Fussy-Cut Beauty: Create the Kinabalu Quilt

The first time I encountered Jinny Beyer’s Kinabalu Quilt, it was like witnessing a mountain shrouded in mist—beautiful, imposing, and mysterious.

Named after Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia, this quilt’s striking design uses rich, bold colors to create a sense of depth and complexity.

Each block in the quilt is like a step along the mountain path, with log cabin squares leading to the summit, accented by fussy-cut triangles from a signature border print.

As a quilter who loves both tradition and innovation, the Kinabalu Quilt was an irresistible challenge.

It combines the classic log cabin block with a modern twist—removing the corner of each block and replacing it with a carefully chosen triangle from the border fabric. This intermediate-level quilt is perfect for quilters ready to push their skills and create something visually stunning.

Mountain Majesty: The Design Behind the Kinabalu Quilt

The Kinabalu Quilt’s intricate design comes from the combination of log cabin blocks and the artful placement of border print triangles. Each log cabin block is trimmed in one corner and replaced with a fussy-cut triangle, bringing an unexpected touch of artistry to the classic block structure.

The pattern’s rich color palette, inspired by the Pacific Rim, enhances the quilt’s overall impact, making it feel like a true homage to the grandeur of Mount Kinabalu. What makes this quilt unique is how the fussy-cut triangles from the border print add a sense of movement and depth to the design.

The triangle shapes pull your eyes across the quilt, mimicking the peaks and valleys of the mountain that inspired it.

Cutting Precision and Color Play: Materials for the Kinabalu Quilt

The Kinabalu Quilt requires a careful selection of fabrics to achieve its full visual impact. The key is to use bold, textured prints, like those from Jinny Beyer’s Pacific Rim collection, to bring the quilt’s design to life.

Each fabric choice contributes to the quilt’s layered and dimensional feel, especially with the contrasting log cabin strips and the intricate border.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Materials:

• Black/gray print (block center): ⅛ yard
• White/tan mottle (strips 1, 2): ¼ yard
• Orange print (strips 3, 4): ¼ yard
• Light green/gold print (strips 5, 6): ⅜ yard
• Golden brown print (strips 7, 8): ⅜ yard
• Green/pink texture (strips 9, 10): ½ yard
• Purple/green texture (strips 11, 12): ⅜ yard
• Green/red texture (strips 13, 14): ¾ yard
• Wine print (strips 15, 16, middle border, binding): 2½ yards
• Green print (strips 17, 18): 1 yard
• Black print (strips 19, 20): ¾ yard
• Green/multicolor border stripe (inner and outer borders): 3¾ yards
• Backing fabric: 7½ yards
• Batting: Queen size
• See-through template plastic
• Rotary-cutting ruler: At least 6″ long

Finished quilt size: 76½” x 76½”
Block size: 9¾” x 9¾”

Preparation for Success: Color, Fabric, and Cutting Tips

Before you begin, it’s important to have all your fabrics prepped and ready. The contrast between the bright colors and deeper tones will create the dynamic visual effect of the quilt, so take the time to lay out your fabric choices and see how they interact. The fussy-cut triangles from the border fabric are a critical part of the design, so be sure to select a border print with a large enough motif to cut matching triangles.

Additionally, make sure your rotary-cutting ruler and template plastic are on hand. The template will ensure that each triangle is cut precisely from the border fabric to maintain the symmetry of the design.

Full Pattern: Click Here

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1: Creating the Log Cabin Blocks

• Begin by cutting your fabric strips according to the pattern instructions. The log cabin blocks are built by stitching strips around a center square, starting with the white/tan mottle strips (#1 and #2) and moving outward with each subsequent fabric.
• Sew the white/tan 1¼” x 1¾” strip to one side of the 1¾” black/gray print square (Diagram I). Then, sew the second white strip to the top. Continue adding strips in the order shown until all the strips are attached, creating a completed log cabin square. Make 36 log cabin blocks in total.

Step 2: Trimming the Blocks

• After completing each log cabin block, trim the lower right corner of the block. To do this, align the 45° line of your rotary ruler with the bottom edge of the block. Then, align the ⅝” mark on the ruler with the bottom right corner of strip #11 (Diagram II-A).
• Carefully trim away the corner (Diagram II-B), making sure to cut ⅝” beyond the corner point.

Step 3: Adding the Fussy-Cut Triangles

• Using your see-through template plastic, trace Template A, including the ⅜” seam allowance. Position the template on your border fabric, aligning the design motif as shown. Trace and cut out 36 identical triangles.
• Sew one triangle to the trimmed corner of each log cabin block (Diagram III). Press the seams carefully to ensure a smooth, clean edge. Make all 36 Kinabalu Log Cabin Blocks.

Step 4: Assembling the Quilt Top

• Lay out the blocks in six rows of six blocks each. Pay attention to the orientation of the blocks to ensure the triangle corners are aligned properly, creating a cohesive pattern across the quilt top.
• Sew the blocks together into rows, and then join the rows together to complete the quilt top (refer to the Assembly Diagram).

Step 5: Adding the Borders

• For the borders, cut strips of the green/multicolor border fabric, ensuring that the motifs are centered on the strip as you cut. Finger-press the strips in half to center the border design and sew the strips together to create four long borders.
• Attach the border strips to the quilt top, starting and stopping ⅝” from the corners. For a polished finish, use the mitered corner technique to sew the borders together (refer to Diagram IV for guidance).

Step 6: Quilting and Finishing

• Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing, then baste the layers together. Susan Boxell machine quilted feathers in the blocks and a feathered vine in the middle border. The inner and outer borders are detail stitched.
• Bind the quilt using strips of the wine print fabric.

Additional Tips:

• Fussy-Cutting the Triangles: When cutting the border print triangles, make sure each triangle matches the others for a cohesive look. The symmetry of these triangles will be a focal point of the quilt.
• Pressing Matters: Take care to press your seams in the direction indicated in the instructions to reduce bulk and ensure your blocks fit together neatly.
• Precise Cutting: With so many small strips and pieces, precision is key. Double-check your measurements as you go to avoid any misalignment later in the process.

Conclusion: A Tribute to Kinabalu’s Beauty

The Kinabalu Quilt is a stunning tribute to the mountain that inspired it. With its intricate combination of log cabin blocks and fussy-cut triangles, this quilt challenges quilters to focus on precision while enjoying the creative freedom of fabric selection and arrangement. As the quilt top comes together, each piece plays a role in building a larger picture—just like the steps you would take in climbing a mountain.

For those who love working with rich, vibrant fabrics and enjoy the complexity of piecing and fussy cutting, the Kinabalu Quilt is a deeply rewarding project. As you quilt, you’ll see the landscape of the design unfold before you, resulting in a breathtaking quilt that captures both the beauty of tradition and the excitement of innovation.