I entered the world of quilting to make baby quilts for the multitude of babies that were coming into our lives from my daughter's, son's and our own friends. By making these quilts, I was developing and advancing my quilting skills.
There is no shortage of cute fabric for baby quilts, and I've made several different types of quilts. Several of them much more elaborate than needed...but I was trying to figure things out...and learning by doing cannot be underestimated.
Most recently I was at an impasse on what do do with some cute elephant fabric. I had one idea...did some cutting and laying out and ended up with a big fat NOPE!
After that false start, I settled on this simple pattern. It is alternating blocks of a 4 patch in two colors and a single, featured fabric. In this rendition, the 4 patch is tan and white and the featured fabric is a cute elephant print.
If you choose your featured fabric first, you simply have to decide on 2 coordinating fabrics to make your 4 patch. So no tough decisions to make. I've made several other renditions with gray and white 4 patch and a green/blue gingham check and white 4 patch. Both equally lovely. I used a darker green..but though it coordinated, I felt it overpowered. Because the 4 patches are assembled using width of fabric strips paired together for each color, they are easy to sew, press and subcut. A great project for your sewing happy hour...you can drink your favorite beverage, watch your favorite show and make something cute!
Do watch the orientation of the 4 patch...I reversed a couple in another quilt...but I just left it. If you are accurate with your cutting and sewing, everything should line up nicely. This is not a fiddly pattern.
This quilt measures 36"x36" square. Quilt Recipe is below.
Quick Baby Quilts with 4 Patch and Featured Fabric.
Simple baby quilt with 6 rows and 6 columns of 6" finished blocks alternating between a 4 patch of coordinating fabrics with your chosen featured fabric.
Source: Leisa
Yield: 36 x 36" Quilt
Serves:
Ingredients
- 3 6.5" WOF Featured Fabric Subcut to 6.5" (you will need 18 and may need to cut additional blocks)
- 3 3.5" WOF Background A paired with B Strip
- 3 3.5" WOF Background B Paired with A Strip
- Extra 6.5 cut additional to achieve 18 blocks
- Extra A+B cut additional as needed to achieve 18 4- patches
Directions
- To make 4 Patch:
- Choose fabrics that have sufficient contrast with each other and are harmonious with your featured fabric.
- For each pair of A/B strips: Sew length-wise with scant 1/4"' seam. Press seam to darker fabric. You will have 3 sets.
- Subcut each paired set to 3.5" rectangles (for 6" finished block).
- **Note the direction you want your 4 patch--darker block far left or lighter block far left. Make sure that you maintain this layout when sewing to Featured fabric.
- Line up one block with light/dark square on top and the second block with dark/light square on bottom. Sew 1/4" seam. Press blocks. (Direction does not matter as it will be sewn to non-seamed block.) You will end up with 18 blocks measuring 6.5" square (for 6" finished).
- Featured Fabric
- Cut 6.5" strips, WOF. Subcut to 6.5".
- Layout Quilt:
- Layout 6 rows of alternating blocks. Mind the orientation of your 4 patch blocks--they are easy to turnaround!
- 4P=4 patch FF=Featured Fabric
- R1 4P, FF, 4P, FF, 4P, FF
- R2 FF, 4P, FF, 4P, FF, 4P
- R3 4P, FF, 4P, FF, 4P, FF
- R4 FF, 4P, FF, 4P, FF, 4P
- R5 4P, FF, 4P, FF, 4P, FF
- R6 FF, 4P, FF, 4P, FF, 4P
- Sew complete rows. Then sew each row together matching seams. (Pin as needed). I like to glue baste
- Make quilt sandwich using your favorite method. For quick quilting, simply stitch in the ditch (and carry through the middle of your 6" finished blocks.You can use a decorative thread and an "S" stitch over your ditches.
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