This strip baby quilt goes together in a weekend and brings a fresh, modern look to the nursery. I designed this piece using classic jelly roll strips so you can skip the tedious cutting and jump straight to the sewing machine.
Quick Facts
- Skill level: Confident Beginner
- Finished size: 37 1/2 in x 42 in (95 cm x 106.5 cm)
- Block size: Strip construction (no traditional blocks)
- Fabric: 2 1/2 in WOF strips
- Seam allowance: 1/4 in
- Time to make: A weekend
What Makes This Easy Strip Baby Quilt Special
The secret to this quilt is working with pre-cut 2 1/2 in strips, which saves hours of measuring. I alternated the sewing directions for each strip down the length of the quilt top to prevent the fabric from bowing or stretching out of shape. The straight-line quilting adds a clean finish that holds up wash after wash.
Finished Size
| Item |
Width |
Length |
| Quilt Top |
37 1/2 in (95 cm) |
42 in (106.5 cm) |
Fabric Requirements
| Fabric |
Used For |
Yards |
Metres |
| Yellow Floral |
Strip Set A |
1/2 yd |
0.5 m |
| Grey Dot |
Strip Set B |
1/2 yd |
0.5 m |
| White Blender |
Strip Set C |
1/2 yd |
0.5 m |
| Yellow Gingham |
Strip Set D |
1/2 yd |
0.5 m |
| Backing Fabric |
Quilt Back |
1 1/2 yd |
1.4 m |
| Binding Fabric |
Binding |
3/8 yd |
0.4 m |
Cutting Instructions
- Yellow Floral: Cut 5 strips 2 1/2 in x WOF (6.4 cm x 106.5 cm)
- Grey Dot: Cut 5 strips 2 1/2 in x WOF (6.4 cm x 106.5 cm)
- White Blender: Cut 5 strips 2 1/2 in x WOF (6.4 cm x 106.5 cm)
- Yellow Gingham: Cut 4 strips 2 1/2 in x WOF (6.4 cm x 106.5 cm)
- Binding Fabric: Cut 5 strips 2 1/2 in x WOF (6.4 cm x 106.5 cm)
Assembly
Strip Set Assembly
- Arrange your 2 1/2 in (6.4 cm) WOF strips in the desired alternating colour order across your sewing table until you have 19 total strips.
- Sew the first two strips together lengthwise using a 1/4 in (0.6 cm) seam allowance. Press the seam toward the darker fabric.
- Attach the next strip to the side of the previous one, sewing from the opposite end of the strip to prevent bowing. Press the seam in the same direction or open.
- Continue adding strips one by one until all 19 strips are joined together side by side.
✅ Checkpoint: The unquilted top should measure approximately 38 in x 42 1/2 in (96.5 cm x 108 cm) before trimming.
- Trim the top and bottom edges square with your rotary cutter and a large ruler so the final length measures 42 in (106.5 cm).
Quilt Top Assembly
- Lay your trimmed strip panel flat on a clean surface.
- Cut your 1 1/2 yd (1.4 m) backing fabric in half crosswise if needed, piece it together to measure at least 45 1/2 in x 50 in (115.5 cm x 127 cm), and press well.
- Layer your backing wrong side up, batting in the middle, and the pieced quilt top right side up.
- Baste the three layers together using safety pins or basting spray, starting from the centre and working outward.
Quilting and Binding
- Quilt straight lines down the length of the quilt, following either the edge of each strip or spacing your lines 1 in (2.5 cm) apart across the entire surface.
- Trim the excess batting and backing even with the raw edges of the quilt top.
- Sew your 5 binding strips end-to-end on the diagonal to create one continuous strip, fold it in half lengthwise with wrong sides together, and press.
- Attach the binding to the front of the quilt using a 1/4 in (0.6 cm) seam, miter the corners neatly, fold it over to the back, and hand-stitch or machine-stitch it down.
Size Variations
To make a larger lap size quilt, simply cut and sew additional 2 1/2 in strips to your arrangement until the width increases by 2 1/2 in (6.4 cm) increments per strip. Adjust your backing and binding lengths accordingly.
Care Instructions
Machine wash on a gentle, cool cycle with mild detergent. Tumble dry on low heat or lay flat to dry to preserve the soft crinkled texture of the quilting.
FAQ
What is the best needle to use for this baby quilt?
A universal 80/12 sewing machine needle works wonderfully for piecing and straight-line quilting through standard cotton quilting fabrics and cotton batting.
Can I use a pre-cut jelly roll for this project?
Yes, absolutely. A standard jelly roll containing at least nineteen 2 1/2 in WOF strips will save you from cutting your own yardage.
Do I need to pre-wash my quilting cottons?
Pre-washing is optional for high-quality quilting cottons. If you choose to pre-wash, press your fabrics thoroughly before cutting to ensure accurate strip widths.
Happy Quilting!
I hope you enjoy stitching up this sweet strip baby quilt for a little one in your life. Save this pin on Pinterest so you can find it later. If you make one, I would love to see it: send me a photo through the contact page.
