What pure fun making this quilt was! You forget how fast baby quilts are to make until you realize that it’s binding time and the quilt is almost finished and it seemed to just fly out of the sewing machine.
(Update: I have received many requests for a pattern for this quilt. You can make this quilt yourself by using this pattern that I have written for a different checkerboard type quilt.)
I made this quilt using what I think is a great combination to make a unified but interesting look: start with a cute motif fabric, add a solid, a little dot and a stripe. Four different fabrics that can create a bit of a scrappy look but looks cohesive. I started with a fabric from Anne Kelle’s Urban Zoology line for Robert Kaufman. This line of fabrics is so adorable and is perfect for stashing for future baby quilts. The little dot is Pinhead in Ebony from Michael Miller. The solid is Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solid in Aqua and the little grey stripe is probably one of my all time favorite stripes – Animal ABCs small stripe in Grey – I kind of hoard it in my stash.
The backing fabric – eeeeek! It’s called Key Ingredient in Natural Blue from Chicken in the Ktichen Collection by Alexander Henry. I’ve had this in my stash for a while and couldn’t wait to use it.
This quilt was made using 16-patch blocks, with finished squares that were 3″ each. To make these, I cut 3.5″ x 16″ strips from four different fabrics and sewed them together to make a variety of 4-strip “A” sets. I could have cut WOF (width of fabric) strips, but I felt that sewing those together wouldn’t have given me the mixed variety of sets I wanted. I subcut these “A” sets into 3.5 strips and then placed them out until I got a scrappy layout I liked. I then sewed them into 4-strips blocks and sewed the blocks together in rows. There were 3 blocks across and 4 blocks down to make a quilt that finishes at 47″ x 35.5″ (including binding).
For this quilt, I thought I should make bias binding instead of my usual cross grain binding. I thought the stripes on the diagonal added a little bit more interest, plus it’s more durable – especially for a baby quilt that might get washed more. To make bias binding, I use a Binding Buddy ruler by June Tailor that makes it a snap. I have the 2.5″ one but they also make a 2.25″ ruler. Makes it super simple! I think it’s also less of a hassle than making continuous bias binding – way too much fiddling for me. If you want to see how I apply binding, here is my tutorial on that.
I quilted this with Aurifil 50 wt. thread and did double vertical quilting lines along all the squares. I used white on top and a sand color in the bobbin, to match the backing fabric. I used Warm & White for the batting.
I was almost sorry to have this quilt finished, it was so fun!
I hope you’re making something! Thanks for stopping in,
Elaine
I’m linking up to My Quilt Infatuation, Sew Fresh Quilts, Blossom Heart Quilts and Free Motion by the River
Adorable! Hopefully it will be treasured for a long time to come. Thanks for sharing at Sew Cute Tuesday!
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Hi Elaine
Just love your little owl quilt
Having trouble tho at getting fabrics. Can’t obtain the grey strips which I think is so right for this gorgeous quilt
Fabric.com tell me it’s unavailable and Non order able which I found Really disappointing tho realise it will be so popular after seeing your quilt
Do you have any idea if there us anywhere ele I could get it from
Have tried over here in N ew Zealand?
Would be very grateful
Many thanks
Eleanor
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The most disappointing thing about quilting has been the shortage of popular fabrics! I have not been able to find two of the fabrics needed for this quilt. Very nice quilt Elaine.
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A regular pillow ticking fabric might work, too..it’s the same colors in gray & white. Comes in different weights.
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I found the owl fabric (Urban Zoology) online from JoAnn Fabrics.
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Beautiful….no puckers anywhere! How do you avoid those? Also how do you sew the binding on without puckers? That’s my problem.
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Eleanor: You can actually use your walking foot to sew the binding on – it’s very helpful and will feed the fabric so there are no puckers. As for the machine quilting and puckers, do you use a walking foot? That is key. There are also more tips that I have written about in this post https://beechtreelanehandmade.com/2016/02/22/six-tips-for-machine-quilting/ that will help you avoid puckers, like lowering the pressure foot tension when machine quilting and using the proper needle in your machine. Really works. Hope this helps!
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I have all these colors! I have been inspired! Thank you for sharing. Rita
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Please could you tell me how much Fabric to use on this Beautful Quilt. Thank you.
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I too would like to know how much fabric you purchased.
