Can you really make a whole quilt in one day? You can, as long as you keep the design simple and let precut fabric do the hard work for you.
In this tutorial, I'll walk you through a layer cake throw quilt that goes from fabric stack to finished binding in a single day. It uses just 36 squares, straight seams and simple straight-line quilting, so it's a great project for beginners or anyone who needs a quick gift.
What You'll Need
This layout uses a 6 x 6 grid of 10" squares and finishes at about 57" x 57", a cozy throw size.
- 1 layer cake (10" precut squares, usually 42 per pack). You'll use 36.
- Backing fabric, about 3 1/2 yards
- Batting, at least 63" x 63"
- 1/2 yard of fabric for binding (six 2 1/2" strips)
- Rotary cutter, mat and ruler
- Basting pins or spray baste
- Walking foot (helpful for straight-line quilting)
Step-by-Step: How to Make an Easy Quilt in a Day
Step 1: Choose and lay out your squares
Pick 36 squares from your layer cake and set the extras aside for the backing or another project. Lay the squares out in six rows of six until you like how the colors are spread across the quilt.
Step 2: Sew the squares into rows
Sew the six squares in each row together with a 1/4" seam. Press the seams in alternating directions from row to row so they nest neatly in the next step.
Step 3: Join the rows
Sew the rows together, matching the seams as you go. Press, and your quilt top is done.
Step 4: Make your quilt sandwich
Layer the backing (right side down), batting and quilt top (right side up). Smooth everything flat and baste with pins, glue or spray adhesive. If you're new to this, our guide on how to baste a quilt walks you through it.
Step 5: Quilt it
To finish in one day, stick to a simple design such as stitch-in-the-ditch or straight lines. A walking foot keeps the layers from shifting.
Step 6: Bind the quilt
Trim the excess batting and backing, then attach your binding. This is the last step, so take your time. The binding protects the raw edges and gives the quilt a clean frame. See our beginner's guide to binding a quilt for step-by-step help.
Tips for Finishing Your Quilt in One Day
- Cut nothing you don't have to. Precuts like layer cakes, charm packs and jelly rolls skip most of the cutting time.
- Chain piece. Feed pairs of squares through the machine one after another without cutting the thread. It saves a surprising amount of time.
- Keep the quilting simple. Straight lines spaced 2" to 3" apart look modern and go fast.
- Use machine binding. Stitching the binding down by machine is much quicker than hand finishing.
- Pick a smaller size. A baby quilt or throw is realistic in a day. Anything larger is better spread over a weekend.
Final Thoughts
An easy quilt in a day is all about smart shortcuts: precut fabric, a simple grid and straight-line quilting. Once you've made this one, you'll have the confidence to try other quick designs.
Looking for your next quick project? Browse our 16 easy quilts you can make in a day for more simple patterns.
