12 Tried & True Layer Cake Quilt Patterns
Pre-cut quilt patterns are great time savers when it comes to quilting. Today I’m sharing more than a dozen of my favorite Layer Cake Quilt patterns. Each of them features easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, and most of them are free!
What Are Layer Cake Quilt Patterns?
Layer cake quilt patterns use pre-cut fabric squares, typically measuring 10″ x 10″. These pre-cut squares, which were named “layer cakes” by Moda, are often part of coordinated fabric collections, ensuring that all of the prints in your quilt work together well.
Moda also has unique names for a few other precut fabric products, including Charm Packs and Jelly Rolls.
Most Layer Cakes contain 42 pieces of fabric. It will vary by manufacturer. In addition, in a stack of 42 pieces, many prints, and colors will be repeated more than once.
Many fabric manufacturers make ten-inch precut fabric stacks; they refer to them by other names, including; “10-inch Fabric Wonders,”; “10” Stacker,”; and simply “10-inch Squares”. Quilters love working with layer cakes because they offer a convenient way to showcase the full spectrum of a fabric line without investing a lot of time in cutting.
The Appeal of Layer Cake Quilts
- Efficiency: One of the most appealing aspects of creating a quilt with Layer cake precuts is its efficiency. Quilters can skip part of the cutting phase with pre-cut squares and dive straight into piecing. This makes them a fantastic option for both beginners and experienced quilters looking for a quick project.
- Coordination: Layer cake fabric collections are carefully curated to ensure color and design coordination. The fabrics are designed to work together, taking the guesswork out of color and print matching.
- Opportunity for Creativity: While quilt patterns written for 10″ precut stacks offer the convenience of pre-cut fabric, they also provide ample opportunities for creativity. Mixing and matching fabrics, experimenting with layouts, and adding unique touches can turn a basic pattern into a quilt that reflects your style. Since most pre-cut stacks contain many different prints and colors of fabric, the unique way you place the prints and fabrics on your quilt will make it unique to you!
- Great for Beginner Quilters: Quilt patterns made with Layer Cakes are great for beginning quilters! They take most of the guesswork and a lot of the cutting out of the process when you’re making your first quilt. You could literally open the fabric package and sew the squares together as is, and you’d have a beautiful square quilt pattern! Just like we did for this simple patchwork quilt.
How to Make a Quilt with a Layer Cake (or 10″ precut stack)
If you’re eager to make a quilt using a pre-cut 10″ stack, here’s a simple guide to get you started:
- Choose Your Layer Cake: Select a layer cake (or 10″ precut stack) that you like. Remember, the fabrics in a layer cake are designed to complement each other, so you can’t go wrong with any choice.
- Select a Pattern: Browse through layer cake quilt patterns to find one that you like. We have fourteen suggestions to help you get started.
- Gather Supplies: In addition to your layer cake, you’ll need basic quilting supplies such as a sewing machine, thread, rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat.
- Follow the Instructions: Carefully follow the pattern’s instructions for piecing your layer cake squares together.
- Quilt and Bind: Once your quilt top is complete, layer it with batting and backing fabric, then quilt as desired. Finally, bind the edges to give your quilt a clean and professional look.
Where to Buy Layer Cakes
Almost all independent quilt shops sell Layer Cakes. Many of these shops also have an online store as well. A simple search for “layer cake” will yield thousands of results.
Layer Cake Sewing Projects (that aren’t Quilts)
I love to use leftover 10″ squares for a variety of projects. Here are a few projects that I’ve made using layer cakes that aren’t quilts!
- Mini Fabric Envelope Pattern
- Spring Flowers Wreath Tutorial
- Lined Drawstring Bag Tutorial
- Quilt Block Tea Towel Pattern
Free Layer Cake Quilt Patterns
I’ve put together a list of about a dozen quilt patterns written specifically for Layer Cakes. On this list, most of the patterns are free. A few of them are purchased patterns; I don’t mind supporting fellow makers and figured you would not mind either.
My Favorite Layer Cake Patterns
Here is just a sampling of some of my favorite quilt patterns using layer cakes (or 10″ precut fabric stacks). This list will stay updated as we add new, free tutorials to the site.
