Easy Plus Quilt Pattern and Tutorial (3 versions!)
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Greetings! I have a fun new quilt pattern to share with you today: an Easy Plus Quilt Pattern.
The free quilt pattern is made piecing only 5-inch squares, so it is super fast to assemble and is perfect for a beginner quilter or someone who just likes a quick and easy project. Even better, I made three different versions/arrangements of the plus quilt. So choose the pattern you like best and grab your copy today!
New Quilt Pattern for Fall
Can you believe it is already a week into September!!!
In my mind, September feels like it should be fall, but I know in my heart that we have at least another 30 days of 95 to 100-degree weather. The good news is, I finally learned how to drive and back my hubby’s huge Ram 3500 dually down the boat ramp, and now I can go paddle boarding whenever I want! Or at least until the water gets too cold. (The paddleboards we have are 40lbs, so it’s too much for me to carry all the way down to the water on my own. You can see me on my paddleboard here.)
Even though it’s hot outside, my thoughts have already turned to pumpkin spiced lattes (iced, lol) and all things Halloween!
I stumbled across this adorable precut set recently and had to buy it! I love all things Halloween and the fabric colors in this set are everything I love. (Well almost everything, just missing a little pink!)
After getting the precuts home and playing with them a bit, I decided to use them in a plus quilt.
I love plus quilts, they are simple to make and allow you to use a variety of fabrics. So absolutely perfect for my new Halloween fabrics.
Simple plus quilt Pattern
This easy-to-make quilt pattern is a modern take on the fast and easy plus quilt.
- Beginner-friendly – The plus quilt is made entirely of 5-inch squares and is super easy and fast to put together.
- Precut friendly –
- You can use charm packs, (depending on the variety of prints, you may need up to 3 charm packs to have enough of the same print to make the plusses, plus a solid charm pack for versions 1 and 3.)
- 1 to 2 layer cakes Cut into 4 5-inch squares. Just look through the fabric and make sure you have at least 19 duplicate prints. (Although you can repeat prints if needed.) Or 1 fat quarter set.
- Fat quarters also work great as they are large enough to get as many 5 inch squares as you need.
- Lap Size – Lap size quilts are perfect for seasonal quilts to be used as decor or couch snuggling. The fabric requirements and templates I provided are for lap size, but these patterns are easily made into larger or smaller sizes. For larger, just keep adding squares. (If you use a fat quarter set, you will easily have enough print fabric for a much larger quilt. To make it smaller, just cut your squares to a smaller size.
- Free pdf quilt pattern template – available to print, all three versions.
I’ve actually had this quilt top and the template finished for several weeks now, but I’ve been dragging my feet on getting it posted. I just wasn’t sure the best way to present it since I had a couple of different versions to include.
Luckily they are quite simple and in the end, I have just included the pdf pattern / template and fabric requirements along with any specialized instructions in a list format below.
3 Versions of the Plus Quilt
There are 3 versions of this free pattern available. The first (the one I made for this post), is a plus surrounded by white squares, the second uses the same plus shape, but the white squares are removed, and the third (I call plusses in a row) is put together by making plus “blocks” and sewing them together in a row.
Just choose the version that appeals most and get sewing!
Quilt Details
- Fabric used: Spooky Hollow Fat Quarter set, Kona Cotton, white (yardage, charm pack or layer cake will work)
- Finished size:
- Version 1- Easy Plus Quilt: 55.5 by 60, including binding. (version I made)
- Version 2 – Random Plusses: 55..5 by 60, including binding.
- Version 3 – Plusses in a Row: 55.5 by 55.5, including binding.
Free Plus Quilt Pattern Tips
- This pattern is composed of 5-inch squares so it’s compatible with charm packs, layer cakes, and fat quarter sets.
- One caveat to keep in mind when putting together the plus quilt, is that each “plus” is made of 5 squares, so you need to make sure you’ll have enough duplicate prints of each color to complete a plus.
- As an example, the layer cake of the Spooky Hollow line I used DID NOT have enough duplicates to complete all the plusses, which I was unaware of until too late, so ended up having to order more fabric to finish my quilt. (I picked up a fat quarter set, so I now have enough leftovers to make a few mini-size versions for pillows, lol.)
- This pattern requires19, 24 or 16 (version 1, 2, 3) colored/patterned pluses and a solid accent color. (Depending on the version and you can duplicate the colors if needed.)
- Another tip to keep in mind when using precuts is don’t mix manufacturers. The reason is basically, precuts are not cut the same across different manufacturers. As an example, the Kona layer cakes are a smidge over 10 inches and Riley Blake layer cakes are cut smaller than 10 inches. So if you end up mixing manufacturers, you will have to trim every square!
Quilting/backing binding suggestions:
For my quilt, I will do solid orange for the binding, but I am still up in the air about the backing. I have 3 choices that I can pull from my stash. Purple polka dot, black tone on tone, or a fun orange print. I am leaning towards the purple. What would your choice be?
