Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to turn one bundle of 2 1/2-inch strips into a sweet rail fence baby quilt.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric first
This bundle is called 2.5in Strips,40pcs/bundle Organic, from Cloud9 Fabrics.
You get 40 strips in the bundle. Every strip measures 2 1/2 inches wide. That is the classic strip width we all love.
The fabric is 100% organic cotton. The description tells us that right up front. Soft cotton matters for a baby quilt.
And oh my goodness, the prints are playful. You will see gardening tools. You will see flowers. You will see sweet, whimsical motifs too.
The colors feel fresh and cheerful. Think greens and pinks. Think yellows and blues. They play nicely together without matching perfectly.
That mix is exactly why I like it here. A rail fence block loves contrast. Every block can show off three different prints.
The project: a rail fence baby quilt
We are not reinventing the wheel here. A rail fence is just three strips sewn together. Then you cut. Then you turn. Just like that.
Here is the math, and I love this part. Sew three strips with quarter-inch seams. Your strip set measures 6 1/2 inches wide.
Cut that set into 6 1/2-inch squares. Each square is one block. Each block finishes at 6 inches in the quilt.
Make 36 blocks for our plan. Lay them six across and six down. That center measures 36 inches square.
Then add a simple border from leftover strips. Your finished quilt lands around 40 inches square. That is a really really handy baby size, folks.
It works on the floor for tummy time. It works in the stroller. It also folds sweetly over a crib rail for photos.
Materials list
- One bundle of 2.5in Strips,40pcs/bundle Organic — 40 strips
- About 18 strips from the bundle for the 36 blocks
- Leftover strips for the border and a scrappy binding
- Batting, about 44 by 44 inches
- Backing fabric, enough to make a piece about 44 by 44 inches
- All-purpose sewing thread in a soft neutral
- A size 80/12 needle in your machine
- Pins or clips, a rotary cutter, a ruler, and a mat
Brief steps to make it
Step one. Sort your strips into threes. Put a light, a medium, and a darker print together. Balance the greens, pinks, yellows, and blues as you go.
Step two. Sew each set of three strips together lengthwise. Use a quarter-inch seam. Press the seams all in one direction.
Step three. Cut each strip set into 6 1/2-inch squares. Keep cutting sets until you have 36 blocks. Take your time here.
Step four. Lay out six rows of six blocks. Turn every other block a quarter turn. That twist makes the little fences zig and zag.
Step five. Sew the blocks into rows. Press one row left and the next row right. Then sew the rows together and pin at the joins.
Step six. Add border strips around the outside. Layer backing, batting, and top. Baste it well, completely up to you how.
Step seven. Quilt it simply. I would start with stitch in the ditch along the block seams. Then add one echo line if you feel like it. Bind it with your leftover strips.
Practical tips from my table
Check your stitch length before you start. I like about 2.5 millimeters, roughly 10 stitches per inch, for piecing. It holds well and still picks out easy.
Slow down at the seam joins. Those spots get a little thick. Slow down or the needle can deflect. Nobody needs a snapped needle today.
Yes, a block will get turned the wrong way. I sure have done it. I sewed a whole row turned backwards once. I laughed, I unpicked it, and nobody ever knew.
That is your permission beat, y'all. It does not have to be perfect. You are your own worst critic. The baby will only care that it is soft and warm.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Lay it out your way. Swap a print twice if you want. Completely up to you.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 2.5in Strips,40pcs/bundle Organic at Linda's Electric Quilters.
