Simple Off Center Squares Baby Quilt

Finished size approximately 37 x 49 inches

Materials:

¼ t ½ yard feature fabric. I used just over a ¼ yard of the dog fabric

6 to 12 fat quarters of coordinating fabrics. If you cut carefully, you can get two blocks out of

one fat quarter.

1 ¼ yards sashing fabric. I used Kona white. You won’t use all of this, but you need the length,

so you won’t have to piece the longest sashing strips.

Batting 41 x 53

Backing 1 ½ yards

Binding ½ yard

Cut:

For one block you will need:

1 3 ½ inch block, fussy cut from your feature fabric

2 4 ½ x 3 ½ rectangle

2 11 ½ x 4 ½ rectangle

If using a fat quarter, cut 4 ½ x 22 inch strips. Then cut one 3 1/2 piece from each 4 1/2

inch strip. Finally, cut the remaining piece into 11 1/2 inch. You can get enough pieces for

two blocks out of one fat quarter.

Cutting along the long edge of your sashing material (along the selvage), cut 2 ½ inch strips.

You’ll need:

9 10 x 2 1/2

2 44 1/2* x 2 1/2

2 32 1/2* x 2 1/2

2 48 1/2* x 2 1/2

*Here’s a tip, do cut the 10 x 2 1/2 strips, but leave the other 2 1/2 inch strips long. Sew

them as directed, then trim to the right length. There is nothing more irritating than a

sashing piece that ends up being a bit too short!

Directions:

1. Fussy cut your feature fabric. I made a 3 ½ inch square template out of clear template

plastic. That way I could see exactly what I was going to cut out. I traced this and then

cut out the squares by hand.

2. Cut your coordinating fabric into 4 ½ inch strips.

3. For one block you’ll need to then cut two 3 1/2 inch pieces and two 11 1/2 inch pieces

from these 4 ½ inch strips.

4. Sew the 3 1/2 inch strips to the top and bottom of the feature square. Press seams

open.

5. Sew the side pieces onto the block. Do this with the center seams up, so you can be sure

to keep the seams open.

6. Press seams open, again. Your block is sewn! Repeat until you have 12 blocks.

7. You can leave the blocks like this, and sew them together as is, or with sashing. To

create off center squares, you’ll need to create a template out of clear plastic. Cut a 10

inch square out of template plastic. You can easily do this with a craft knife and your

ruler.

8. Place your template over a block. Move it around until the center square is off center as

you desire. Lay your ruler along the edge of the template to trim. Your rotary cutter

will go right through the template, so be sure to line the ruler up correctly. (Concerned

about the fabric wasted in this trimming? Don’t be! I’ve got a great project that uses

every little bit and creates a coordinating pillow for the quilt!)

9. As you trim, be sure to vary the placement of the center square. See the following

examples.

10. Layout your blocks in a rectangle, 3 by 4 blocks. Add the 10 inch sashing blocks

and sew as in the picture below. Press seams open.

.

11. Next sew two longer sashing pieces to join the three rows. After you have pressed

the seams open, sew sashing to the top and bottom of the quilt. Finally add the sashing

to the two sides. Your top is done!

12. Layer with batting and backing a quilt as desired. Bind the edges. See my blog

for two different examples.