocks by 10 blocks) using this tutorial.
Fabric:
12 Fat quarters
3 yards background fabric (I used a cream)
From each of your fat quarters, cut (7) strips that are 2.5" x 21" (or however long your fat quarter is- usually 21-22")
From your background fabric, cut (42) strips that are 2.5" x Width of Fabric (WOF. Then subcut each of these into (2) strips that are 2.5" x ~21-22". You will have 84 strips in total.
Don't worry if they are a slightly different length from the fat quarters- we have some excess built in so will trim this off later.
Now take (1) strips from one fat quarter and (1) background strips and sew together using 1/4" seam, right sides together:
Press your seams away from the background colour- this will allow them to nest.
Now cut your joined strip into two pieces that are 10" long (you will have a little bit left at the end) :
Take your two pieces and sew them right sides together using 1/4" seam, ensuring they are contrasting:
Now we are going to cut this set into (4) strips that are 2.5" wide, as follows.
You will have 4 strips that look like this.
Now take the cut strips and sew right sides together, using 1/4" seam, alternating:
And your block is done!
And then repeat a million times :-) (well not quite- repeat to make a total of:
81 blocks if you are doing the 9 blocks by 9 block option or
80 blocks if you are doing the 8 block by 10 block option.
(You will have a few strips leftover as altogether we have enough fabric to make 84 blocks total).
Finally it's time to sew together your blocks.
If you are making the 9 x 9 block option, sew together 9 rows of 9.
If you are making the 10 x 8 block option, sew together 10 rows of 8.
Keep the background colour square in the same position for each block- for instance, if the top left hand square is a background square, make sure the background square is always in the top left hand square in each of your rows (see below which will hopefully explain this better)
And your quilt top is done! Baste, quilt and bind as desired. I quilted my using the tram track method- 1/4" away from each edge, in both directions.
For the back, I used mainly cream but mis-measured so had to add some leftover checks to the bottom- I love this feature! I used leftover scraps for the binding for a scrappy finish.
And now- we snuggle :-) I hope you found this tutorial useful- I'd love to see your creations if you make one yourself and as always, let me know if you have any questions !
