This Giant Hunter’s Star Baby quilt pattern is a modern take on a traditional baby quilt. The oversized quilt block allows this quilt to be created quickly in a modern style that will appeal to many new mothers!
I’m excited to share another “Giant” baby quilt tutorial with you today! I didn’t come up with the idea to create a baby quilt with one large quilt block, but I love the idea and have made many of these “giant” baby quilts over the years.
Table of Contents
Giant Quilt Block Baby Quilt Patterns
Typically quilt blocks range in size from 6″ – 14″ finished. There are many more sizes, but that gives you a general idea of the scale. Many small quilt blocks are then sewn together to create a design (similar to assembling a puzzle).
A giant block quilt features only one quilt block. The pieces are “oversized,” yielding a larger quilt, which is the perfect size for a baby quilt. Since the blocks are oversized and play with scale they are great for quilters who prefer more modern baby quilt patterns.
This quilt measures approx 48″ x 48″.
This quilt features a traditional quilt block design, generally referred to as a Hunter’s Star.
Here are a few of the other giant quilt block baby quilts I’ve shared:
- Giant Star Baby Quilt Pattern
- Giant Bear Paw Baby Quilt
- Dresden Burst Baby Quilt
- Patchwork Star Baby Quilt (created and designed by Amy Smart)
- Picnic Crossing Baby Quilt
About the Quilt
One of my nieces is expecting a baby boy. She told me that she would decorate her nursery in neutrals with a bit of blue. If you’ve been a long-time reader, then you know I don’t do much with neutrals. There are a lot of brightly colored projects on this site!
Enjoying the challenge to create something neutral for her new addition, I decided to make a quilt out of Chambray & Low Volume Fabrics.
Chambray is lightweight denim fabric. The chambray that I used is from Riley Blake. It’s a lightweight woven fabric; I’d compare the texture to linen. It is a bit lighter than I expected when I ordered it, making it a very soft and fluffy quilt.
The back of the quilt is white Minky. The ivory fabrics in this quilt are all from the Hush and Hush 2 lines from Riley Blake.
About Low Volume Fabrics
When you hear the term Low volume fabrics, people usually refer to a fabric design that is white or close to white that features an overall design.
The design features light colors or colors very low in contrast and is meant to blend into the background of a project. Using low-volume fabrics gives your project a bit of extra texture without competing with the main design of your project.
I selected low-volume fabrics with small illustrations, giving the quilt a bit of an “I spy” feel. Most of them are from the Hush 2 collection, which is coming very soon.
Finished Quilt Details
- Pattern; Giant Hunter’s Star Baby Quilt (view below)
- Blue Fabrics; Chambray by Riley Blake Designs
- Ivory Fabrics; Hush, Hush 2 & Summer Picnic Fabrics by Riley Blake Designs
- Batting; Quilters Dream Cotton
- Backing; White Minky
- Binding; White & Gold Stripe
- Pantograph; Squared by Leisha Kay
Hunter’s Star Baby Quilt Pattern
supplies
- 1 ¼ Yards Blue Fabric I used Chambray
Low Volume Fabric Options Choose 1
- 8 Fat Quarters Low Volume Fabrics Recommended fabric purchase method, if you have yardage, you can use option 2 below
- 5 ½ Yard Cuts Various Low Volume Fabrics Option 2; Mine are all from Hush by Riley Blake Designs
Other Fabrics
- ½ Yard Fabric For Binding
- 1 ½ Yards Minky Fabric For Backing
Instructions
Cutting Directions
- From Blue Fabric Cut:4 pieces 12 ½" x 12 ½"16 pieces 7" x 7"From Low Volume Fabric Cut (from various prints);4 pieces 12 ½" x 12 ½"16 pieces 7" x 7"
Construction
- Using the 16 7"x7" pieces of blue fabric and 16 7" x 7" pieces of low volume fabric; create 32 Half Square Triangles.
- To do this; Draw a line diagonally down the center of the low volume squares.Layer one blue square on top of one low volume square; right sides facing.
- Cut the pieces apart along the line.Open and press.Trim and square up to 6 ½" x 6 ½"For tips and more detailed instructions to create half square triangles, please visit our Half Square Triangle Quilt block tutorial.
Construct Block A
- Sew four half square triangles together in the configuration shown.Repeat until you have four sewn units.
Construct Block B
- Sew four half square triangles together in the configuration shown. NOTE: this is a different layout than the Block A construction. Repeat until you have four sewn units.
