Well, it's that time of year. Leaves and temperatures are falling and it's time to make another cozy flannel plaid patchwork quilt. I've made a bunch of these and I never get sick of them! Plus they're super easy and beginner-friendly.
This is my third iteration of this quilt. (You can see the original here.) I've also made a similar blue and gray version. I love how the collection of different plaids work beautifully in simple patchwork squares.
This quilt is a another gift for an old friend. I've given away all of the flannel quilts I've made. But this time as I worked, I cut enough patchwork squares to make one to keep as well. I'll sew ours together sometime this winter because it's just the perfect winter quilt - lots of lush flannels and a heavier-weight quilt overall, perfect for snuggling.
How to Make a Flannel Patchwork Plaid Quilt
For this quilt I cut 80 squares 8 ½" x 8 ½" - because that was the most efficient use of fabric from a ¼ or ½ yard piece. If you cut carefully you can get 5 squares from an 8 ½" x 43" strip. (If your width of fabric is slightly smaller or you're using pre-shrunk fabric, you can always cut 5 squares 8" x 8" from a ¼ yard for a very similar look.)
Fabric requirements:
Patchwork: 20 quarter yards (not Fat Quarters) or 10 half yards (You can cut 5 squares per ¼ yard).
Backing: 4 yards
Binding: ⅝ yards
I laid out this quilt 8 squares across by 10 squares down - for a 64 ½" x 80" throw-quilt. 4 yards of fabric will work just right for the backing.
Here is a simple beginning quilting tutorial for sewing patchwork squares together. The same method applies for the larger size squares.
For this quilt I used a lightweight cotton/poly blend batting like Hobbs Warm and Natural because I didn't want the quilt to be too heavy. (The woven flannel on the back already adds some weight.) My quilt was quilted in a stipple pattern by my friend Monica Steelman.
Most of the plaid flannels I've used in the past for these quilts are from the Plaiditudes collection from JoAnn Fabrics (which RIP 😪 JoAnn's), which are only available this time of year (fall). Some good alternatives are searching for Mammoth Plaids on Etsy, to try are Fat Quarter Shop or Missouri Star Quilt Co. But of course nothing beat being able to go in and touch them. Hopefully new resources will rise!
If the fabric is high quality, I typically don't prewash my fabric before sewing, but wash the quilt as a whole after it's pieced because I love the way it slightly shrinks and gives the quilt a softer, 'vintage' feel. That said, if your fabric makes you worry, go ahead and give it a good prewash.
As you can see, we got some snow this week! Last week was warm, in the 70's and I soaked up the warm as much as I could. (And raked my fair share of leaves...) By Sunday the temperatures dropped 40 degrees and a snowstorm blew through. To be honest, I was really dreading the weather change - especially this year when being outside has been the safest way to visit and connect with friends or extended family. I was a little stressed about having to retreat indoors again for months.
But, surprisingly, I'm not minding slowing down and being cozy. More time for sewing too, right?
And yesterday I took my first snow hike of the season. And I was in heaven. For some reason I have fallen in love with snow hiking over the past few years.
I think I love it so much because there are fewer people and the snow muffles sounds. It's so quiet and clean and serene.
It's the my favorite kind of mental health therapy.
(And this from the kid who cried the whole way home from skiing when I was little because I hated when my hands got cold.)
I guess I've grown up a little. 😉 And I'm better at choosing and wearing my winter gear.
So get ready for snuggle season. Because, ready or not, it's here!
Vickie Kuli says
I have a small quilt my Mum made when I was little. It is from small 3 inch squares of flannel cut from my Dad's work shirts. We kids were permitted to cuddle this quilt when we were sick. (A corner had been chewed by one of the other kids at one time, and thus our limited time allowed with the quilt.) It is my most prized possession.
Amy says
Oh wow! That sounds like a treasure for sure!
Carmen Montmarquet says
I love how your plaid flannel quilt turned out, just awesome! Definitely one I would like to make! Thanks for sharing!!!
ChristieB says
Love your flannel quilt! Looks so warm and comfy! Thanks for sharing - gives me idea for Christmas presents! HUGS... and stitches
Rosemary B says
Amy, you are so inspiring. I have a lot of plaid fabrics.
Susan Salo says
I'm glad to see this quilt made up. I have a layer cake of flannels and was concerned they wouldn't look good together, but yours sure do!
Amy says
Isn't it fun how a mish-mash of plaids just works?!
Toni Veitenheimer says
Looking for someone to make me a flannel patchwork quilt in king size. I will pay all costs. It would be very special to me and I would want it machine sewn so it wouldn’t easily come apart.
Amy says
I know someone who could possibly do this. I will email you their info.
Theresa says
Hi I'm Theresa and love your plaid quilt
I have a question,on any quilt how do you (measure fabric for any size) say I want to make a queen?
Amy says
I recommend graph paper - that's basically what I do. Graph out the size quilt you want to make and divide the height and width by the number of 8" squares (or whatever finished size squares you want to use). That's the easiest way to find out how many blocks you'll need.
marykmalon1 says
Thanks for posting an easy quilt to whip up. I have tons of flannel on hand. I love love love your snow pic. Best, Mary
Amy says
THanks, Mary!
