Inspired by Fabric: Tute-Happy Summer: Nautical Mini Quilt

We're continuing our Tute-Happy Summer series today with a tutorial for a modern Nautical Mini Quilt by Yvonne from Quilting Jet Girl. Yvonne selected Prairie Cloth Solids in an marine-themed color palette to create this skill building mini quilt inspired by nautical flags. Enjoy the tutorial and then find the details at the bottom of this post for a chance to win a nautical bundle of Prairie Cloth Solids to play with!

Try out all the blocks that Yvonne demonstrates, or choose a few favorites, and put together your own mini quilt. Have fun!
Yvonne has also consolidated this tutorial into a printable pattern which you can find here.

Nautical Mini Quilt Pattern (31 ½" x 31 ½")
Designed by Yvonne Fuchs from Quilting Jet Girl

Planning

For me, nothing says summer like thoughts of spending time around water, whether on a beach, in a boat, at a pool, or in a summer rain shower. I selected a grouping of 9 Fabri-Quilt cotton solids to create the Marine Hues palette, and playing off a nautical theme I created a fun, skill building mini quilt.

This mini quilt will help develop consistent ¼ʺ seam allowance skills, agility in handling smaller piecing (1 ½" wide strips), and familiarity with methods to make some standard quilt blocks that are building blocks for many other patterns. The resulting mini quilt looks less scrappy due to intentional use of blending backgrounds and the nautical flag theme.

The Nautical mini quilt pattern refers to the Marine Hues bundle of 9 Fabri-Quilt cotton solids throughout the pattern. Below is a blank quilt pattern that you can use to color and plan your own unique layout. I also like to use blank patterns to doodle and design my quilting.

General Pattern Notes

1. Sew all seams with a ¼ʺ seam allowance unless otherwise indicated.

2. Press seams open to reduce bulk.

3. The pattern refers to fabric units by fabric number, block letter name, and size. You may choose to group like blocks together and label them with their corresponding size or letter if that helps your organization. Alternately, there are associated images for each step and you may print the pattern and mark with your own fabric selection to help keep the assembly going together correctly. I suggest cutting small swatches of your fabric choices to place beside the fabrics shown on this page to use in coordination with the pattern images.

Fabric Requirements

This pattern is designed around the use of 9 solids, as seen in the cover image and illustrated below. If you would like to reduce the fabric selections, simply add the yardage requirements together to make sure you have enough yardage for the project.

The fabric listed below is enough to create a scrappy backing and binding for the mini quilt, but if you would like continuous backing / binding, 1 yard of backing fabric and ½ yard of binding fabric is suggested.

Fabric 1 (navy) = ½ yard
Fabric 2 (royal) = fat quarter
Fabric 3 (lapis blue) = fat quarter
Fabric 4 (teal) = fat quarter
Fabric 5 (turquoise) = fat quarter
Fabric 6 (waterfall) = fat quarter
Fabric 7 (purple) = fat quarter
Fabric 8 (lavender) = fat quarter
Fabric 9 (white) = ½ yard

Cutting Instructions

WOF = Width of Fabric

Fabric 1 (navy)

Note 44" WOF assumed

Cut (8) 1 ½" by WOF strips

o Set (4) 1 ½" by WOF strips aside [A]

o Subcut (16) 1 ½" x 5 ½" rectangles [B]

o Subcut (4) 1 ½" x 17 ½" rectangles [C]

Cut (1) 5 ½" by WOF strips

o Subcut (8) 5 ½" x 5 ½" squares [D]

Fabric 2 (royal)

Cut (1) 2 ½" x 20" strip (set aside for binding)
Cut (1) 5 ½" x 5 ½" square [E]

Fabric 3 (lapis blue)

Cut (1) 2 ½" x 20" strip (set aside for binding)
Cut (1) 7" x 7" square [F]
Cut (1) 5 ½" x 5 ½" square [G]
Cut (2) 2 ½" x 2 ½" squares [H]

