I wanted to come up with a way to use a layer cake fast, besides just sewing squares together. I like them, but I hate that thing where you always need to buy more fabric to make a fast quilt. This is a portion of an Island Batik layer cake, Bright Paisley Dots. The fabric and thread were given to me by Island Batik and Aurifil.
Here is my solution.
Decide on a size by looking at what you want to get from the layer cake:
| Desired Size | Dimensions | # of Squares |
|---|---|---|
| Baby | 30" x 40" | 12 |
| Small Lap | 40" x 60" | 24 |
| Large Lap | 50" x 70" or 50" x 80" | 35. or 40 |
| Twin | 60" x 80" | 48 |
| Queen | 80" x 90" | 72 |
Here we go!!!
- Select the squares you would like to use
- Make your rows.
- Pair blocks together in a visually pleasing manner.
- Press the seams open if you do not like having seams sit on top of each other. I did press the rows alternating so they nested and only once it didn’t nest when assembling the rows.
- Continue adding squares until your rows are made – I used 4 in a row. I made 6 rows.
- Pair the rows.
- Sew on both sides!
- Do this until all your rows are sewed. If there is an odd row, leave it alone.
- Cut in the middle of the rows – 5″ – and press seams up/down or flat – your choice (there are no seams to match). Cut the odd one, too, if you have one.
- Lay out your quilt. Take a picture with your phone camera so you can see where they go (in case you reverse something).
- Sew your rows together
- VIOLA! a quilt.
- You can add borders or not, again depending on how big you want to go.
I don’t think this took me more than 2 hours.
Linking up with:
Sew Fresh Quilts: Lets Bee Social
Inquiring Quilter: Wait Loss Wednesday
What a quick and great way to use up layer cakes! Looks like you have a fun quilt to finish soon. 🙂
Indeed it is! It will be a little until I get to this, but it will happen.
Awesome Kathleen! Your layer cake top is beautiful and wow I can’t believe how fast. You taught me a new technique.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Thank you, Abbie. I hope you get to make something with it.
Love it Kathleen. I just ordered a bunch of layer cakes this morning on Craftsy’s sale. Layer Cakes for $10. So this pattern is perfect. I plan on using the layer cakes next year for Jack’s baskets.
Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.
OH goody! Let me know if you like it. I think it is really fun and fast.
Cool way to use a layer cake, Kathleen!!! That will be a snuggly colorful quilt for someone lucky!
Its tempting me to commit to some charity quilts with this next year. We shall see…
So bright and pretty. I love layer cakes, and the rectangle shape you have done to me is even more appealing than a square.
Thanks Danice, and it is so easy! Try it you’ll like it.
Hi Kathleen! Well that is slick! I would have spent time cutting them into rectangles and then stress about like fabrics being too near each other. I’m going to have to give this a try sometime soon. Thanks for sharing! Happy Happy Saturday! ~smile~ Roseanne
It was surprisingly fast and fun! Do try it sometime….
Wow! That is fast and easy and you can never go wrong with Island Batik Fabrics, love those.
Thank you Barbara. It was really fun and I hope you try it some time.
This would make an easy quilt for sure! Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.