Patchwork Gingham Quilt Pattern and Tutorial

I’m excited to have a guest writer today. Elizabeth Chappell from Quilter’s Candy. Has a super fun tutorial and free pattern for a simple Patchwork Gingham Quilt. Sometimes this style is called Buffalo Check. Either way, it’s a classic look that comes together easily. It’s perfect for using solid or woven fabrics. This design would make such a great gift for a friend. Or yourself. 😉

My name is Elizabeth Chappell, and I am the owner of Quilters Candy. I write quilt patterns, am offering a course on how to sell and write quilt patterns, and I host an online modern quilt guild. I am excited to share this tutorial and free pattern on Amy’s blog.

Do you want a free gingham quilt pattern and tutorial? I am sharing how I made this pattern a little different from other gingham quilt patterns, and also sharing a FREE PDF printable for the quilt pattern. GET FREE PATTERN HERE.

GINGHAM QUILTS

Every other gingham quilt pattern I found had a border that didn’t make my OCD tendencies happy. If you notice most Gingham Quilts have a border with mis-matching fabrics. That is why I created this new pattern with a border that has matching fabrics on all sides. Note the difference in these two photos:

I wanted a Gingham Quilt pattern that looked like the quilt on the bottom. I wanted a border that had matching fabrics on all sides. Yet I couldn’t find a gingham pattern (for free or for purchase) that had that. So I decided to write one, using the simplified strip piecing method. Get the free pattern HERE. (The pattern PDF will be emailed to you instantly.)

The PDF lists all of the fabric requirements, cutting, pressing, and sewing instructions. I’ll walk you through some of the steps here.

Strip Piecing your own Gingham Quilt

To make a gingham quilt, there is an easier way than cutting each square and sewing them together. This easier method is called Strip Piecing. This is what strip piecing entails:

• Cutting strips of fabric
• Sewing those strips together
• Cutting the strips into new strips made up of squares
• Sew those newly cut strips (with squares) together

Amy has some helpful advice for accurately cutting straight strips and other tips for strip-piecing here.

Steps to Making Free Gingham Quilt

Cutting Fabric Strips. My version of the pattern calls for cutting strips 5 ½” x WOF.

Pin and sew alternating fabric strips together. You will want the free pattern printable PDF for this step, as it tells you how many and which color strips to sew together.

Sew matching strips together, alternating rows so it goes Fabric A, Fabric B, Fabric A, Fabric B, and so on.

Press seams all in one direction.

Cut your sewn together strips into new rows. This step will give you strips with alternating colored squares.

NOTE: Because your fabric is too large to fit on a cutting mat, I carefully fold my sewn together strips in half. I then press it with an iron and fold in half again.

Make sure your seams line up on top of each other and are straight. This way you can cut you fabric easily. If you do not fold your fabric carefully in this step, your squares will be wonky.

With your new strips that have squares in them, sew alternating rows together. Continue to make sure the seam lines are straight using the lines on your ruler as a guide.

NOTE: Be sure to pin at each corner so the corners match and the seams nest.

Sew all rows together. Press seams in one direction, and your quilt top is ready to be quilted! That’s it. This can be done in a matter of hours.

Quilt in your desired method. I, personally, love to use a minky backing when I can, and send it to a long arm quilter. I consider it treating myself. 😉

PRINT FREE PATTERN HERE

(Trouble shooting: if you have any issues with this pattern PDF, please email Elizabeth directly at quilterscandybox@gmail.com.)

All you need to do now is decide what fabrics you want to use to make your gingham quilt! Be sure to use the hashtags #QuiltersCandy and #GinghamLove so we can see your finished quilt.

If you like this tutorial, be sure to visit my other free tutorials, like this one on DIY Spray Starch. Not to mention using spray starch to make your quilt will help your points to match!

More photos of my two versions, one with orange fabrics, the other with blues.

Orange fabrics: Warp and Weft by Alexia Marcelle Abegg for Ruby Star Society. Colors: Warp Weft Wovens Persimmon, Warp Weft Wovens Dahlia, and Warp Weft Wovens Natural. Backing, Leos Orchard by Bonnie Christine for Art Gallery Fabrics.

Blue Fabrics: Peppered Cotton by Cottoneer in the following colors: Lake, Fog, and Oyster.

Thanks Elizabeth! I’m feeling inspired to make one of these Patchwork Gingham quilts myself! I think the color combinations are endless. I also love the pop of that botanical print on the back!

Be sure to visit Elizabeth’s site Quilter’s Candy for some beautiful modern quilt inspiration.

Elizabeth also created this darling free printable Quilt Care Instruction Card as well as printable quilty Gift Tags.

This large-scale gingham quilt is such a perfect ‘on-trend’ accessory for home decor. Here are some tips for showcasing textiles like quilts in your home.

Looking for more free quilt tutorials? I’ve got a whole list of Free Quilt Tutorials Here.