My kids each have a quilt that sits on their bed and this is the one that I made for Mr Happy. It is called an I Spy Quilt because there is a collection of novelty prints that encourage kids to look for things or play “I Spy” with it. It is bright and colourful and fun. I made it a couple of years ago but I thought I’d share the pattern. I used a dark navy print between the bright blocks, but this would also look good with a solid colour for the strips or white strips. The strips at the top would also look great in the favourites of your novelty prints or even a border print.
Finished Quilt Size: 121cm x 170cm (47.5″ x 67″)
What You Need
- 30 x 8.5″ (21.5cm) squares of novelty fabrics
- 130cm (50″) dark print for strips
- 50cm (20″) bright yellow for tiny squares
- Note: I also used the bright yellow print for binding my quilt which would require an extra 60cm of fabric
What To Do
- Cut each of your 30 squares in half to create triangles. Lay them out and decide where you want each one. There are 6 rows of 5 squares. I created a couple of diagonal stripes using lights and darks. Once you’re happy with the arrangement, join the triangles to make squares again.
- Cut your dark fabric into 2.5″ strips. Then trim some of the strips into 7.75″ segments. You will need 49 segments.
- Cut your small squares – 2.5″ x 2.5″. You need 20 small squares.
- Lay out your squares, segments and small squares. Join them in rows, then join the rows.
- Add a dark 2.5″ strip around the outside of the whole quilt. Join strips to get the length.
- I added some extra strips at the top of the quilt to make it closer to single bed size. The two yellow strips are cut at 3.5″ and the wide dark strip is 5.5″. Measure the width of your quilt and join strips as needed.
- Finish your quilt with batting and backing, quilting, and binding.
- Don’t forget to add a label.
General Patchwork Tips
- All my seams were quarter of an inch
- Press seams as you go
- Accurate cutting is really important – best to use a rotary cutter and cutting mat.
Love your quilt, I am going to make a I spy book a quilt might be next.
An I Spy book sounds cute – and easy for a child to hold too
That is a great looking quilt! Thanks so much for the tutorial and for making it in a PDF.
You’re welcome, Kate.
I have to admit a secret though: I have a little app that makes it into a PDF for you… shhh…
I’ll be featuring this fantastic idea later today at OneCreativeMommy.com. Please stop by and grab a featured button if you’d like. I hope you’ll be back to link up more great ideas tomorrow.
Thanks, Heidi! I’ll grab a button!
Hi,
I made an I Spy book from a pattern I found online. You can the result on my project site:
http://cathysews.com.au/Album/Kids%20Games/slides/P1060022.html
That is the best I Spy Quilt I have seen, and I can’t wait to make it, hope it turns out as good as yours.
Thank you for your free tutorial.
Iris
Im using 3/4″ seam. Will it all work out ok or do I need to change it to 1/4?
I think it will work, Karla. It will just end up a little smaller because more of the fabric will be in the seam allowance.
This is probably the nicest I Spy quilt I have seen and has given me ideas for my little grand daughter’s Christmas quilt. Thank you!
Thanks Barb. I made it a few years ago now but my boy still has it in his room. It is the kind of quilt they don’t really grow out of quickly.
“30 x 8.5″ (21.5cm) squares of novelty fabrics”– In what world is 30×8 1/2″ a square? Sounds like a long rectangle to me. I like the design, if it has cute prints to spy out or not. Instructions sound like something is missing, to me anyway. Will have to go by pictures to make this when I get a chance.
Shirley, it is made with 8.5″ squares. You need 30 of them. I hope that is clearer for you.
Im making this quilt for my grandson, after u but the triangles back to a square do you sew a blue strip on the end and sew those rows together then make the strips 7.75 and attach to 2.5 inch squares then sew to rows???
Hello hoping to get an answer about the blue strips when you have the square made what blue strips do you put on first.
Hi Rebecca,
Yes – that’s exactly right.
I hope your Grandson enjoys his quilt!
Tonya
So I’m trying to make this quilt. got all the squares put together and they are 8.25″ then how do you get a 7.75 strip to line up?
It was a long time ago that I made this quilt! I’m assuming I must have trimmed the squares down to 7.75″ before I added the strips – sometimes it is called “squaring up” your blocks.
I love my messy sewing room and do lots of quilts and other sewting stuff. love all kinds of informative tutorials…………thanks for sharing this colorful and fun quilt.
Thanks for dropping by, Clare!