Fabric 4 (teal)

Cut (1) 2 ½" x 20" strip (set aside for binding)
Cut (2) 2 1/8" x 5 ½" rectangles [I]
Cut (2) 1 ½" x 5 ½" rectangles [J]
Cut (2) 3" x 3" squares [K]

Fabric 5 (turquoise)

Cut (1) 2 ½" x 20" strip (set aside for binding)
Cut (1) 7" x 7" square [L]
Cut (1) 5 ½" x 5 ½" square [M]
Cut (4) 3" x 3" squares [N]
Cut (4) 2 ½" x 2 ½" squares [O]
Cut (1) 1 ½" x 5 ½" rectangle [P]

Fabric 6 (waterfall)

Cut (1) 2 ½" x 20" strip (set aside for binding)
Cut (1) 5 ½" x 5 ½" square [Q]
Cut (4) 3” x 3” squares [R]
Cut (1) 2 ½” x 2 ½” square [S]

Fabric 7 (purple)

Cut (1) 2 ½" x 20" strip (set aside for binding)
Cut (1) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [T]
Cut (2) 3” x 3” squares [U]
Cut (6) 2 ½” x 2 ½” squares [V]
Cut (2) 2” x 2 ½” rectangles [W]
Cut (2) 2” x 5 ½” rectangles [X]

Fabric 8 (lavender)

Cut (1) 2 ½" x 20" strip (set aside for binding)
Cut (1) 7” x 7” square [Y]
Cut (1) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [Z]
Cut (2) 3” x 3” squares [AA]

Fabric 9 (white)

Note 43" WOF assumed

Cut (1) 2 ½" x WOF strip (set aside for binding)
Cut (1) 1 ½” by WOF strips

o Subcut (6) 1 ½” x 2 ½” rectangles [BB]

o Subcut (5) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangles [CC]

Cut (1) 6 ½” by WOF strips

o Subcut (2) 17 ½” x 6 ½” rectangles [DD]

Cut (1) 7” by WOF strip

o Subcut (1) 7” x 7” square [EE]

o Subcut (2) 6 ½” x 5 ½” rectangles [FF]

o Subcut (1) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [GG]

o Subcut (1) 2 1/8” x 5 ½” rectangle [HH]

o Subcut (2) 3” x 3” squares [II]

Piecing Instructions

Step 1 – Center Block

Pieces required:

(1) Fabric 2 (royal) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [E]
(2) Fabric 9 (white) 17 ½” x 6 ½” rectangles [DD]
(2) Fabric 9 (white) 6 ½” x 5 ½” rectangles [FF]

1.
Sew (1) Fabric 9 (white) 6 ½” x 5 ½” rectangle [FF] to the right side of Fabric 2 (royal) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [E] and (1) Fabric 9 (white) 6 ½” x 5 ½” rectangle [FF] to the left side of [E]. Press seams open.

2. Sew (1) Fabric 9 (white) 17 ½” x 6 ½” rectangle [DD] to the top of the unit from Step 1 and (1) Fabric 9 (white) 17 ½” x 6 ½” rectangle [DD] to the bottom of the unit from Step 1. Press seams open.

3. The center block should measure 17 ½” x 17 ½”.

Step 2 – Plus Blocks

Pieces required:

(2) Fabric 3 (lapis blue) 2 ½” x 2 ½” squares [H]
(4) Fabric 5 (turquoise) 2 ½” x 2 ½” squares [O]
(6) Fabric 7 (purple) 2 ½” x 2 ½” squares [V]
(6) Fabric 9 (white) 1 ½” x 2 ½” rectangles [BB]
(3) Fabric 9 (white) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangles [CC]

1. Sew (1) Fabric 7 (purple) 2 ½” x 2 ½” square [V] to the left side of (1) Fabric 9 (white) 1 ½” x 2 ½” rectangle [BB]. Press seam open. Sew (1) Fabric 7 (purple) 2 ½” x 2 ½” square [V] to the right side of rectangle [BB]. Press seam open. Repeat to make (2) units that measure 5 ½” x 2 ½”as shown in the figure.

