Patchwork Perfection: Trail Mix Quilt Instructions - Quilts With Love

Fabric scraps can hold a lot of sentimental value. Each piece often carries a memory or a story, a remnant of past projects and moments spent crafting. If you have a stash of these fabric scraps, the Trail Mix quilt is a perfect project to put them to good use. The beauty of the Trail Mix quilt lies in its vibrant patchwork, which combines an assortment of prints to create a stunning, cohesive design.

Quilting has always been a passion of mine. Over the years, I’ve found immense joy in taking bits and pieces of fabric and transforming them into something beautiful and functional. The Trail Mix quilt is one such project that not only showcases the versatility of fabric scraps but also brings a sense of accomplishment. This quilt is designed to be both visually appealing and a great way to use up those cherished fabric remnants.

The Trail Mix quilt, designed by Mabeth Oxenreider and featured in American Patchwork & Quilting, is a celebration of color and creativity. It’s a perfect example of how quilting can be both an art and a practical craft. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of creating your own Trail Mix quilt, step by step. Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just starting out, this project is sure to inspire and delight.

The Art of Scraps: Creating the Trail Mix Quilt

The Trail Mix quilt is a vibrant mosaic of light, medium, and dark prints, all coming together to form a harmonious whole. Each block, whether a Four-Patch, Double Four-Patch, Triple Four-Patch, Double Nine-Patch, or Nine-Patch, contributes to the quilt’s overall beauty and complexity. This project not only helps you make use of fabric scraps but also allows you to experiment with different color combinations and patterns.

Materials and Preparation

Before we dive into the steps, let’s gather the materials needed for this project. The Trail Mix quilt is designed with various types of blocks, so having an assortment of prints is key. Below is the detailed list of materials required.

Materials:

Purple Print (Inner Border):

1/2 yard

Gold Print (Middle Border, Piping):

2/3 yard

Green Print (Outer Border, Binding):

2-1/4 yards

Assorted Light, Medium, and Dark Prints (Blocks):

8 yards total

Backing Fabric:

7-1/2 yards

Batting:

90×108 inches

Finished Quilt Size: 84×102 inches

Finished Blocks Size: 6 inches square

Quantities are for 44/45-inch-wide, 100% cotton fabrics. Measurements include 1/4 inch seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Setting the Stage: Tips for a Successful Start

Before you begin cutting and piecing, here are a few tips to ensure your project goes smoothly:

Organize Your Scraps: Separate your fabric scraps into light, medium, and dark prints. This will help you easily select the right pieces for each block.
Accurate Cutting: Use a rotary cutter and ruler to ensure precise cuts. This is crucial for the blocks to align correctly.
Pressing Seams: Press your seams as you go. This will help the blocks lay flat and make the assembly process easier.
Test Your Seam Allowance: Sew a test seam to check that your 1/4 inch seam allowance is accurate. This consistency is important for the blocks to fit together properly.

Full Pattern: Click Here

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cut Fabrics

Cut the border, piping, and binding pieces first. The cutting instructions for individual blocks will follow in each section.

From Purple Print, cut:

9 strips, 1-1/2×42 inches (inner border)

From Gold Print, cut:

9 strips, 1-1/4×42 inches (middle border)
10 strips, 3/4×42 inches (piping)

From Green Print, cut:

10 strips, 4-1/2×42 inches (outer border)
10 strips, 2-1/2×42 inches (binding)

Cut and Assemble Four-Patch Blocks

From Assorted Prints, cut:

4 squares, 3-1/2 inches

Sew Pairs Together:
- Sew together squares in pairs. Press seams in opposite directions.
Create Four-Patch Block:
- Sew the pairs together to make a Four-Patch block. Press seam in one direction. The block should be 6-1/2 inches square including seam allowances.

Repeat the cutting instructions and Step 1 to make 32 Four-Patch blocks total.

Cut and Assemble Double Four-Patch Blocks

From Assorted Prints, cut:

2 squares, 3-1/2 inches
8 squares, 2 inches

Make Four-Patch Units:
- Join four 2-inch squares in pairs. Press seams in opposite directions.
- Sew pairs together to make a Four-Patch unit. Press seam in one direction. The unit should be 3-1/2 inches square including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second Four-Patch unit.
Assemble Double Four-Patch Block:
- Sew together two 3-1/2 inch squares and two Four-Patch units in pairs. Press seams toward 3-1/2 inch squares.
- Join pairs to make a Double Four-Patch block. Press seam in one direction. The block should be 6-1/2 inches square including seam allowances.

Repeat the cutting instructions and steps 1 and 2 to make 38 Double Four-Patch blocks total.

Cut and Assemble Triple Four-Patch Blocks

From One Assorted Print, cut:

2 squares, 3-1/2 inches
4 squares, 2 inches

From One Medium or Dark Print, cut:

1 strip, 1-1/4×12 inches

From One Light Print, cut:

1 strip, 1-1/4×12 inches

Create Strip Set:
- Aligning long edges, sew together the medium or dark print 1-1/4×12 inch strip and the light print 1-1/4×12 inch strip to make a strip set. Press seam toward darker strip. Cut strip set into eight 1-1/4 inch-wide segments.
Make Four-Patch Units:
- Sew together two Step 1 segments to make a Four-Patch unit. The unit should be 2 inches square including seam allowances. Repeat to make four Four-Patch units total.
Assemble Double Four-Patch Units:
- Sew together two Four-Patch units and two 2-inch squares in pairs. Press seams toward 2-inch squares.
- Join pairs to make a Double Four-Patch unit. Press seam in one direction. The unit should be 3-1/2 inches square including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second Double Four-Patch unit.
Assemble Triple Four-Patch Block:
- Sew together two Double Four-Patch units and two 3-1/2 inch squares in pairs. Press seams toward 3-1/2 inch squares.
- Join pairs to make a Triple Four-Patch block. Press seam in one direction. The block should be 6-1/2 inches square including seam allowances.

