Little Propellers, an Easy Patchwork Baby Quilt Pattern

By Janet Wickell

Quilting Expert

1 of 4

Make an Easy Patchwork Baby Quilt

Use to navigate.

Easy Baby Quilt Pattern with Lots of Spin - Janet Wickell

Make an Easy Baby Quilt. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

Updated April 30, 2016.

This easy little baby quilt pattern is made with 18 traditional Propeller quilt blocks. The on-point blocks are arranged in diagonal rows and surrounded with setting triangles.

How the Baby Quilt is Configured

Only one quilt block is used in this quilt but blocks are sewn in two color layouts. Fabrics are exactly the same in each layout, but the rectangular strip-pieced segments that radiate outwards from the dark centers are flip-flopped so that like fabrics do not touch each other when the quilt blocks are sewn together.

Take a look at page 4 for layout variations.

Change the quilt entirely by choosing different colors and themes.

Finished quilt block size: 6-1/4" x 6-1/4"

Finished quilt size: about 34-1/2" x 43-1/4"

It's easy to adjust the baby quilt's size upwards or downwards by changing the number or widths of borders.

Units are all quick-pieced. Cutting and assembly instructions assume you will use my quick half square triangle method to make the 72 half square triangle units required for the quilt. Be sure to adjust cutting if you choose another method.

Half square triangle units must finish at 2-1/2" square (in other words, measure 3" x 3" before they are sewn to neighboring patchwork).

Try the Magic 8 half square triangle method if you make lots of identical units.

Quilting Fabrics & Other Materials

Yardages allow for shrinking and the occasional cutting boo-boo.

Mauve: 1 yard
(for strip pieced units in blocks, setting triangles and outer border)

Cream/Mauve print: 1/2 yard
(for strip pieced units in blocks and inner border)

Black dot: 1/2 yard
(for half square triangle units and quilt block centers)

Multicolor print with rose/mauve/black: 1/2 yard
(for half square triangle units)

Backing: 1-1/2 yards (Quilt Backing Instructions)

Batting: about 43" x 50"

Binding: 180 running inches (Binding Instructions)

Show All

2 of 4

Make Propeller Quilt Blocks for the Baby Quilt

Use to navigate.

Baby Quilt with Propeller Quilt Blocks - Janet Wickell

Make the Propeller quilt blocks for the baby quilt. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

Make the Half Square Triangle Units

Cut three 3-3/8" wide strips of black dot fabric from selvage to selvage. Square up one end of each strip and cut a total of (36) 3-3/8" x 3-3/8" squares.
Cut three 3-3/8" wide strips of multicolor print fabric from selvage to selvage. Square up one end of each strip and cut a total of (36) 3-3/8" x 3-3/8" squares.
Pair a black dot square with a multicolor print square. Use an easy quick piecing method to create two half square triangle units from the pair. When complete, each unit should measure 3" x 3".

Repeat, combining the remaining squares to make 72 identical half square triangle units. Set aside.

Make the Strip Pieced Segments

Cut (3) 1-3/4" wide strips of cream/mauve print fabric from selvage to selvage.
Cut (3) 1-3/4" wide strips of mauve fabric from selvage to selvage.
Sew a cream/mauve strip lengthwise to a mauve strip. Press to set the seam.
Press seam allowance towards the mauve strip.
Square up one end of the strip set and cut as many 1-3/4" segments from it as possible (24 are likely).
Repeat to make two more strips sets and cut a total of 72 segments (if you cannot cut 72, create a shorter strip set that's long enough to make the missing segments -- 1-3/4" x the number of segments you need, plus 1/2" or so for squaring up).

Cut Center Squares

Cut one 1-3/4" wide black dot strip from selvage to selvage. Square up one end of the strip set and cut (18) 1-3/4" x 1-3/4" squares from the strip.

Assemble the Quilt Blocks

Arrange four half square triangle units, four strip pieced segments and one center square into three rows as shown, lower left. Be sure that the mauve ends of the strip pieced segments rest against block centers.

Sew components in each row together. Press seam allowances in top and bottom rows towards the strip pieced segments. Press seam allowances in middle, narrow row towards the strip pieced segments.
Join the rows, butting seams for a snug fit. Press the quilt block. The quilt block should measure 6-3/4" x 6-3/4".
Make 11 more identical quilt blocks.
Assemble the remaining six blocks in the same manner, with one exception: flip the strip pieced segments around so that the lighter, creamy print ends touch center squares.

Show All

3 of 4

Assemble the Little Propellers Baby Quilt

Use to navigate.

Arrange the Propeller quilt blocks into diagonal rows to create the baby quilt. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

Cut the Setting and Corner Triangles

To make setting triangles, cut (3) 10-1/8" x 10-1/8" squares. Cut each square in half twice diagonally. Two triangles will not be used and can be saved for another project (remember that the straight grain is parallel to the long edge).
To make corner triangles, cut (2) 5-3/8" x 5-3/8" squares. Cut each square in half once diagonally. If you like, trim the triangle tips to make it easier to align the triangles with the quilt corners when it's time to sew.

Sew Quilt Blocks Into Rows

Arrange quilt blocks into diagonal rows as shown, with blocks on-point. Notice that the quilt blocks with the creamy mauve print on their outer edges are positioned on the outer perimeter of the quilt. The blocks with mauve ends on their outer edges are within the interior of the quilt and sewn between the other version.
Place large setting triangles at the end of rows as shown.
Sew the components of each row together. Press seam allowances in adjoining rows in opposite directions.
Sew rows together, butting seams carefully for a good match.
Center a mauve corner triangle at each corner of the quilt. Sew corners in place and press seam allowances towards the triangles.