2. Sew (1) unit from Step 1 to the top of (1) Fabric 9 (white) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangle [CC]. Press seam open. Sew the second unit from Step 1 to the bottom of rectangle [CC]. Press seam open.

3. Repeat process to create (3) plus blocks that measure 5 ½” x 5 ½”.

Step 3 – Triangle Blocks

Pieces required:

(8) Fabric 1 (navy) 5 ½” x 5 ½” squares [D]
(1) Fabric 3 (lapis blue) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [G]
(1) Fabric 5 (turquoise) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [M]
(1) Fabric 6 (waterfall) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [Q]
(1) Fabric 8 (lavender) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [Z]

1. On the wrong sides of squares [G], [M], [Q], and [Z] mark a line 2 7/8” from the lower right corner up to the upper right corner. Mark a second line 2 7/8” from the lower left corner up to the upper left corner.

2. Place (1) Fabric 3 (lapis blue) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [G] and (1) Fabric 1 (navy) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [D] right sides together and sew along one of the marked lines. Trim away (toward the smaller triangle) ¼” from the sewn line (dotted line in figure). Press seam open. Square block to 5 ½” x 5 ½” using an unsewn [G] corner as the anchor for measurement.

3. Place (1) Fabric 1 (navy) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [D] and right sides together with the square block from Step 2 and sew along the second marked line. Trim away (toward the smaller triangle) ¼” from the sewn line (dotted line in figure). Press seam open. Square block to 5 ½” x 5 ½” using the trimmed corner on [D] from Step 2 as the anchor for measurement.

4. Repeat steps to make (4) triangle blocks that measure 5 ½” x 5 ½”.

Step 4 – Checkerboard Blocks

Pieces required:

(2) Fabric 4 (teal) 3” x 3” squares [K]
(2) Fabric 7 (purple) 3” x 3” squares [U]
(2) Fabric 8 (lavender) 3” x 3” squares [AA]
(2) Fabric 9 (white) 3” x 3” squares [II]

1. Right sides together, sew together (1) Fabric 4 (teal) 3” x 3” square [K] and (1) Fabric 9 (white) 3” x 3” square [II]. Press seam open. Sew together the remaining (1) Fabric 4 (teal) 3” x 3” square [K] and (1) Fabric 9 (white) 3” x 3” square [II]. Press seam open.

2. Rotating the units from Step 1 to make sure that opposing colors are aligned, sew rectangles from Step 1 together. Press seam open.

3. Repeat steps using (2) Fabric 7 (purple) 3” x 3” squares [U] and (2) Fabric 8 (lavender) 3” x 3” squares [AA] to make (2) checkerboard blocks that measure 5 ½” x 5 ½”.

Step 5 – Horizontal Stripe Block

Pieces required:

(2) Fabric 4 (teal) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangles [J]
(1) Fabric 5 (turquoise) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangle [P]
(2) Fabric 9 (white) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangles [CC]

1. Right sides together, sew together (1) Fabric 4 (teal) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangle [J] and (1) Fabric 9 (white) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangle [CC]. Press seam open. Sew together the remaining (1) Fabric 4 (teal) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangle [J] and (1) Fabric 9 (white) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangle [CC]. Press seam open.

2. Right sides together, sew the Fabric 9 (white) edge of one unit from Step 1 to the Fabric 5 (turquoise) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangle [P]. Press seam open. Sew the Fabric 9 (white) edge of the second unit from Step 2 to the other side of the Fabric 5 (turquoise) 1 ½” x 5 ½” rectangle [P]. Press seam open. Block should measure 5 ½” x 5 ½”.

