My younger brother and his cute wife just welcomed their first sweet baby into their family. It is so neat to see them become parents! It also brings back a few longing memories for me. I am so happy for them! Their little girl is so beautiful!
Their nursery colors are gray and pink. And sometimes (just sometimes!) I am itching to make another quilt and this was one of those times. And of course now that I finished one, I have no motivation to finish another one I started in August. The struggle is real, I tell ya.
If you’ve followed along here and checked out any of my other quilts, you’ve no doubt noticed my love for simple quilts using triangles. The quilt I started in August is yet another random triangle quilt. I love them! Using half square triangles on a quilt is so satisfying to me, because they are not that time-consuming. Sure, they still take over 10 hours each from start to finish, but for a quilt, that isn’t bad and I’m getting faster.
So, let’s make one!
You’ll Need:
-40″ white cotton fabric–cut this fabric into sixteen 10″ squares
-10″ each of at least four separate color or pattern fabrics.Four is fine, but on this quilt I threw in a couple fabrics from THIS fat quarter pre-cut for a total of 6 different colors or patterns–cut this fabric so you have a total of sixteen 10″ squares (you will have some remaining if you use more colors or pattern fabric).
-1/2 yard of binding fabric. Cut this into 2.5″ strips.
-batting (I like the warm and natural from Joann)
-3 5/8 yards backing fabric **This was used based on the calculator on Quilter’s Paradise site HERE. I somehow was able to make 2 yards work, though I had to piece it and if you have a directional fabric that may not work. So I suggest going off of their site and getting the right amount.**
Finished quilt measures about 43″ x 55.5″. It’s a large baby quilt, and you can certainly leave off a row to make it smaller.
**Always use 1/4″ seam allowance. I also set my stitch length to 2.0 for tighter stitching.**
**To make a larger quilt, simply add more 10″ squares of all fabrics! Adjust the batting, backing, and binding fabrics once the quilt top is finished and measured so you know how much to purchase.**
As I said above, I used six different colors or patterned fabric, since I used some from THIS bundle.
Now that you’ve cut everything from the instructions above, you should have sixteen 10″ color or patterned fabric squares, and sixteen 10″ white squares, as well as your binding cut into 2.5″ strips. 
Ok, now we are going to make a lot of half square triangles. I have a tutorial on how to do this HERE, but I will go over it in this post as well. First, take one of your white squares and place it, right sides together, with a pattern or color square. *Please note that this method of HST’s means the edges of the squares are all on the bias now. Do not stretch the fabric while handling!*
Sew around the entire square. Do not leave any openings. You also do not need to backstitch.
Line up your ruler from corner to corner and cut.
Now repeat with other two corners.
Press the seam towards the dark side.
Cut off the points to make it a square.
Now you should have four of these guys, all from the two 10″ squares sewn together. Easy, right?
Repeat this process with the remaining white squares paired with the color and pattern squares. You could also mix it up and sew two white squares together or two colors/patterns together. Clip off all those dog ears (or the pointed edges sticking out, for those of you who aren’t sure what I’m talking about). Save them to make a miniature quilt. Don’t let those scraps go to waste!
Just kidding. After all the squares are pressed and clipped, arrange them how you would like. I used all but one square. Like I said, you can make the quilt smaller, you’ll just have more fabric leftover.
I like to start at the top and make piles for the columns. Then I number them, either with a little sticky paper, or by writing on the back. I don’t want to mess up the order I so carefully decided on!
Now start sewing the squares, right sides together, in their rows or columns, whatever is easiest for you to remember. Tip: if the seams are too thick to start sewing on, try starting from the other side of the squares.
Once you have all your columns or rows sewn together, then press the seams. You want to press the first row opposite as the second. So my first row, I press the seams up. Then my second row I press my seams down, and so forth with all the columns.
Press well! Some of these seams where multiple layers end up together are tricky. I promise the pressing will pay off when sewing the strips together.
Second column pressing the seams down.
PIN the columns or rows together, making sure the seams nest nicely and the seam lines are going to line up.
Then start sewing the strips together until the quilt top is finished. Press the quilt top.
Lay your quilt top onto the fabric backing and determine how big to cut it, piecing the backing fabric together if needed. You want the backing and batting to overlap about 4″ on each side of the quilt. Honestly with the straight line quilting I don’t believe you need that much. I cut my backing and then lay it on top of my batting and cut that.
Basting spray is your friend. No pins, and minimal shifting, if any. Baste spray the backing to the batting, then the quilt top to the batting, smoothing it out as best as you can.
On to the quilting! I use a walking foot and very, very simple quilting. I simply lack the patience to do anything fancier. I love pretty quilted designs, but I also love simplicity. It doesn’t take long and I don’t have to pay anyone to do it, and I rarely get frustrated with the quilting portion if I keep it simple.
I lengthen my stitch to 3.0 for the quilting.
Once the quilting is finished, cut off the excess backing and batting.
I’m not going to go into binding a lot, rather I will link you HERE and HERE. Both of those links have the best tips I have found for binding. Call me crazy but I enjoy binding. The picture below is the binding being sewn around the quilt.
Fabric: Patterned Fabric on the Quilt Top is Cloud 9 fabric, solids are a mixture of fabric from Joann and the Boundless fabrics.
Triangle Fabric on the back was found on the back wall of quilting fabrics at Joann.
Give it a try and make sure to let me know if you do!
this looks absolutely stunning!!! One of these days I am going to sew a quilt that I will love forever, that will pass down through the generations :-)
Ah, thanks Jess! I actually didn’t used to like quilting, like at all. But it’s grown on me. You would make an awesome quilt!
That was a great tutorial and an adorable quilt! Lucky baby :)
Thanks so much!
I love the colors and patterns you chose! I’m hoping to grow my sewing skills enough to be able to make a quilt like this one day!
Thank you! You should totally try it! It really is one of the easiest quilts to sew.
This is so beautiful! What are the printed fabrics called? I love the backing especially.
Hello! All of the fabric was found at Joann. Most of it is cloud 9, but I believe the triangle fabric was just Joann brand on the wall with all their quilting fabrics.
I’m thinking of making this lovely quilt. I’m a little confused on the math for the squares. 6 different fabrics(fat quarters) cut 10” isn’t that only 12 squares? I’d prob get a 1/3yd each anyway just to have more fabric but trying to figure this out
I think you cut each 10″ square into 4 pieces to make 16 total (40″/10″=4; 4×4=16) Hopefully that helps!