Simple Color Blocked Charm Pack Baby Quilt Tutorial
Today, I’m sharing a Color-Blocked Patchwork Baby Quilt Pattern and Tutorial with you. This simple baby quilt is created from two five-inch precut stacks (sometimes called Charm Packs).
This baby quilt pattern features a straightforward design; there is no need for a pattern. The blocks are arranged in color order, with the darkest at the top going down to the lightest at the bottom. If you like this pattern, you may also like this Sawtooth Star Baby Quilt Tutorial.
All the fabrics I used in the quilt were from a custom-created charm pack I purchased. This quilt would be great for using some of your fabric stash. Just pull a selection of light, medium, and dark blue fabrics. It also looks great with a pop of black.
If You are New to Quilting
Welcome! This is a great quilt for a beginning quilter. Before you get started, there are a few things you may want to know.
Be sure to check out:
- How to Cut Fabric with a Rotary Cutter & Ruler
- 10 Best Pressing Practices for Perfect Patchwork
- 3 Must-Know Quilting Safety Tips
- How to Finish a Quilt a Step-by-Step Guide
Simple Patchwork Color Blocked Baby Quilt Pattern
supplies
- 4 Fat Quarters of various prints You can get twelve 5” x 5” squares per fat quarter and, this quilt takes fourty one 5” x 5” square prints. You want to pick fat quarters in varying light and dark colors to get the “ombre” effect. OR
- 1 Charm Pack in lieu of the Fat Quarters, One Precut 5" Stack (sometimes called a Charm pack) with at least 41 squares.
- 40 pieces pre-cut 5” x 5” white squares. or one precut stack (charm pack) of 5" squares of fabric with at least 40 squares all the same color.
- 1 1/2 yards of fabric for the backing
- 1 1/2 yards Batting I prefer cotton batting
- 1/2 yard Fabric for Binding
Instructions
- Finished Size: Approx. 40 1/2" x 40 1/2"
Cutting Directions
- Cut 41 squares each 5" x 5" from your various prints. Arrange by color value. Darkest, Mid, Light Colors.OR sort one of your precut packs by color and value. Photo shown is an example of a charm pack with a variety of print squares.
- If your white squares are not precut, cut them into 40 squares each 5" x 5".
- Lay out the order you want your squares on a table, design wall or your floor. As you lay out the pieces, keep your darkest colors in rows 1 and 2, then gradually lighten them as you work down the rows, if you want the quilt to have an ombre effect. You can also organize them by color, depending on what fabric you choose to work with.
Assembly Instructions
- For odd-numbered rows, sew nine 5” x 5” squares together, alternating print and white, starting and ending with a print. Do this for rows 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. Press seams to the right.
- For even-numbered rows, sew nine 5” x 5” squares together, alternating white and print, starting and ending with a white block. Do this for rows 2, 4, 6, and 8. Press seams to the left.
- Tip: After you have sewn the squares together into a row, press your seams to one side. Press the seams of all of the squares towards the print fabrics, this will allow you to "nest" your seams together when you sew the rows of the quilt to each other.
- Assemble rows.
Finishing
- Quilt and bind as desired! I quilted mine using the Dogwood quilting pattern. The backing is flannel (my favorite for a baby quilt). It’s bound using 2 1/2” wide strips.
So are the precut 5×5 the white? And I assume you mean to begin and end with white on the 2, 4, 6 and 8 rows?
Great quilt, I love it. I want to do one just like it tonight! Thank You.
Yes!! Thanks for catching that! I read over it a few times and totally missed the typo! I’ve corrected it now.
Simply stunning! I love it when simple is the right choice… and this is it!
Thank you!
Hi Melissa
This is my first quilting project…
Can you tell me what is the measurement to sew between each square?
1/4 inch?
Yes, all quilting projects are sewn with 1/4″ seams. If you’re new you might find this post helpful! https://www.polkadotchair.com/quilting-basics-for-beginners/ Good luck!