Step 6 – Quarter Square Triangle Blocks

Pieces required:

(1) Fabric 3 (lapis blue) 7” x 7” square [F]
(1) Fabric 5 (turquoise) 7” x 7” square [L]
(1) Fabric 8 (lavender) 7” x 7” square [Y]
(1) Fabric 9 (white) 7” x 7” square [EE]

1. On the wrong side of the Fabric 9 (white) 7” x 7” square [EE], draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.

2. Place the Fabric 9 (white) 7” x 7” square [EE] right sides together with the Fabric 8 (lavender) 7” x 7” square [Y]. Sew a quarter inch seam allowance on either side of the marked diagonal line.

3. Cut into (2) triangles along the marked diagonal line. Press seams open.

4. On the wrong side of (1) HST from Step 3, mark one diagonal line from the opposite corners from the sewn seam.

5. Right sides together, stack the (2) HSTs from Step 3 with the sewn seams aligned but with opposite colors on top of each other, as shown in the figure.

6. Sew a quarter inch seam allowance on either side of the marked diagonal line. Cut into (2) triangles along the marked diagonal line. Press seams open. Trim to 5 ½” square.

7. Repeat steps with remaining blocks to create (2) quarter square triangle blocks that measure 5 ½” x 5 ½”.

Step 7 – Square in a Square Blocks

Pieces required:

(4) Fabric 5 (turquoise) 3” x 3” squares [N]
(4) Fabric 6 (waterfall) 3” x 3” squares [R]
(1) Fabric 7 (purple) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [T]
(1) Fabric 9 (white) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [GG]

1. On the wrong side of the (4) Fabric 5 (turquoise) 3” x 3” squares [N], mark a diagonal line from corner to corner.

2. Right sides together, align (1) Fabric 5 (turquoise) 3” x 3” square [N] with the upper right corner of the Fabric 9 (white) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [GG]. Sew along marked line and trim ¼” away from the sewn line (toward the corner) as shown in the figure (dotted line). Press seam open.

3. Right sides together, align (1) Fabric 5 (turquoise) 3” x 3” square [N] with the lower left corner of the Fabric 9 (white) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [GG]. Sew along marked line and trim ¼” away from the sewn line (toward the corner) as shown in the figure (dotted line). Press seam open.

4. Right sides together, align (1) Fabric 5 (turquoise) 3” x 3” square [N] with the upper left corner of the Fabric 9 (white) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [GG]. Sew along marked line and trim ¼” away from the sewn line (toward the corner) as shown in the figure (dotted line). Press seam open.

5. Right sides together, align (1) Fabric 5 (turquoise) 3” x 3” square [N] with the lower right corner of the Fabric 9 (white) 5 ½” x 5 ½” square [GG]. Sew along marked line and trim ¼” away from the sewn line (toward the corner) as shown in the figure (dotted line). Press seam open.

6. Repeat steps with remaining blocks to create (2) square in a square blocks that measure 5 ½” x 5 ½”.

Step 8 – Mini Log Cabin Block (Courthouse Steps Variation)

Pieces required:

(1) Fabric 6 (waterfall) 2 ½" x 2 ½" square [S]
(2) Fabric 7 (purple) 2" x 2 ½" rectangles [W]
(2) Fabric 7 (purple) 2" x 5 ½" rectangles [X]

1. Sew (1) Fabric 7 (purple) 2" x 2 ½" rectangle [W] to the right side of Fabric 6 (waterfall) 2 ½" x 2 ½" square [S] and (1) Fabric 7 (purple) 2" x 2 ½" rectangle [W] to the left side of [S]. Press seams open.

2. Sew (1) Fabric 7 (purple) 2" x 5 ½" rectangle [X] to the top of the unit from Step 1 and (1) Fabric 7 (purple) 2" x 5 ½" rectangle [X] to the bottom of the unit from Step 1. Press seams open.

