Pattern Description:
The Seaside Squares Lap Quilt utilizes an easy square-in-square quilt block tutorial and is put together completely with these blocks.
This next-step project for beginner quilters comes together quickly, primarily using precut jelly roll strips, which are 2 1/2″ x 42″ fabric strips. Six jelly roll strips yield three blocks.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
- Materials: Several jelly roll strips (depending on the desired quilt size). Six strips make 3 blocks.
- Tools & Supplies:
- Sewing Machine and basic sewing supplies.
- Rotary Cutter.
- Rulers (including a large ruler and a 6.5-inch triangle square up ruler).
- Fabric pen or Dritz Dual Purpose Marking Pen.
- Wonder clips.
- Walking foot.
- Large cutting mat.
- Key Measurements & Dimensions:
- Jelly Roll Strip Measurement: 2 1/2″ x 42″.
- Seam Allowance: Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance when sewing strips and blocks together.
- Cut Size: The sewn jelly roll strips are cut into 6.5 inch squares.
- Finished Block Size: Each finished block measures 11 inches.
Instructions for Making the Seaside Squares Lap Quilt Pattern:
Step 1: Organize and Combine Fabric Strips
First, separate the fabric strips and choose how they should be lined up. Next, sew the jelly roll strips together in sets of three. Ensure a 1/4 inch seam allowance is used when sewing the strips together. After sewing, press the seams flat.
Step 2: Trim and Cut into Squares
Once the three strips are sewn together, trim the edges on one side. Then, cut the continuous piece of sewn jelly roll strips into 6.5 inch squares. If you use a single set of three strips (two colored and one white), this process will yield six 6.5-inch blocks.
Step 3: Make Half Square Triangles (HSTs)
This step transforms the 6.5-inch squares into HST units.
- Take two squares and line them up, placing the right sides of the fabric together.
- Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the squares using a fabric pen.
- Sew the two squares together with a straight stitch 1/4 inch on each side of the drawn line.
- Cut the square in half precisely along the diagonal line that was drawn.
- Open the newly formed squares.
- Press the seams flat and trim any extra fabric.
Note that if a white strip was included in the initial three-strip set, the results of this cutting will yield three white-edged squares and three patterned squares. If you desire a full block with white edges and a full block with colored edges, you must repeat the process with three more jelly roll strips.
Step 4: Repeat and Arrange the Units
You will need to repeat the previous steps multiple times, repeating the process at least 6 to 10 more times to create enough blocks for a quilt. Once you have created enough individual HST units, decide how you want to arrange them. The arrangement of the squares offers many possible looks, depending on the fabric choices.
Step 5: Create the Final Block
Once the four fabric squares (HST units) are lined up in the desired arrangement:
- Sew the top two blocks together.
- Sew the bottom two blocks together.
- Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance for these stitches.
- Line up the two resulting rows and sew them together to form the final block.
- Press the seams flat.
Each completed block measures 11 inches finished.
Step 6: Assemble the Quilt Top
After all the necessary blocks are assembled, they are joined to complete the quilt top. Sew the finished 11-inch blocks together to form rows. Then, sew the rows together to complete the quilt top.
Step 7: Finish the Quilt
The final step is to finish the quilt as normal, which includes adding batting, backing, and binding. Alternatively, the option of sending the quilt out to be professionally quilted.
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