Easy Quilt Patterns – How to Make Charm Square Quilt

Easy Quilt Patterns – How to Make Charm Square Quilt. Looking for an easy quilt pattern? Then try this classic charm square quilt! Stick with me and I will show you how to make a classic charm square quilt.

Hi friend, can I tell you a secret? Sometimes as quilters, we overthink things, make it too complicated, add to much detail, pick a complicated pattern or block and then it’s no longer fun! We need to keep it fun and enjoyable or else what’s the point? We want some pleasure in our down time so here’s the perfect pattern to make a throw or quilt for your bed.

I made this simple charm square quilt for my nephew Nick as a house warming gift but got distracted with other projects (and this blog!) so now it will be his Christmas present. Oh well, better late than never! It’s one of my favorite quilts to make because it’s easy to make and always looks great on a bed. Here’s what you will need to make this queen size quilt.

Materials for my queen size quilt:

1 Layer Cakes – Pumpkins & Blossoms Layer Cakes by Fig Tree Quilt

2 yards white cotton fabric (for background squares, border and binding)

1/2 yard bone cotton fabric (for border)

1/2 yard Kona Chartreuse Green cotton fabric for border

3 yards 108″ width backing fabric – buy at your local fabric store, see what the selection is and chose a fabric that will go with the layer cake prints.

Quilter’s ruler 5″ x 20″ – for some reason I am unable to find the 5″ rectangle ruler on Amazon but check your local craft store. The 5″ ruler is the easiest for cutting 5″ squares.

Rotary Cutter

Cutting Matt

3 Coats & Clark Machine Quilt Cotton Thread (White)

1 Warm & White King Size Cotton Batting – it’s best to use white batting and not beige batting when you use a lot of solid white in your quilt

1 can 505 Fabric Adhesive Spray – to secure your quilt top and backing to the batting

Sewing Machine

Shout Color Catcher Sheets

Iron and ironing board

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Easy Quilt Patterns – Charm Square Quilt Instructions

For this easy quilt pattern charm square quilt, you will need to use 5″ squares of fabric. Cut your layer cake into 4 – 5″ squares, remove any fabrics that are too light or close to white and save for another project. If you can’t find a layer cake, then buy eight 8 charm packs and leave at 5″.

Cut your white fabric into 5″ strips, then sub cut into 5″ squares. For the background squares you could use any light neutral color such as off white, cream, bone or natural. White background squares are my go to color because I really think they brighten the quilt and makes it pop.

Create Piles:

Create Rows:

Connect Rows:

Lay out the rows on your bed. Row 1 should be placed starting at the left side of your bed/head board. Take a pin and stick it into the first square to mark the top left corn of your quilt top.

Add Borders:

I like to add three borders to my quilts. Make your border strips are long enough for each side of quilt top. Pin and sew the bone fabric first, strips should be cut into 2 1/2″ strips. Do the two sides first, then press. Do the top and bottom last, then press. Pin and sew the green fabric, strips should be cut into 5″ strips and long enough for each side of the quilt. Do the two sides first, then press. Do the top and bottom last, then press. Finally, pin and sew the backing fabric last, strips should be cut into 3″ strips. Do the two sides first, then press. Do the top and bottom last, then press. Your quilt top is all done!

Make Binding:

Make your binding with the bone fabric cut into 2 1/2″ by WOF (width of fabric) strips. Sew strips together using a 1/4″ seam until the binding is long enough to attach to all sides of the quilt.

Measure Quilt Backing Fabric:

Fabric comes in two sizes off the bolt: standard is approximately 54″ and wide is 108″. Make your life easier and try to find fabric for your quilt back that is 108″. Fabric stores should always carry this wider fabric but the selection is limited. You can always find a solid fabric in 108″ but if you use a print fabric it will make your life easier because it will help hide any quilting mistakes.

If you use a solid fabric then every stitch is visible. Lay your completed quilt top on your bed then lay your backing fabric over it to make sure the backing covers the quilt top and is about 3″ wider on all sides. If backing doesn’t cover the top, you will need to cut your backing fabric and sew sections together to make it cover the top or possibly get more fabric if you don’t have enough.

Make Quilt Sandwich:

Make sure that you have pressed the quilt top and backing with your iron before you make your quilt sandwich. Lay your quilt top with wrong side facing up, then lay the batting on top and attach using fabric spray. Make sure your batting covers the quilt top and is about 3″ wider on all sides.

Next, attach your backing to the batting with wrong side facing down. Spray with fabric spray to attach. Now it’s time to start quilting, see instructions below.

Machine Quilting:

Trimming Quilt:

Machine Binding:

Attach the binding you made earlier starting on the back side of the quilt first. Line the binding up to the edge of the quilt and attach with a 1/4″ seam. Take to ironing board and press.

Washing Your Quilt:

Wash your quilt on delicate cycle, cold or warm water. Pro tip: Use SC Johnson Shout Color Catcher sheets. Because the fabric is not washed prior to quilting, you don’t want your fabric to bleed in the wash. Throw in a few fabric sheets into the washing machine. Don’t forget to take the sheets out and throw away before you put quilt in the dryer.

Throw quilt into the dryer on low heat for 30 minutes. Remove from dryer and drape over a door or laundry line to finish drying by air. Enjoy your finished quilt!

Easy Quilt Patterns – Beginner Quilting Supplies

Here are some quilting supplies that are great for quilters that I use and highly recommend. See items below.

Rotary Mat Cutting Mat (Self-Healing Mat)

28 mm Rotary Cutter

28 mm Rotary Cutter Replacement Blades

45 mm Rotary Cutter with Sharp Blade (start with this one)

45 mm Rotary Cutter Replacement Blades (start with this one)

60 mm Rotary Cutter

60 mm Rotary Cutter Replacement Blades

5″ x 20″ Quilting Straight Line Ruler

4.5″ Quilting Square Ruler for half square triangles

12.5″ Quilting Square Ruler for quilt blocks

Cut Resistant Gloves

Stiletto

Sewing Pins

Sewing Thread

Universal Sewing Needles

Cotton Batting

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

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About Sew Nikki

If this is your first time stopping by, welcome! My name is Nikki. I’m a weekend quilter, have a super small sewing space and taught myself how to sew and quilt by watching YouTube videos! My blog has How-To’s, Free Patterns and Pattern Reviews. Read more about me here.

I hope you will enjoy making this classic charm square queen size quilt. I’m so happy with how soft it is and how good it turned out and you will too. This quilt will look so beautiful on your bed or draped over your living room chair or sofa. Let me know if you make this quilt in the comments below. My nephew Nick liked it when I gave it to him on Christmas Eve!

If you enjoy crocheting, check out my post on how to make a lumbar crochet pillow cover from start to finish here.

Want to make a log cabin quilt? Then check out my log cabin quilt block tutorial that has written and step-by-step PICTURE instructions here.

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Sew, quilt, crochet and repeat!