One of my favorite quilts of all time was this super simple Kaleidoscope of Fabrics Quilt that I made with my daughter. She loved boho florals and did not want them cut up into little pieces. All she wanted was them framed so each block print stood out. Most of us have a collection of prints we just can't think of cutting up, and this simple and quick quilt if the perfect pattern to show case them. It is also a super simple quilt for beginners!
This quilt only took two hours to make (minus the shopping and machine quilting)...and is so easy that anyone could make it. It is a throw size (64 x 85)...perfect for a bench, couch, or corner of a bed.
Materials
12 fat quarters
1 3/4 of fabric for sashing (borders)
5 yards for the back &
3/4 for the binding
Cotton batting (twin size)
Thread, rotary cutter, mat, ruler, iron
Instructions
1. Trim all of the fat quarters to 18 inches square using you rotary cutter, mat and ruler. Press.
2. To make the sashing (in-between borders), cut 15 strips of fabric 3 1/2 inches wide. Then cut across four of the strips to make eight pieces that are 3 1/2 x 18 inches wide.
3. Cut three of the long strips in half and sew five of the half pieces to the ends of five strips to make five strips that are 3 1/2 x 59 inches long.
4. Cut one more strip in half and sew each half-piece to the ends of two strips to make the side borders.
5. Press all of the strips.
6. Lay out all of the 18" squares on a floor or large surface in the pattern you would like.
7. Using a 1/4" seam, sew one 18" long sashing strip to the side of the top left block square (right sides together). Press.
8. With right sides together again...sew the next block square to the other side of the 18" strip. Press.
9. Continue this process until all four of your rows are stitched together.
10. Then you will take the top row and carefully pin one of the 59" long strips to the bottom of the row (right sides together) and using a 1/4" inch seam, stitch it together. Press.
11. Sew the row together using the remaining 59" sashing strips.
12. After the rows are sewn together you will pin the top border and bottom border to the top and bottom rows and sew together. Press.
13. Lay out the remaining two long strips onto the quilt top and pin to the top (right sides together). Make sure the seams in the border strips are laying where you want them to. Trim off any of then excess border...and stitch together. Press. Hurrah...you quilt top if now done!!!
14. Measure the baking fabric and seam it together to cover the edges of the top of the quilt. Make sure you leave 3 to four inches all the way around for your machine quilter to use in her quilting process.
15. Iron the top, and back using a spray starch for a little stiffness. This will help the quilter as well.
To finish the quilt either machine quilt it or enjoy the process of slow stitching it together. I had a dear friend quilt mine with an all over floral pattern that matched the flowers in the block squares. A special polka-dot block had a heart stitched into it.
16. Once you have it quilted, you will want to bind it. Cut eight strips 2 1/2 inches wide for your binding. You can find instructional videos on binding techniques on the web....maybe I will need to make one myself.
This darling quilt was made with love for your daughter and has been shared with her family and friends on picnic, beaches visits, and whenever a warm "hug" from home was needed. It was so easy to make it is the perfect quilt to make as a gift. So find your favorite collection of fat quarters and start sewing your own Kaleidoscope of fabrics into a quilt of your own.
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