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I to would like to know how much fabric
Thanks Gwen
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Cute, fast baby quilt! You’re right about achieving a scrappy look using a planned set of fabrics. The quilting is perfect–fast and fun! Good job.
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What a cute quilt!!
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I love it! It’s absolutely adorable. I love the simplicity and vintage feel of a basic charm quilt. Gorgeous!
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Elaine, just found you on Blossom Heart Quilts. So glad I did! Your work is beautiful and this quilt is just totally precious. Now, if someone would just have a baby 🙂
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Super cute! I love these colors & fabrics for a baby boy quilt!
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Super cute!
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Pretty, and modern, and tender and seriously adorable! I love that you used a text print on the back!!!! Lucky baby who will be snuggled under this one!
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Oh my gosh…..SO adorable! The backing fabric, is pretty awesome, I just love graphic prints on the back of quilt. TFS.
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It’s amazing how the correct fabric choice can make something really really special. This is just so adorable.
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cute fast quilt! and love the fabric esp the backing fabric- so cute ! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you everyone for your lovely comments!
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Hello. I was just wondering if you used batting with this quilt please?
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Sorry, just found the info! This is my first quilt I’m making and didn’t recognise the terminology 🙂
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Ha ha! No problem.
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Louise: Yes, I mention in the post that I used Warm & White cotton batting.
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What amounts of fabrics were needed for this project? Yardages
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I love this! The fabrics, the bias binding, the backing, the quilting – it’s all beautiful!
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That backing it just so sweet and it’s paired perfectly with the sweetest quilt top too! So lovely, thank you for sharing it, I’ll certainly be pinning this for future reference!
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Very nice!
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My heart is beating so fast because I love these colors. I have your owl fabric in the primary colorway because I didn’t see this one! Oh I need this one!
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I bought the fabric on Etsy as well as Fabric. com and bought everything that was listed.
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A beautiful new way of looking at colors – binding on the back first always came easier to me, but will do your method of stitching in the ditch on the front … thanks for such a jolt of inspiration and instruction.
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Love the fabric and especially the backing fabric. Beautiful baby quilt!
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What fun fabrics and such a sweet quilt.
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What a beautiful quilt . Beautiful fabrics and Colors! love them ❤
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Love your quilt and would love to make, but how many yards did you purchase for each color? Thank you Kay
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That was my question as well ☺. Beautiful quilt!
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I am almost finished with this quilt. It came out great (so far). Now I have to figure out continuous binding. UGH!!
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Barbara: Continuous binding is not difficult! It just takes more fabric, but it is worth it.
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Kay I just finished the top and I purchased 1 1/2 yards of all the fabric for the top, except for the strip, I purchased 2 yards for that to do the binding with. I also purchased 3 yards for the backing, but I am using some of the owl print as a border.
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Barbara, thank you for giving your yardage. Do you remember how many 3.5 x16” strips you cuts of each fabric? I’m the type that needs detailed directions and then it just a hope and prayer that I get it right. Thank you
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Beautiful colours and fabric choices! Great work. Thanks for the tutorial.
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I love the quilt thanks for sharing! I also love the look of the quilting done and want to try it. Could you tell me tge spacing between rows and in from edge of block?
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Hello. I just found you TODAY! The material in your quilts is adorable. Do you buy it from special sites? Thanks, Sylvia
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Sylvia: In my posts, I usually identify the fabrics I use and even have links to where you can buy them. Read through the posts and you will see that.
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How much fabric did you buy ?
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Is there batting used in the blanket? Thank you
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Yes – in the post, I mention that I used Warm & White 100% cotton batting for this quilt.
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Thank You
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I just found this on pintrest and I love it! Your tutorial is so helpful and I love the tips for new quilters. This is going to be my first baby quilt and it has been so helpful! Thank you!
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Welcome, Megan! So glad you liked the tutorial and tips. Happy quilting!
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Hello! Just bought all the fabric to start this project this week! Can’t wait! Can you confirm if you used a 1/2 inch seam when sewing all of the strips together (through all stages)? I assume this is how you come out to 3″ squares total…
Thank you!
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Liz: I used a standard 1/4″ quilting seam throughout.
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I am making this quilt right now & I think you should use 1/4″ seam – you will be sewing 1/4″ for each square so they turn out a lot smaller. 1/2″ would make the squares really small. it goes together fast but takes awhile to cut all the strips.
