Finished Checkerboard Quilt, Free Quilt Pattern

Finally, I’m sharing a finished quilt with you. If you are looking for a free quilt pattern that’s easy for beginners, this is the one. Look no further. I’ve made it so easy for you. Free quilt pattern, shortcut to making the blocks, and additional tutorials for borders, backing and quilting it up.

When I share a free quilt pattern, you are only seeing the finished quilt top. Quilt tops are faster to do but the rest takes a little time to figure out for me. So this post shows the final work of art and she’s such a little love. Perfect square throw, large enough to cover an adult but not too big like a bed quilt. You know what I mean? I know you do!

So today I’m sharing the finished Checkerboard Quilt. Just one of my free quilt patterns, but it’s seriously my new favorite! This post has links to everything relating to making this little beauty.

There is so much more that goes into a quilt and will change the final product: borders, backing, quilting and binding. So many people focus on the quilt top but it’s those other things that add the charm. But the actual quilting gives the quilt it’s own unique personality and really comes to life. Add a custom binding and it’s my latest favorite quilt.

Make sure you check this out!

After you read this post, make sure you also check out How To Learn How To Quilt: Beginner Quilting Guide. It’s jam packed with even more information, links and resources that are so helpful when you’re first learning. It also has a section with free quilt patterns that are great for beginners. So make sure you check this out, seriously don’t forget!

Grab a copy of my Quilt Planning Journal, filled with graph paper and note pages to help you design 4 quilts or sewing projects! You can jot down ideas as I see them, draw mock ups of quilts and write your cutting dimensions and finished quilt size for future reference. Pin in fabric swatches, photos of your finished quilts and enjoy your creative process! Click the bar below.

Checkerboard Quilt – Free Quilt Pattern

So many elements are important when making a quilt. You need a good pattern that is in your skill level. One that’s not too hard to do and you will actually enjoy sewing up. So many patterns are overly complicated with too much piecing and strange cutting sizes which leave me frustrated and depleted. The patterns I like the most are easy to sew, easy to quilt and are scrap fabric friendly. The Checkerboard Quilt fits all those requirements.

The Checkerboard Quilt is one of those patterns that started one way and ended up another way. I saw the cutest quilt on Pinterest made with scrappy rectangles and I tried to make it off the screenshot I had taken but got the measurements wrong. Mine were too big and that’s when the pattern changed. I had chain pieced all the rectangles and didn’t want to start over.

That’s when I decided to join two units together into a strip and cut in half. This was done twice and then I sewed those two pieces together to create the checkerboard block. The dimensions were not standard at all, something like 10.25″ x 10.5″. But when you built the quilt top with the blocks by forming rows then sewing rows together the end result was stunning. Mostly due to the scrappy fabrics but the design played well with the chaos.

Border, Backing, Binding

Raid your yardage stash and build a scrappy border. We all have parts of fabric yardage, piece it together to create a fun border using colors that are similar to the colors in the quilt blocks. Here’s a tip for making the border. Sew different fabrics together like you do your binding. Slice and dice the long border into four sections, one for each side of the quilt.

Remember to cut two sides first, attach, then remeasure what you need for the last two remaining sides. If you add the white cornerstones, attach corners first with pin and then complete the rest. You will have to pin working backwards on two sides. No problem, super easy. Repeat this process for scrappy binding but with strips that are 2.5″ in width. For the large pieced backing, check out the full tutorial here.

Quilting Thread

Try the multi-colored cotton quilting thread at Joann’s craft store by Coats & Clarke. It gives a rainbow effect and is totally awesome on these bright and colorful scrappy quilts. Just buy one, you won’t even use a quarter of it. Save the rest for future projects. It’s regularly $12.99 but on sale now for $7.79.

Quilt Patterns

When looking for that perfect quilt pattern, make sure you think of these things. Is the pattern in my wheel house? Can I make that easily and enjoy it. Can I quilt it myself with my machine and skill level?

Right now, all my patterns are free and listed at the bottom of this post. If you can’t find a free pattern then buy one. It’s worth the small amount not to have to do quilt math for yourself. Even if you think you can copy that design by looking at it, you probably can’t. It’s the piecing measurements that are key along with the designers short cuts. The measurements alone are worth the price of the paid pattern.

Quilting Design for Checkerboard Quilt

Again, I still need to learn how to free motion quilt. I’ve tried it but need to practice and don’t have time right now but need to learn to finish the hockey jersey quilt which I will share when done. This quilt is perfect for diagonal straight line machine quilting. As you can see below, my quilt path was every other row of the checkerboard quilt going in both directions.

You could quilt in every row for more of a diagonal grid pattern if you like. Now most people will use a fabric pen or chalk marker to mark the quilt lines on the quilt top to make life easier. Or you can eye call it like me.

Again, you can absolutely quilt anything on a home sewing machine with straight line machine quilting. Diagonal lines are the easiest to sew because you are not following seam lines, thus no bulk. It takes a little practice working your quilt through your sewing machine at a diagonal angle. If I can do it, then so can you! Happy quilting.

Free Quilt Pattern – BEGINNER SUPPLIES

Here are some quilting tools and supplies I recommend. I make a small commission if you purchase through the links, this helps to support this free content. For more info, check out Supplies for Beginners (Best Tools To Start).

SAVE THIS PIN FOR LATER

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

Sew Nikki Free Quilt Patterns

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! Just print this post for the free pattern. My blog has How-To’s, Free Patterns and Pattern Reviews. Read more about me here.

I love to work with fabric yardage and fat quarters or half bundles. These fabric choices give me flexibility to be creative and are easy on the wallet. Here are some helpful posts to check out how to shop for fabric like a pro! Learn the smart and budget friendly way to shop online, in craft stores, in quilt shops and local fabric stores.

Follow me on social media (Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) so you get notifications when new patterns and tutorials are posted.   

Want to learn how to crochet? Check out this post, How to Learn How to Crochet – Guide for Beginners.

Sew, quilt, crochet and repeat!