3. The mini log cabin block should measure 5 ½” x 5 ½”.

Step 9 – Vertical Strip Block

Pieces required:

(2) Fabric 4 (teal) 2 1/8" x 5 ½" rectangles [I]
(1) Fabric 9 (white) 2 1/8" x 5 ½" rectangle [HH]

*Use a scant ¼" seam allowance when piecing this block

1. Sew (1) Fabric 4 (teal) 2 1/8" x 5 ½" rectangle [I] to the right side of the Fabric 9 (white) 2 1/8" x 5 ½" rectangle [HH] and Fabric 4 (teal) 2 1/8" x 5 ½" rectangle [I] to the left side of [HH] using a scant ¼" seam allowance. Press seams open. The vertical strip block should measure 5 ½” x 5 ½”; trim as necessary.

Assembly Instructions

Step 1 – Assemble the Top Row

Pieces required:

(1) Plus Block
(1) Triangle Block
(1) Checkerboard Block
(1) Horizontal Stripe Block
(1) Quarter Square Triangle Block
(2) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" by WOF strips [A]
(6) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" x 5 ½" rectangles [B]

1. Sew (1) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" x 5 ½" rectangle [B] to the left of each block. Press seams open. Sew (1) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" x 5 ½" rectangle [B] to the right side of the Quarter Square Triangle Block. Press seam open.

2. Sew blocks together into a row. Press seams open.

3. Sew (1) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" by WOF strip [A] to the top of the row from Step 2. Press seam open and trim square with the row. Sew (1) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" by WOF strip [A] to the bottom of the row from Step 2. Press seam open and trim square with the row.

Step 2 – Assemble the Middle Row

Pieces required:

(1) Center Block
(1) Plus Block
(2) Triangle Blocks
(2) Square in a Square Blocks
(1) Vertical Stripe Block
(4) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" x 5 ½" rectangles [B]
(4) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" x 17 ½" rectangles [C]

1. Sew (1) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" x 5 ½" rectangle [B] to the bottom of the plus block, (1) triangle block, (1) square in a square block, and the vertical stripe block. Press seams open.

2. Sew blocks together into (2) columns as shown in the figure. Press seams open.

3. Sew (1) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" x 17 ½" rectangle [C] to the left of each column from Step 2. Press seam open. Sew (1) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" x 17 ½" rectangle [C] to the right of each column from Step 2. Press seam open.

4. Sew (1) column from Step 3 to the left of the center block and (1) column from Step 3 to the right of the center block. Press seams open.

Step 3 – Assemble the Bottom Row

Pieces required:

(1) Mini Log Cabin Block
(1) Quarter Square Triangle Block
(1) Triangle Block
(1) Plus Block
(1) Checkerboard Block
(2) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" by WOF strips [A]
(6) Fabric 1 (navy) 1 ½" x 5 ½" rectangles [B]

2. Sew blocks together into a row. Press seams open.

Step 4 – Assemble the Quilt Top

Pieces required:

Top Row from Assembly Step 1
Middle Row from Assembly Step 2
Bottom Row from Assembly Step 3

1. Sew the top row to the top of the middle row. Press seams open.

2. Sew the bottom row to the bottom of the middle row. Press seams open.

3. The Nautical Mini Quilt should measure 31 ½" x 31 ½".

Quilt Construction

1. Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste and quilt as desired.

2. Form the binding by chain sewing together the pre-cut binding strips from Fabrics 2-9 to create a scrappy binding. Bind and enjoy your quilt!

Congratulations! You have a completed a Nautical Mini Quilt! I would love to see what you create. If you are on Instagram, tag me (@QuiltingJetgirl) and any images of your quilt using #NauticalMiniQuilt. Or send an email to jetgirl8(at)gmail(dot)com with a photograph or link to a blog post about your quilt!

~~Thanks Yvonne! Head over to Yvonne's blog to find out how you can win a bundle of Marine Hues Prairie Cloth Solids!~~ This giveaway is now closed, but be sure to check out our other tutorials, as we'll be sharing a tutorial and hosting a giveaway each week!

And download a printable version of this pdf here.