For the actual quilting of the plus quilt, I will be doing straight line quilting, 1/4 inch from the seams. I will be attempting to quilt this on my new long arm machine, using a ruler. Wish me luck, lol.
Where do I get the Pattern?
The link for the pattern template is under materials needed. Click the link, add the pattern to your cart and check out. (takes about 15 seconds for the process.) A copy of the pattern will be emailed to you.
Ready to make a plus quilt?
Read on for the fabric amounts, sewing instructions, and template.
Pin this project for later
How To make a Plus quilt
(version 1 – Easy Plus Quilt)
Materials Needed for the Easy Plus Quilt
- Plus Quilt Pattern Template
- Fabric
- 97 patterned 5-inch squares – 19 patterns/plusses (ok to duplicate a few)+ two extra of any pattern
- 59 solid 5-inch squares
- 3 3/4 yard for backing
- 1/2 yard for binding
- Ruler
- Rotary Cutter/ Cutting Mat
- iron
- basic sewing supplies
Plus Quilt Sewing Instructions (version 1)
- Cut fabric squares. (97 patterned 5-inch squares and 59 solid 5-inch squares)
- Line the squares up according to the pattern template.
- For best results, sew the squares together two at a time, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
- Then sew rows together two at a time, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
- Quilt and Bind as desired.
(version 2 – Random Plusses)
Materials Needed for Random Plusses Quilt
- Fabric
- 122 patterned 5-inch squares – 24 patterns/plusses (ok to duplicate a few)+ two extra of any pattern
- 34 solid 5-inch squares
- 3 3/4 yard for backing
- 1/2 yard for binding
- Pattern template
- Ruler
- Rotary Cutter/ Cutting Mat
- iron
- basic sewing supplies
Plus Quilt Sewing Instructions (version 2 – Random Plusses)
- Cut fabric squares. (122 patterned 5-inch squares and 24 solid 5-inch squares)
- Line the squares up according to the pattern template.
- For best results, sew the squares together two at a time, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
- Then sew rows together two at a time.
- Quilt and Bind the plus quilt as desired.
(version 3 – Plusses in a row)
Materials Needed for Plusses in a row Quilt
- Fabric
- 80 patterned 5-inch squares – 24 patterns/plusses
- 64 solid 5-inch squares
- 3 1/2yard for backing
- 1/2 yard for binding
- Pattern Template
- Ruler
- Rotary Cutter/ Cutting Mat
- iron
- basic sewing supplies
Plus Quilt Sewing Instructions (version 3)
- Cut fabric squares. (80 patterned 5-inch squares and 64 solid 5-inch squares)
- Piece together the plus quilt block, (5 patterned squares and 4 solids.) using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Keep going until you have 16 finished plus blocks.
- Sew blocks together 2 at a time. Then sew rows together.
- Quilt and Bind as desired.
Variations on the Plusses in a Row Quilt pattern
Another option for this last version of the plus quilt would be to add a 2.5-inch strips of sashing around each block and another strip of sashing in between each row.
For a finished quilt like this:
That’s it!
Enjoy making these quilts!
Did You Make a Plus Quilt?
Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or a review in the comments section below. If you share an image on Instagram, be sure to tag me and use #scatteredmompatterns! You can also share an image to my private Facebook sewing group!
Don't miss any more posts!
Follow along on:
Feedly, Bloglovin', your favorite feed reader, or signing up via email and have new posts delivered to your email box each week!Easy Plus Quilt Instructions
Easy-to-make free plus quilt pattern is a modern take on the fast and easy plus quilt. This beginner-friendly quilt pattern comes together super fast so you can enjoy your creation immediately. The pdf pattern is available as a lap size quilt with three different versions! Choose the one you like best and get to quilting!
Materials
- Plus Quilt Pattern Template
- Fabric: (for exact amounts, see above)
- Ruler
- Rotary Cutter/ Cutting Mat
- iron
- basic sewing supplies
Instructions
Plus Quilt Sewing Instructions (Version 1 - Easy Plus Quilt)
- Cut fabric squares. (97 patterned 5-inch squares and 59 solid 5-inch squares)
- Line the squares up according to the pattern template.
- For best results, sew the squares together two at a time.
- Then sew rows together two at a time.
- Quilt and Bind as desired.
Plus Quilt Sewing Instructions (Version 2 – Random Plusses)
- Cut fabric squares. (122 patterned 5-inch squares and 24 solid 5-inch squares)
- Line the squares up according to the pattern template.
- For best results, sew the squares together two at a time.
- Then sew rows together two at a time.
- Quilt and Bind as desired.
Plus Quilt Sewing Instructions (Version 3 - Plusses in a Row)
- Cut fabric squares. (80 patterned 5-inch squares and 64 solid 5-inch squares)
- Piece together blocks. (5 patterned squares and 4 solids.)
- Sew blocks together 2 at a time. Then sew rows together.
- Quilt and Bind as desired.