Assemble Quilt Top
- Using the Block A units in the four corners of the quilt, and the Block B units in the center of the quilt; assemble the quilt top as shown.I recommend sewing the rows of the quilt together first; then sewing the rows to each other.
Melissa says
I love the look of this and other single block quilts! Any advice on how one would make this quilt more of an “adult size” lap quilt-maybe 5×5? Would you suggest running the numbers and increasing each measurement by 25% or adding a thick border?
I would suggest making 4 of the baby quilt “tops” then sewing them to each other in two rows of two. The pattern will repeat on itself.
Melissa says
Thank you so much! I apologize for asking for help with modifications on what I think is already such a timeless and beautiful quilt design!
BJ Marlar says
I love this pattern but would really like to make it in a larger size for a couch blanket like 4’ x 6’, or 5 x 6? Do you have any ideas how to adapt or add to the pattern for it to look right?
Also if I pieced one and had it machine quilted by someone is there a name for the quilting pattern that you did yours in?… Because I really like it.
I’ve never made a quilt yet, but what’s thinking this might be be a good first project for me.
Thanks!
Yes, the quilt patter is called a pantograph, I mentioned it in the blog post, it’s called Squared.
If you want it big, I’d just make the same top 4 or 6 times then sew them together in two rows of 2 or three rows of 2.
BJ says
Thanks, I don’t really understand your explanation For enlarging quilt… Maybe I’ll figure it out by drawing on graph paper.
I saw in the blog & the word pantograph. I had no idea what the word pantograph meant … I looked up the meaning of the word it doesn’t explain it as meaning for quilting pattern. Is this commonly used in the quilting world to refer to quilt pattern?
Yes! When you send quilts to a longarmer to be quilted (someone who has a special machine that can quilt a large quilt) they use a digital file for the pattern called a “pantograph”. Most of the time they will ask you which one you want.
Rebecca says
GORGEOUS! You make beautiful quilts.
Susan says
This is one of the nicest, simple, baby quilts I have seen. Thank you so much for the pattern/tutorial. I am sure your niece will love it (and her baby too).
Thank you so much!!
Deb B says
Love this idea! I’ve not yet worked with half-square triangles, I’ve been a little intimidated. This pattern makes it look so easy!
Lindsay says
Though I too favor bright colors, I LOVE this! So simple and elegant both!! If I didn’t have so many Christmas projects going (without tons of experience at that), I’d try to see if I could have one done by my January due date. Thank you for sharing it! It’s on my “hopefully someday” list. It’s beautiful. 🙂
adriene says
Quick question: I did the calculations for the background fabric and came up with 1.3 yds, not sure why you have 5 1/4 yds for the low-volume background. The 8 fat quarters works out to 2 yards total. Just don’t wan to over buy if I don’t have to.
I make a LOT of baby quilts and really love this one. Cannot wait to make it.
Because my quilt features five different low-volume prints and normally people want to make a quilt exactly like the one in the photo. So I listed what I used.
Afton says
Thanks for this free pattern! It came together so fast and mine turned out soo cute! I plan on making this in future if a baby quilt is needed.
Jo Ann Butt says
Hi Melissa,
I love the look of this quilt. Bought fabrics, and got 5 1/4 yd cuts of the low volume. How can you get a 12 1/2 x 12 1/2 square out of a fabric that is only 9inches wide? Am I missing something, it will work with a fat quarter? I guess I need to buy more fabric?
Hi,
Thank you for catching that, I don’t know how no one else caught it before! It should be 1/2 yard cuts for the 12 1/2″ pieces. If you don’t want to buy more fabric, for each of the 12 1/2″ squares, cut two pieces 12 1/2″ x 6 1/2″, sew them together along the 12 1/2″ sides, then trim to 12 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ – you shouldn’t notice the extra seam at all.
Katrina Thennis says
Hi! I finished the quilt top and I am looking at fabric needed for the backing. I have a 1.5 yard piece of quilting cotton, but it’s not big enough to use as backing… is minky cut in a different size?
Yes, Minky is 60″ wide so it will cover more of the back of the quilt. Most quilting cotton is 42″ wide.
Katrina Thennis says
Thank you!
Bonnie Stalker says
I just finished the Hunter’s Star baby quilt. The tutorial was great! I like to try new patterns, and this really caught my eye. I had a lot of fun choosing the low volume prints to use. It’s off to my long arm quilter now. Thanks for a great tutorial and free pattern.
Bonnie Stalker says
It may just be my poor eyesight, but the binding fabric looks like dashes and dots, not a solid stripe. Is that correct? It’s very interesting. Love the quilt.
It’s a dashed line fabric that I’ve had for a long time.