plus quilt tutorial

I've had a few questions about the pattern I used to make my plus quilt top I shared last week, and while the design idea is certainly not unique to my quilt, I didn't follow a pattern per se, but did my own quilty math for the plus size dimensions I wanted.  In case you'd like to make your own baby/lap sized plus quilt, I thought I'd share a quick tutorial with cutting and assembly instructions.

This quilt top will finish at 50" square, making a generous baby quilt or lap sized throw.  I chose to keep the rectangular centers of each plus as one piece, versus the entire quilt being comprised of only squares.

Plus Quilt Tutorial

Please read instructions in full before beginning.

Fabric Requirements
(12) Fat Quarters measuring no less than 18" x 22"
3 yards backing fabric
1/2 yard fabric for binding

Cutting Instructions
From each of (12) fat quarters:

• Cut (5) 3" x 18" strips
• Subcut (3) of the 3" x 18" strips into (2) 8" x 3" strips
• You will need all (72) 8" x 3" strips
• Subcut (2) of the 3" x 18" strips into (6) 3" x 3" squares
• You will need all (144) 3" x 3" squares

Choose (8) of the remaining 7" x 18" pieces of fabric:

• Cut (1) 3" x 18" strip
• Subcut 3" x 18" strip into (1) 5.5" x 3" strip and (3) 3" x 3" squares
• You will need all (8) 5.5" x 3" strips
• You will need all (24) 3" x 3" squares

Assembly Instructions

Once your fabric is cut, you can begin laying out your quilt top.  The majority of your quilt top will consist of whole pluses consisting of (1) 8" x 3" strip and (2) 3" x 3" squares.  There are also variations which are included along the edges of the quilt.  Please see below for a breakdown totaling the number of each plus variation.

65 total 

Consists of (1) 8" x 3" strip and (2) 3" x 3" squares

7 total
Consists of (1) 8" x 3" strip and (1) 3" x 3" square



      7 total
      Consists of (1) 5.5" x 3" strip and (2) 3" x 3" squares

   
      1 total
     Consists of (1) 5.5" strip and 1" 3" x 3" square


single 3" square:  16 total



Use the above photo to help layout your quilt top.  Once you are happy with the layout, begin sewing each row together, taking care to keep all strips and squares in the  correct position.  I find it helpful to sew one complete row and place it back on my design wall to keep things from getting out of place.  If you do not have a design wall or somewhere to keep things laid out for a few days while assembling, use post its to number each row to help keep things in order.

Hope this tutorial was helpful!  If you make a plus quilt using this tutorial, I'd love to see it in the SewCraftyJess flickr group!