This quilt is fat quarter friendly and consists of only 1 block style. I cut my focus rectangles from 6 different fat quarters using 20 on the front and saving 4 for a pieced back that I’m still thinking about! You can get 4 rectangles from each fat quarter using the sizes I’ve chosen for my quilt. The top finished at 72″ x 50″. The quilt is put together by sewing your blocks in columns first, then connecting all of the columns.
Disclaimer – All yardage measurements are approximate as I calculated it AFTER I made my top. I believe it should be more rather than less of what you need.
6 Fat Quarters for center rectangles (focus fabric), gives you a minimum of 24 to use as desired.
White fabric = 1 1/3 yards
Dark fabric (for shadows) = 3/4 yard
All sewing is done with a 1/4″ seam allowance.
From your focus fabric cut 24 rectangles 8 1/2″ x 10 1/2″
From the white fabric cut the following:
16 strips 2 1/2″ x 10 1/2″
40 squares 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
5 strips 2 1/2″ by the length of your quilt after blocks are sewn in a column (should be about 72″)
2 strips 2 1/2″ by the width of your quilt after all columns are sewn together (should be about 50″)
From the dark fabric cut the following:
40 strips 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
Make your blocks as follows:
With the dark and white fabric, make 2 strip sets by sewing one – 2 1/2″ white square to the top of one 8 1/2″ dark strip.
Step 1 – Sew one strip set with the white square on top, to the long, vertical side of your focus color rectangle.
Step 2 – Sew the second strip set with the white square on the left, horizontally, to the bottom of your focus fabric.
Continue making all of your blocks in this way, making sure to keep your white and dark strip sets positioned as in the photo above.
Arrange your blocks in rows of four across and five down as desired. Take each column and sew one white sashing strip, 2 1/2″ x 10 1/2″ between each block, as pictured:
Sew all of your columns, then sew a long white sashing strip between each column, sewing all columns together. Border the outer sides, top and bottom with long white strips as well.
Now decide if you want to add any other borders!
Fast and easy with a really nice result!
Here is a link to a printable PDF for this tutorial: Print Me and My Shadow Instructions
This quilt is similar to an Illusions pattern. to make the cutting a little easier, I would cut (background) 8 1/2 strip (WOF) along with a white 2 1/2 in strip WOF; 10 1/2 strip WOF along with 2 1/2 in strip (white WOF) and sew the 2 1/2 in strips to the 8 1/2 in piece and the 10 1/2 in piece, then cut those into 2 1/2 in strips. This would save on sewing 2 1/2 in squares to the 8 1/2 or 10 1/2 in strips.
This was one of the easiest quilts I’ve ever made. I’ve seen others make them but was afraid to try it myself. Now I regret having waited so long to give it a go. Clear instructions with photos helped to make this free pattern absolutely amazing!!! I still need to load it on the Longarm for quilting. Would love to share a picture when finished.
His will be my next quilt I will be making next week
Gracias. Lo haré!!!
Lo necesito
Love the quilt. A easy way to make the shadow strips is sew together the white and dark fabric in one long strip then cut.
White strip 2.5 x 42
Dark fabric 10.5 x 42
Sew together then cut 16 2.5 strips
I like where you are going with this idea of strip quilting these shadow strips, but I question the width (10.5) of the dark fabric? The longest side is a total of 10.5, so if you subtract the 2.5 for the white strip, then it should only need to be about 8 inches ?? what am I not following??
Thanks, Carol
I’m going to reply to myself….I see that since there is an added 2.5 inches taken into account for the bottom of the shadow, but then don’t you need to cut the bottom row of shadow strips less than 10.5….I can see that I am going to have to just do this and play with it!
Thanks.
I’m doing something like this ATM. My challenge is to get the proportions of light & dark correct on the sides of the coloured blocks, which in my case are appliquéd pictures or story blocks. Any hints for this?
I would measure the overall size of your colored blocks, and cut the length of your dark strips the same width of your colored blocks. If you look at the blocks I made, the colored blocks are 8 1/2″ wide and my dark strips are 8 1/2″ long x 2 1/2″ wide. So I would make a test block and eyeball that to see if it looks right.
I just finished making the top and I used the remaining blocks on the backing material. I am going to send it out for quilting and when I receive it back a will add a pic.
Excellent! Can’t wait to see it!
Fantastic, Totally going to try this.
Have fun!
I made your Shadow quilt and really enjpyed it and the final result was so rewarding. I printed the pattern and just made more sqares and rows to make it larger. I love it. I have a picture of the finished top I would like to send you but not sure how to on your site.
Thank you for sharing the pattern with
us.
Please send it to denmck55@gmail.com. I will post it on my blog. I would love to see it!
Hi Felicia! Feel free to e-mail me the photo and I’ll post it on the blog. I would love to see it! My e-mail is denmck55@gmail.com.
I would love to see your top
I s there a way to print off instructions?
I’ll see if I can attach a link to a PDF. I’ve never tried that before.
I added a link to a printable PDF at the bottom of the tutorial. Give that a try and let me know if it works for you.
I love this quilt and never thought I could do it. After reading your post I feel it is within my reach. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for all of your kind comments! Good luck with your quilting. It’s a continuous learning experience that I love!
How much fabric is needed for the backing?
About 4 1/2 yards should work if you make it the same size as mine.
Love this have often seen it and now here are the instructions I will put it on my list thank you
Enjoy making this!
Ok retread and realized you did 20 squares and I was doing 24. My bad!
Oh my goodness, every time I see a quilt like this on pinterest I am unable to follow the link to the pattern and here it is!! Woohoo!! Thanks!!
Have fun! Glad you found your way here!
That is gorgeous !
Thanks! It was fast and fun to make. I love batiks!