I was scouring the internet trying to find a good sized quilt for a child and I came up empty. I have previously shared that I love to make and donate quilts to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children and I really wanted something that seemed more purposeful in size. This quilt came to me as I was working with 16 patches that had been sent to me by a friend (Hi, Kristen P!) for the purpose of making a quilt for Shriner’s and I could not love it more. She made the 16 patches for my V and Co version (below). It has been really rainy and gloomy lately and I apologize for the dark photos….. but such is life!

This quilt uses most of 1 Layer Cake (10″ squares) and finishes around 49″ x 65″, which is truly PERFECT for kids. I made one version which uses an additional 4-patch surrounded by white and another version that uses (1) 4-1/2″ square instead of the 4-patch because I like the option of less work. 🙂 Here’s how to make one of your own:

Materials:

1 Layer Cake (10″ squares)

1-1/4 yards of background (I used white)

Cutting:

Choose 24 layer cake squares that will become your 16 patch blocks. Cut them into (64) 2.5″ x 10″ strips.

Cut (3) 4.5″x WOF strips of background. Subcut into (48) 2.5″ x 4.5″ strips.

Cut (3) 8.5″ x WOF strips of background. Subcut into (48) 2.5″ x 8.5″ strips.

If you are making additional 4-patches, then you will need to cut (96) 2.5″ x 2.5″ squares from your remaining layer cake squares to make up the 4-patches.

If you are making a solid center print for block type 2, then you will need to cut (24) 4.5″ x 4.5″ squares.

Block Type 1:  (16 patch)

Sew (1) 2.5″ x 10″ strip to (1) 2.5″ x 10″ strip. Repeat for all of the remaining (62) 2.5″ x 10″ strips.

Sew 2 of these strip sets together to make 1 set of 4. Repeat until you have 24 units.

Cut each 4 strip unit into 2.5″ strips.

Sew 2 of these patchwork strip units together, then sew together into a 16-patch block. Repeat until you have (24) 16-patch blocks, or block type 1.

Block Type 2:

If you opted to make 4-patch centers, sew your 2.5″ pieces together until you have (24) 4-patches. If you opted for 4.5″ squares, here is where you start as well.

Sew (1) 2.5″ x 4.5″ background piece onto each side of the center unit (whether it’s a 4-patch or a 4.5″ print piece)

Sew (1) 2.5″ x 8.5″ background piece onto the top and bottom of this unit.

Repeat for all 24 blocks of Block Type 2.

Assembly:

Lay out your quilt, alternating between Block Type 1 and Block Type 2. Lay it out with 6 blocks per row, making 8 rows. Sew each row together and press your seams in opposite directions so your rows nest.