Very nice!
Hi,
I’ve been searching on Fabricworm for the fabrics you used because I love them and am going to have my mom make this for our little boy that’s coming in December. I can’t find these prints. Do you know who the designer was or how long ago you got them?
Thanks!
This is so cute! I’m a beginner at sewing and I’ve never quilted before, but you’ve inspired me to give it try (with some help, of course!).
Thank you!
This would be an excellent quilt to start with! Very easy to piece together!
I have another question : What is the finished size? I’m thinking this would be great for a lap quilt – my mom kind of hinted she’d like to have one when she is in her wheelchair at the nursing home. Thank you! 🙂
I am soon to start a quilt for my little man, and I drew some of my inspiration from your quilt here. Right now, I am in the planning and development phase, as I am working on a quilt with someone else as a gift, as well as baby shower decorations, all with a two month old! Thank you for your amazing post, I only wish I was able to get 20 5″ squares from my fat quarters, I can only get 12, since they did not cut them at 90 degree angles. Oh well.
Fen
hi…this will be my first attempt at making a quilt. my daughter asked me to make one for her…she thinks I can do anything when it comes to sewing. I am going to try! where do I go to get pre cut fabric? she wants a baby nautical theme. thanks
Try Missouri Star Quilt Company online. They have a great selection of precuts in 5″ squares, 2 ½” strips, and other sizes/shapes. But you can cut your own 5″ squares from yardage for this cute quilt.
Is this blanket backed with the navy Michael Miller or grey?
I am thinking of using this pattern for a baby quilt for my sister. What are the finished dimensions?
Fabulous… thanks so much for sharing all this with us… 🙂 I plan on trying a quilt at some point in the future… 🙂 and I will come back here to begin… 🙂
have a fabulous day
🙂
I have just finished piecing together the top of my quilt. What type/ thickness of batting did you use? This is my first attempt at a quilt!
I like to use 100% cotton, like Quilters Dream Batting.. you should be able to get it online if you don’t have a local quilt shop
How come it says you need 40 5×5 blocks but if you have 9 rows with 9 blocks each row than that would be 81 blocks. Just want to clarify how many blocks I am going to need.
I think you need 40 print squares and 41 white squares or vice versa.
yes that is correct. I used 41 print and 40 white
The 40 blocks refer to the PRINT blocks you need to cut. You don’t need to cut the white blocks since they are precuts that are white.
Hi Alyssa. I see there was no answer. Did you figure this out?
How much batting should be used in this quilt? I don’t see an amount or anything in the directions. Thanks!
It would be close to whatever the backing requirement is.
Can you please show the back? Thanks!
Hi Melissa, this is so cute! I will try to make this for a baby shower and I have just bought my print fabric today. Do I need to prewash the fabric?
Kindly,
Naja
It’s up to you. Personally I never prewash my fabric. But it won’t hurt if you do.
Hi there,
Lovely quilt. i am doing one similar but wonderful what colour thread you used? It doesn’t appear to show up on any other different coloured squares.
Thanks!
What is the finished size of the baby quilt? I like the design but want to make it as a queen. Thank you.
If the finished size is 47×47 you must have pieced the back… reccomendations about the piecing? Down the Venetian or two side pieces?
I just pieced it straight down the middle. If I had some I’d have used Minke on the back since it’s 60″ wide.
I’m so in love with this pattern I’m using it for my first quilt…eeek!! But I’m the go big or go home and hope I don’t fail lol
Since I’m making a double size do you think I still sew each row and then attach each row to each other or is it better to make them into bigger blocks and then block those together?
I prefer to still sew them by rows, but it’s up to you if you’d rather go the other way. Either will work.
Hello, I may have missed this, but did you use premade binding or did you make your binding? Thank you so much!
I made the binding. Just cut 2 1/2″ strips of fabric, sew them together and fold in half and press lenghtwise.
Just made my first quilt with these instructions! Thank you
What is the finished size for this quilt?