Rock & Roll Quilt Tutorial

As an OLFA Creator, I had the opportunity to create a new tutorial for the OLFA blog in 2019 called the Rock & Roll Baby Quilt. Since then, the OLFA blog has been updated and the pattern is no longer on their blog so I am reposting the free quilt pattern here for you :)

Rock & Roll Baby Quilt

SIZE 40 ½" x 52 ½"

My good friends have a baby boy due in a few months and I wanted to make them a fun baby quilt for their shower. The pattern is very beginner friendly and a great way to use up scraps. The blocks form X's and O's for lots of hugs and kisses.

PATTERN NOTES

• Width of fabrics (WOF) is assumed to be at least 41". A fat quarter is assumed to be at least 18" x 20".
• A scant ¼" (a thread width smaller than ¼") seam is to be used throughout the construction of the quilt unless otherwise instructed.
• The quilt finishes at a baby size of 40 ½" x 52 ½"

MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

Print fabrics: 8-10 fat quarters or strip scraps (1 ½" to 3" wide by at least 8" long)
Background fabric: 1 ¾ yards
Binding fabric: ½ yard
Backing fabric: 1 ⅔ yards
Batting: 49" x 61"

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS

Print Fabrics

Begin by cutting about half of each fat quarter into 1 ½" to 3" x 18" strips (shorter side of the fat quarter) and then cut more strips as needed during piecing.

Background Fabric

1. Cut 5 strips 7 ¼" x WOF

a. Sub-cut the strips into 24 squares 7 ¼" x 7 ¼" (each strip can yield 5 squares)

2. Cut 5 strips 2 ½" x WOF. (borders)



PIECING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Sew print strips together and trim to make 24 strip-pieced squares 7 ¼" x 7 ¼". If your strips are 15" or longer, you can sew the longer strips together and cut multiple squares out the strip sets.

2. Draw a diagonal line using a removable marking device on the back of the background square (shown as the solid line).

3. Place a background square on a strip-pieced square (with the strips going vertically) right sides together with:

Half (12) of the drawn lines on the back of the background square going from upper left to lower right

Half (12) of the drawn lines on the back of the background square going from upper right to lower left

4. Sew a ¼" seam on each side of the solid line (shown as the dotted lines). Cut on the solid line and press seams towards the background fabric to make a half square triangle (HST). Repeat to make 48 HSTs (measuring about 6 ½" x 6 ½").

5. Trim each HST to 6 ½" x 6 ½" and try to have at least ½" width of the strips on the sides of the HST (We started with oversized squares to leave a bit more wiggle room.) Using the OLFA 6 ½" Square Ruler and the OLFA Rotating Rotary Mat make trimming quick and easy.

6. Layout the 48 HSTs according to the quilt top diagram making sure that all of the strips are running horizontal across the width of the quilt.

7. Sew HSTs into rows and then sew rows together, pressing all seams open to make the quilt top, before borders are added, should measure 36 ½" x 48 ½".

8. Cut a background strip 2 ½" x WOF in half, sew each half background strip to a full background strip 2 ½" x WOF, and trim to the average height of the quilt top, approx. 48 ½". Sew borders onto the sides of the quilt top, pressing seams open or towards the borders.

9. Trim 2 strips 2 ½" x WOF to the average width of the quilt top, approx. 40 ½". Sew borders onto the top and bottom of the quilt top, pressing seams open or towards the borders.

The finished quilt top should measure approx. 40 ½" x 52 ½".



FINISHING

1. Because of the width (40 ½") of the quilt top, it may be possible to use a single width of fabric for the backing. If you find the backing fabric a little narrow, you can use scraps from making the strip-pieced squares to widen the backing.

2. Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing.

3. Baste and quilt as desired. For my quilt, I used straight lines in the pieced sections and an open swirl design in the background. I used Aurifil 50wt thread in a light gray/blue to match the background fabric.

4. Cut the binding fabric into 5 strips 2 ½" x WOF. Sew together the strips end-to-end to make the binding. Bind and enjoy your quilt!

I would love to see what you make with the Rock & Roll Baby Quilt tutorial!  You can share on social media using #RockandRollQuilt and tag me.  Thanks!