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This is so cute, I want to try to make one for my grandangels due next February.
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Beautiful quilt, colours and beautifully stitched!
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I had trouble finding the “Chicken in the Kitchen” line but found a similar design at a local quilting shop. When you give the 3.5 X 16 measurements, those are the starting measurements, right? I am finding the squares turn out smaller than it looks in your pictures but it is a great pattern combination.
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Oh, my goodness, this baby quilt is adorable! I’m going to remember your fabric selection method next time I do a little shopping! It works great!
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I love this, I have ordered my fabrics but I am wanting to know where you got the binding from or what sort of material this is?
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You use the same black & white striped fabric for the binding. You cut the binding on the bias – allow enough to fold it in half and enough to fold over to the back. Make sure you lay the fabric the same direction for the binding when you cut – if not, the stripes will be going the wrong direction. It happened to me!
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Elli: In the post, I mention that I cut the striped fabric on the bias so the stripes would be diagonal. I also linked to the bias ruler I use. Buy the way – I am seeing more fabric manufacturers coming out with stripes that are already on the bias! I love this. You will be able to cut your strips crossgrain and have a binding with diagonal stripes.
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I love the colors! Your quilt turned out adorable!
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Your quilt looks beautiful and I like the way you show how to do it,I am going to sewing lessons on Quilting,but I need to stick with the easy ones Cheers Noeline Sydney Australia
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Very cute. Would love to try for my great nephew who is due in May. How much of each of the fabric do you need. Love the owls.
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Cathy: I’m sorry – I did not keep track of how much fabric I used!
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Hi! I love your site! So inspiring!
I recently purchased the Robert Kaufman Owl print in flannel. I think it is the only way it comes. I was hoping to pair it with 100% cotton non flannel fabric from Moda but was unsure about mixing materials. Did you mix different Cotton’s in this quilt? From what I can tell I think you did and I apologize if you have answered this question before. I read through many of the comments and did not see this question. So the main question is do I need to pre wash the flannel Fabric or all Fabrics before working them together? What do you practice? Thank you!
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Lisa: I have never mixed flannel and regular cottons together on a quilt top, however I have used a flannel backing for a quilt with a regular cotton top. I would imagine it would be just fine to mix the two for a quilt top, but I can’t say for sure – I would love to try this myself, actually! I always, always, prewash all my fabrics and I think that is why I might be more confident mixing the two. I prewash fabrics because I don’t want any surprises after washing a completed quilt – if the fabrics are going to shrink or bleed or distort in any way, I want them to go through the same washing process before sewing that they will be after sewing. Hope this helps. If you try mixing the two fabrics, let me know!
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Thank you!
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I have mixed 100% Cotton “quilting” fabric with good quality 100% Cotton flannel and sometimes I add Minkee or chenille to it, as well, on the top. The mixed textures entertain the baby to some extent. I would suggest pre-washing your fabrics when mixing them together as they shrink at different rates.
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just new to quilting and love your quilts and tutorials am absolutely addicted already!!
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Love this quilt and your directions. I especially like your general directions on fabric choice, “start with a motif you like, add a solid, stripes, dots”. I often use 3nd hand clothes for my quilt fabrics, so these directions help me feel confident about fabric choices. Like some others, I’d love to know how many 3.5×16” strips you used of each fabric. Photos make me guess three or four, but not sure. Thanks for posting!
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I made this Owl Quilt for a new niece except in pink and gray. I found most of the fabric online. The striped gray & white was the hardest to find and tricky to cut the binding on the bias. I got it going the wrong way & had to piece it at the end but a very cute mixture of prints.
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Hi! Very new to quilting and excited to try this one! I was curious, did it “crinkle” or wrinkle after washing?
Thank you!
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Yes – after the first washing, it will get a crinkled, antique-like look. Cotton fabrics will do this after washing. Hope this helps.
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Hi there! Thanks for this excellent tutorial. When you sew the double lines do you use a twin needle or are you just very neat?
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Maggie: No, just regular single needle!
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Elaine, love your quilt and tutorial! Would you explain how you cut the binding strips to be on the diagonal? Love thank! Thanks in advance.
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Chris: Here is my favorite way to cut diagonal bias strips. Just buy a striped fabric and cut this way. Hope this helps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsB9cmeHQcs
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