How to make a mini crib quilt

Hello, fellow quilters! I hope you’re all having a wonderful day. Today, I want to share a story about a project that has brought a lot of positivity into my life. It was during the summer of 2020, a year that was, let’s just say, a bit unusual.

I was looking for a way to focus on the positive, to find a silver lining in the midst of all the chaos. And that’s when I stumbled upon the idea of creating a quilt that would serve as a reminder of the good things in life. Thus, the Positively Plus Mini Quilt was born.

The Positively Plus Mini Quilt

This 16″ x 19″ mini quilt is a fun, fast finish consisting of nine-patch quilt blocks. The background fabric for this quilt is a raindrop print from a Noah’s Ark collection by Shawn Wallace for Riley Blake. I liked the symbolism of the positive plus vibes coming through the rain.

Materials Needed

• Background Fabric: ½ yard
• Nine Patch Blocks: Assorted scraps or 5″ squares
• Backing: 1 Fat Quarter
• Binding: ⅛ yard

Cutting Instructions

• Background Fabric: Cut 4 rectangles 5″ x 3.5″ and 4 rectangles 5″ x 2″. Cut 2 strips 2″ x WOF – sub cut 28 squares 2″ x 2″.
• Assorted Prints for 7 Nine-Patch Blocks: For each block cut 4 squares 2″ x 2″ and 1 contrast square 2″ x 2″.
• Binding fabric: Cut 2 strips 2″ x WOF.

Block Assembly

1. Using 4 background 2″ x 2″ squares, 4 print 2″ x 2″ squares and 1 contrast 2″ x 2″ squares make 7 Nine-Patch quilt blocks. Sew rows of three 2″ squares as shown, pressing seams toward the main print squares.
2. Sew three rows together, pressing seams away from center row. Repeat process to make 7 Nine-Patch quilt blocks.
3. Use photo above to layout quilt into three vertical rows, starting with the 3.5″ x 5″ rectangles in four corners and alternating 2″ x 5″ rectangles between Nine-Patch quilt blocks.
4. Sew Nine-Patch blocks and alternating rectangles together into 3 vertical rows. Press seams away from the Nine-Patch quilt blocks.
5. Sew vertical rows together as shown. Press seams away from center row.
6. Add 1.75″ x 17″ border strips sides and 16.5″ x 1.75″ border strips to top and bottom. Press seams toward border strips.
7. Layer top, batting and backing fabric and quilt as desired. I did simple vertical straight-line matchstick quilting as I liked the way it emphasized the falling rain.
8. Using 2 strips 2″ x WOF for quilt binding.

The Positively Plus Crib Quilt

As I was making this mini quilt, the thought struck me how easy it would be to blow up this exact same quilt design, using bigger squares, to make a crib-size variation. So I did! Here are the instructions for a crib-size 40.5″ x 49.5″ Positively Quilt!

Materials Needed

• Background Fabric: 1 ¼ yard
• Nine Patch Blocks: 7 assorted 10″ x 10″ squares + 7 assorted 5″ x 5″ contrast squares
• Binding: ½ yard
• Backing: 1 ½ yards

Cutting Instructions

• Background Fabric: Cut 4 rectangles 14″ x 9.5″ and 4 rectangles 14″ x 5″. Cut 28 squares 5″ x 5″.
• Assorted Prints for 7 Nine-Patch Blocks: For each block cut 4 squares 5″ x 5″ and 1 contrast square 5″ x 5″.
• Binding fabric: Cut 5 strips 2 ½” x Width of Fabric.

Crib Quilt Assembly

1. Using 4 background 5″ x 5″ squares, 4 print 5″ x 5″ squares and 1 contrast 5″ x 5″ squares make 7 Nine-Patch quilt blocks. Sew rows of three 5″ squares as shown, pressing seams toward the main print squares.
2. Use the same layout and method as mini quilt above (minus the border strips).
3. Layer with batting and backing, baste, quilt, and bind.

Full Pattern: Click Here

Creating these quilts was a wonderful experience for me. It was a reminder that even in the midst of chaos, we can always find positivity. I hope that this free quilt pattern brings you as much joy as it has brought me. Happy quilting!