Repeat the cutting instructions and steps 1 through 4 to make 44 Triple Four-Patch blocks total.

Cut and Assemble Double Nine-Patch Blocks

From One Medium or Dark Print, cut:

4 squares, 1-1/2 inches

From Each of Two Medium or Dark Prints and Two Light Prints, cut:

2 squares, 1-1/4 inches

From One Light Print, cut:

5 squares, 1-1/2 inches

From Assorted Prints, cut:

2 squares, 2 inches

From One Assorted Print, cut:

4 rectangles, 2×3-1/2 inches

Make Four-Patch Units:
- Sew together two medium or dark print 1-1/4 inch squares and two light print 1-1/4 inch squares in pairs. Press seams in opposite directions.
- Sew pairs together to make a Four-Patch unit. Press seam in one direction. The unit should be 2 inches square including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second Four-Patch unit.
Assemble Nine-Patch Unit:
- Lay out four medium or dark print 1-1/2 inch squares and five light print 1-1/2 inch squares in three rows. Sew together squares in each row. Press seams toward darker squares.
- Join rows to make a Nine-Patch unit. Press seams in one direction. The unit should be 3-1/2 inches square including seam allowances.
Assemble Double Nine-Patch Block:
- Lay out two 2-inch squares, two Four-Patch units, one Nine-Patch unit, and four 2×3-1/2 inch rectangles in three rows. Sew together pieces in each row. Press seams toward rectangles.
- Join rows to make a Double Nine-Patch block. Press seams in one direction. The block should be 6-1/2 inches square including seam allowances.

Repeat the cutting instructions and steps 1 through 3 to make 24 Double Nine-Patch blocks total.

Cut and Assemble Nine-Patch Blocks

From One Assorted Print, cut:

1 square, 3-1/2 inches
4 squares, 2 inches

From a Second Assorted Print, cut:

4 rectangles, 2×3-1/2 inches

Assemble Nine-Patch Block:
- Lay out four 2-inch squares, the 3-1/2 inch square, and four 2×3-1/2 inch rectangles. Sew together pieces in each row. Press seams toward darker pieces.
- Join rows to make a Nine-Patch block. Press seams in one direction. The block should be 6-1/2 inches square including seam allowances.

Repeat the cutting instructions and Step 1 to make 42 Nine-Patch blocks total.

Assemble Quilt Center

Layout Blocks:
- Lay out 32 Four-Patch blocks, 38 Double Four-Patch blocks, 44 Triple Four-Patch blocks, 24 Double Nine-Patch blocks, and 42 Nine-Patch blocks in 15 horizontal rows.
- Sew together blocks in each row. Press seams in one direction, alternating direction with each row. Join rows to make quilt center. Press seams in one direction. The quilt center should be 72-1/2×90-1/2 inches including seam allowances.

Add Borders

Inner Border:
- Cut and piece purple print 1-1/2×42 inch strips to make:
  - 2 strips, 1-1/2×92-1/2 inches
  - 2 strips, 1-1/2×72-1/2 inches
- Sew short inner border strips to short edges of quilt center. Join long inner border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward inner border.
Middle Border:
- Cut and piece gold print 1-1/4×42 inch strips to make:
  - 2 strips, 1-1/4×94 inches
  - 2 strips, 1-1/4×74-1/2 inches
- Sew short middle border strips to short edges of quilt center. Join long middle border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward middle border.
Outer Border:
- Cut and piece green print 4-1/2×42 inch strips to make:
  - 2 strips, 4-1/2×102 inches
  - 2 strips, 4-1/2×76 inches
- Sew short outer border strips to short edges of quilt center. Join long outer border strips to remaining edges to complete quilt top. Press seams toward outer border.

Finish Quilt

Layer and Baste:
- Layer quilt top, batting, and backing; baste.
Quilting:
- Quilt as desired. Mabeth machine-quilted parallel lines, cables, and swirls across her quilt top, diagonally orienting her stitches along the same lines as the Triple Four-Patch blocks. She extended her designs onto the borders.
Piping:
- Cut and piece gold print 3/4×42 inch strips to make:
  - 1 strip, 3/4×385 inches
- With wrong side inside, fold and press piping strip in half lengthwise to make 3/8 inch-wide piping.
- Aligning raw edges and using a 1/4 inch seam, baste piping to quilt top.
Binding:
- Bind with green print binding strips. Note: About 1/8 inch of the gold piping will show between quilt top and binding edge once binding is turned back.

The Trail Mix quilt is not only a fantastic way to use up your fabric scraps, but it also allows you to create a beautiful and functional piece of art. Each step of the process, from cutting and piecing to quilting and binding, brings you closer to a stunning finished quilt. Enjoy the journey and take pride in the memories and stories your fabric scraps hold. Happy quilting!