Karen says
I love the plaid quilt. Did you preshrink the flannel?Did you use one of the same fabrics on the back? What kind of batting? Thanks - I think I need to go buy flannel 🙂
Amy says
Good question! I typically don’t prewash my flannels before I make a quilt. I like the soft, ‘antiqued’ look that happens after washing the quilt wish the little bit of shrinkage that happens. But that’s a personal preference. Also, if some of the flannels are already prewashed – then I could consider prewashing the rest just so that it all shrinks at the same rate after it’s made.
I used a Cotton/Poly blend batting on the thinner side (like Hobbs Warm and Natural) because I didn't want the quilt to be too heavy. I did use one of the Joann's Plaiditudes plaids on the back. 🙂 It's super soft.
Emily S. says
I have wanted to make one of these flannel quilts for so long! I think this is the time!
The Joyful Quilter says
SEW cozy... LOVE it!!!
Linda M. Colby says
Hi I would like to know can you or should you prewash your flannel before you cut and sew?
Amy says
Really good question - I will update the post with this information. I typically don't prewash my flannels before I make a quilt. I like the soft, 'antiqued' look that happens after washing the quilt wish the little bit of shrinkage that happens. But that's a personal preference. Also, if some of the flannels are already prewashed - then I could consider prewashing the rest just so that it all shrinks at the same rate after it's made.
Christine Sherman says
Thanks for the great idea! I think everyone rushed to the JoAnn site because I can’t get my cart to load 🙂
I hope you all are doing ok. I think of your son often and pray he’s getting along better!
ALIE Hersh says
This is a great look and gift. Robert a KAUFMAN Fabrics makes a double brushed plaid flannel called Mammouth w/ blender Shetland. And if you wanted a heavier flannel Tahoe... thank you for sharing!
Amy says
I've seen those! They look gorgeous too!
Doreen Tavares says
Thnk u so much for sharing this w/us! I have 2 packs of Woolies 10” squares that u have inspired me to use for this simple flannel quilt. It looks like u may have done some FMQ - “meandering “, perhaps? Your quilt looks sooo warm & cozy!
Julie says
Your suggested batting is spot on! I made a flannel quilt a few years ago and used all cotton batting, it's lovely but not very cuddly. Last year, inspired by your post, I made another flannel with big squares. This time I left out the batting entirely so it's a grown up version of a baby's receiving blanket. It's just right for an early autumn chilly evening. This year's flannel will have a poly cotton blend inside. We'll have the 'three bears' of flannel at hand, ready for every eventuality.
Rebecca says
Hi Amy!
I am a new quilter, currently finishing up my second patchwork baby quilt of yours. Well, finishing up the quilt TOP, that is. Attempting to make the tops into an actual quilt will come after I study your quilting tutorials and a Pat Sloan book on quilting! 😉 I have a question about working with flannel: would I use the same needle, thread, and stitch length that I've been using for the patchwork baby quilt, or would I make some changes? I think I may have missed the boat on the Plaiditude flannel at my local Jo Ann's, but I would really like to attempt this project next. Thank you--I love your blog and have found it SO HELPFUL as I've learned how to quilt during COVID.
Amy says
Hooray! I'm so glad you've enjoyed learning to quilt. It's good therapy. To be honest, I personally just use the same needle/thread/stitch length for almost all of my piecing. So I'm not super helpful on that, but there's probably some good advice out there.
Robyn says
Thanks, Amy, another wonderful quilt and perfect for right now. Would 10” precuts work or is it better to do smaller squares? I get much inspiration from you.♥️
Amy says
10" precuts would work great! Any size patchwork squares looks good. (And would be faster to sew because of the bigger size blocks.)
Rebecca says
Doreen, thank you for your comment! I am still new to quilting and nervous about cutting fabric, so I looked for some Woolies 10" precuts and settled on the "desert sunset" collection. I'll have much better luck cutting those down to 8.5 inches than attempting to cut squares from 1/4 or 1/2 yard sections! 🙂
Katherine says
I love your flannel quilts - they look beautiful. I'm about to start on my first and was considering using my overlocker/server for the piecing, using 3 threads. I have been nervous about seams coming apart in quilts that get thrown in the wash.
Amy says
I personally haven't had any trouble with seams coming apart or fraying. I think quality (weight/thread count) of the flannel helps prevent that. But I think your overlock piecing idea is a good one. It will add more bulk to the seams, but will definitely prevent the fraying.
Joan says
I have made several of these because my family LOVES them! I do use my regular cotton batting because the heaviness is what is appealing to my family. A couple things I have learned over the years: flannel is messy so I have to clean the lint out of the machine frequently. I also use 1/2 inch seams to prevent fraying. I made this quilt last week and ended up breaking two needles while quilting. Someone suggested using a topstitch needle so I will try that next time. I have also quit using flannel for my binding because it is SOOO thick it is hard to sew. I now just use a regular cotton fabric for that.
Mary K Laxton says
Do you topstitch the flannel quilt? I was thinking of knotting embroidery floss at each corner/intersection.
Thoughts?
Amy says
I have mine quilted by a long arm quilter (stitching through front, batting and backing layers). You can definitely do tied knots using embroidery floss as an option!
Kirsten Munck says
What size stitch length do you use?
Amy says
I use 2.5 on my Baby Lock machine
JanB says
What a find! I loved reading what you discovered on the history of the quilt. Thank you for sharing.
Fran Sakelarides says
I have a big box of flannel squares I’ve been saving. Hopefully soon I will put them to good use. Thanks for the inspiration.