Ready to decorate some eggs? This year, skip the vinegar dye bath and go for a fun Pick-A-Row quilt to create your very own one-of-a-kind quilt.
Just like colorful Easter eggs, this quilt is made up of playful bands of color. Pick from the row designed below and create your festive quilt today!
Step One: Pick the Rows
Begin by reviewing the row ideas below. Feel free to alter them or design your own.
Keep a running total of the finished height of the rows as you go.
Step Two: Pick the Bands
In between each row, plan for a band of color. It’s your choice to pick the colors and height of each band.
Add the total finished height sizes for all the bands together. Add this to the row figure collected above. This figure is the total finished height of your quilt.
If it’s too big or too little, adjust accordingly.
Step Three: Put them Together
Decide on the width of the quilt. Then construct the rows, cut the bands, and start putting it all together.
Don’t worry if some rows are longer than others. After they are all together, trim the edges to your desired width.
Now you’re ready to layer with batting and backing. Finally, quilt as desired and bind.
The Rows
McGregor’s Garden Row
This row is made of alternating 4″ finished squares. Decide what size you want your row and cut accordingly. Here’s what you’d need to cut to create the row shown.
From the pink and green fabrics, cut:
(9) 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ squares each
From the white fabric, cut:
(18) 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ squares
To assemble the row, begin with a white square and sew a colored square to it. Continue until you have sewn 9 white squares and 9 colored squares together.
Repeat with the other white and colored squares. Turn the rows in the opposite direction so one begins on the left with a white square and the other with a colored square. Sew the two rows together.
Flower Patch Row
To make a flower patch row, sew rectangles to squares. Add a row of alternating rectangles to the top and bottom and you have a Flower Patch row. Here’s what you’ll to do to make one like ours:
From the purple fabric, cut:
(4) 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ squares
(20) 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles
From the yellow fabric, cut:
(5) 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ squares
(16) 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles
From the white fabric, cut:
(16) 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles
(4) 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ squares
Breaking the row into three parts, top, middle, and bottom makes construction a snap since the top and bottom are identical.
To make these parts, start with a white 2 1/2″ square. Sew a purple 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangle to the white square, then add a white rectangle, a yellow rectangle, and finally a white rectangle. Continue this pattern three more times finishing with a purple rectangle and a white 1 1/2″ square at the end.
For the middle part, sew a purple 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangle to the side of a yellow 4 1/2″ square. On the other side of the yellow square, sew another purple rectangle. Repeat this pattern with the yellow rectangles and purple square. Alternate the colored squares ending with purple rectangles on the sides of the fifth yellow square.
Sew the parts together to complete the row.
Mr. Peter Row
That Cottontail is always getting in trouble, but he always looks spiffy in his little bow tie. To make this row of blow ties, alternate half square triangles with squares.
Here’s what you’d need to make a row like ours.
From the orange fabric, cut:
(9) 5″ x 5″ squares
From the white fabric,cut:
(9) 5″ x 5″ squares
(18) 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ squares
Use the orange and white 5″ squares to make Half Square Triangles (HST).
To make a HST, mark the wrong side of the white 5” squares in half diagonally once. Lay a marked white square over an orange 5” square, right sides together. Sew a quarter inch from each side of the marked line. Cut apart on the marked line.
Trim each HST to measure 4 1/2″ square unfinished. Make 18.
Sewing a white square to the orange side of the HST, then sew the white side of the HST to the white square. Continue sewing in this manner alternating the HST and white squares until there are 9 HST. Finish by adding a white square to the end.
Make two rows, then turn the rows in opposite directions and sew together.
Carrot Topsy Row
Quarter Square Triangles topple one end over the other for this playful row.
Here’s what you’d need to make a row like ours.
From the green fabric, cut:
(3) 9 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ squares
From the orange fabric, cut:
(2) 9 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ squares
From the white fabric, cut:
(5) 9 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ squares
This row is made up of six green Quarter Square Triangles (QST) and three orange QST.
To make the green QSTs, mark the backs of the white 9 1/2″ squares in half diagonally once. Layer with a green 9 1/2″ square, right sides together. Sew a 1/4″ on both sides of the marked line. Cut apart on the marked line to make two Half Square Triangles.
Mark the backs of the HST from corner to corner crossing the seam. Layer the marked HST with the other HST right sides together with the green triangles opposite each other. Sew a 1/4″ on both sides of the marked line. Cut apart on the marked line. Repeat with the remaining Half Square Triangles.
Trim to 8 1/2″ square. Make 6 green and white QSTs.
Repeat to make the orange and white QSTs. Make 3. (One will be left over.)
Hippity Hop Row
Half Square Triangles march in order to create this fun hippity hop pattern.
Here’s what you’d need to make a row like ours.
From the blue fabric, cut:
(9) 9″ x 9″ squares
From the white fabric, cut:
(9) 9″ x 9″ squares
By turning Half Square Triangles (HST), a wave is created that bounces up and down across the quilt.
To make a HST, mark the wrong side of the white 9” square in half diagonally once. Lay a marked white square over a blue 9” square, right sides together. Sew a quarter inch from each side of the marked line. Cut apart on the marked line.
Trim the HST to measure 8 1/2″ square. Make 18.
Use the row diagram to layout the HSTs. Sew the row in two parts, the top part and the bottom part. Then sew the parts together to complete the row.
Here’s a sample idea we came up with using 8″ finished strips between some of the rows.
Decorate an Easter Egg Quilt
72″ x 80″
What does your quilt look like? Share it with us on our Facebook Group, Project Parade. We’ll even share it in our monthly Show & Tell.
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