Pre-cuts are a great way to experiment with a complete fabric collection for an affordable price. But it can be challenging to figure out what to make with them, and how to get the most from the fabric. With a plan in hand you can create an awesome throw quilt with a layer cake and a little supplemental fabric that goes together quickly and has fantastic visual impact.
For my sample, I used Kaffe Fasset Collective August 2020 10″ Charm Pack in the cold colorway.
This Boxed In quilt goes together fast and packs a punch. The quilt measures 62″ wide x 70″ high with borders. You can change the layout, but this layout requires:
- 1 layer cake (10″ square pre-cut bundle, make sure includes 42 squares)
- 1/3 yard of fabric for the inner border
- 1 1/8 yard of fabric for an outer border
- 1/2 yard of fabric for binding
- 4 yards of fabric for backing
Start by cutting your 10″ squares in half:
- From one half cut (1) 5″ square and (2) 5″ x 2.5″ rectangles
- From the other half cut (2) 2.5″ x 10″ rectangles
From your inner border fabric, cut (7) strips that are 1.5″ x width of fabric.
From your outer border fabric, cut (8) strips that are 5″ x width of fabric.
Set aside the inner and outer border strips.
Now it is time to sew. Sew a matching 5″ x 2.5″ rectangle to the top and bottom of a different 5″ square.
Now it is time to sew. Sew a matching 5″ x 2.5″ rectangle to the top and bottom of a different 5″ square. Press.
Note that when I am doing this quilt I tend to be completely random in pulling fabric to sew to my center square. With Kaffe that works just fine as his fabric is bold and saturated with color. If your layer cake has fabrics in varying values (light, medium, dark) you may want to be more purposeful in selecting which fabrics to border your center square with.
Then, sew the matching 2.5″ x 10″ strips to either side of your block, aligning the tops. You will have a little tail on either side of your block. Press.
Repeat for all 42 blocks, and then square your blocks to 9″ square.
Lay your blocks out in 7 rows of 6 blocks each to make the quilt as shown. You can also go 5 blocks wide by 8 (or 7) blocks high for a smaller quilt. Your quilt, you get to decide.
At home I use the floor, usually without Angus taking center stage. In the shop I use the cutting table. If you don’t have a space large enough, try your bed. Just be sure to take a photo of your layout to keep yourself organized as you sew your rows together.
Add your borders, first the 1.5″ inner border and then the 5″ outer border. And then your top is done! I cut this quilt one afternoon, pieced the quilt on New Year’s Eve, and quilted it today. All that is left is the binding and then I’ll hang it in the shop.
Back to the conversation about whether or not to plan your fabric placement. Here are a few blocks made with a new Deb Strain Bee Grateful layer cake. In making these blocks I was more deliberate about color placement given the range of values.
I hope you like my Boxed In quilt. Have fun making it and if you do, please share photos! If you need help along the way please let me know. If you need a layer cake to make one, check out our selection!
Welcome to the Cotton Candy Fabrics Blog 
Can you help me figure out how many blocks it would take for a king quilt? I was able to find a Moda line on deep clearance and have been saving it for a quilt for me! I would cut my own 10″sqs.
New quilter here, and I just need some advice, or maybe it is just assurance. Tyvm
I used to have a big orange cat also he lived to be 15 or 16 years old and his name was Romeo and he was big
Thank you !
You are welcome! We’d love to see a photo if you make the Boxed In quilt. 🙂
Good for scraps, too! I would be able to use up jelly roll strips with chunks and fat quarters. I love the simple cutting plan!😊
I would alternate fabrics that read as solids, (or small prints kind of spaced out) with large prints. Or, just get a solid layercake that would work with these prints. Then you could have two quilts this size, or a larger quilt with a large pillow or two. (Pillows could be 18in with just blocks, or 22 or 24in with borders)
As pretty as these prints are, my mind and eyes can’t handle the business. 😏There needs to be a space here and there.
Yes, this definitely works in a lot of different ways! Great ideas…