10" Pre-Cut Fabric Stack or Layer Cake Quilt Patterns
Quilt patterns written specifically for 10" precut stacks (or Layer Cakes) offer a blend of convenience and creativity, making them a favorite among quilters worldwide.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, these patterns are fun to sew and easy to customize.
Gathered Precuts Quilt Pattern - FREE
Learn how to make a simple quilt using a precut stack of fabric and a quilt panel! It’s a unique way to incorporate a preprinted quilt panel into a finished quilt.
Giant Bear Paw Free Baby Quilt Pattern
Learn how to make a simple and graphic baby quilt with our free Giant Bear Paw Baby Quilt Pattern. This quilt is precut-friendly and is constructed using 10″ pre-cut squares! This quilt pattern is beginner-friendly.
Simple Sawtooth Star Baby Quilt
If you are using a 10" precut (Layer Cake) of fabric, you will need 42 pieces of fabric 10" x 10". Depending on the contents of the 10" precut stack, you could make this baby quilt from one Layer cake.
Snuggly Layer Cake Quilt Pattern
This quilt pattern and tutorial sews up fast and make use of 10″ pre-cut squares (or layer cakes).
His & Hers Personalized Free Baby Quilt Pattern | Polkadot Chair
I’m a mom of twins, a boy and a girl. A friend of mine just had twins herself, and I decided it might be fun to find a way to use the same fabric line to make a boy and a girl version quilt. I also thought creating quilts with baby names would be great.
The Seas the Day Nautical Flag Quilt Pattern
The Seas the Day Quilt pattern is a fast-piece quilt pattern inspired by Nautical Flags. It measures approx. 52" x 62" makes it the perfect size for a lap or crib quilt.
This quilt pattern is unique in that it uses a 10" pre-cut stack of fabric (sometimes called a Layer Cake) and a bit of yardage.
The Letter Board Alphabet Quilt Pattern
The Letter Board Quilt is a fun quilt to express whatever is on your mind. It makes a great gift! Includes applique patterns for the ENTIRE Alphabet so you can spell out whatever you'd like on your quilt!
If you create the quilt with a scrappy bottom border, you can make this quilt from a 10" precut stack of fabric.
The Gingham Daydream Quilt Pattern
Our very popular Gingham Daydream Quilt pattern has been updated to include 5 different quilt sizes in the pattern.
This scrappy gingham quilt is easy to piece and a great way to use up some of your fabric scraps.
Patchwork Star Baby Quilt Tutorial
My big star baby quilts are some of my favorite go-to patterns for quick baby gifts. This project changes it up slightly and is fun for showing off cute fabric prints – especially ones with large print motifs.
Winter Fraulein quilt in Liberty Cottons
It’s also a pre-cuts friendly quilt pattern and works well with either a Rolie Polie/Jelly Roll or a stack of 10″ x 10″ squares (aka, Layer Cake). One Jelly Roll or Layer Cake + yardage for background and borders is all you need!
Prime Time quilt pattern - PDF version
Prime Time is a fun and modern quilt pattern with two easy block options --- a four-patch option and a large-square option (see photos). It's perfect for using precut 5" squares, 10" squares, fat quarters or yardage.
Large Hexagon Quilt Pattern and Tutorial
You can use a quilt ruler to cut out the pieces for this quilt. The ruler I used is 9″ wide and sized to fit on a 10″ piece of fabric. This makes this quilt particularly easy to make since you can use a pre-cut stack of fabric.
If you make this scrappy, it's a great quilt pattern to make with leftover precut squares.
Simple Patchwork Quilt
Patchwork quilts make great projects for beginning quilters. They are also wonderful for more experienced quilters looking for a quick project. Today I’ll show you how to make a simple patchwork quilt using a pre-cut stack of fabric.
Summer Pinwheel Quilt
The quilt is 82 HST’s (Half Square Triangles). You need 41 white 10″ x 10″ squares and 41 10″ x 10″ squares of various prints.
Just layer one white fabric with one print fabric and create two HST’s. (If you need to know how to do that click here). Trim each HST to 9 ½″ x 9 ½″.
Do you have a favorite pattern that wasn’t on our list? Just leave the name in the comments!
I am interested in the mermaid fabric. Do you have a source?
It’s an old line of mine with Riley Blake Designs, do a search on Etsy, that’s usually the best place to find older fabric collections.