New pattern: Next Up, a charm pack or layer cake quilt

Are you looking for a quick and easy pattern for your favorite layer cake or charm pack? My newest pattern, Next Up, is just the ticket. The cutting and piecing is straightforward, but the interesting placement of prints and colors creates a visually pleasing finished quilt.

My pattern includes two size options. The large version (86” x 86”) calls for a layer cake, while the small version (38” x 38”) calls for a charm pack. Let me tell you, the large sized Next Up quilt is an awesome size for snuggling with your honey ~ nice and big. In fact, I had a hard time photographing this generous quilt!



And the smaller sized Next Up quilt would make a lovely table topper, wall hanging or baby quilt. 

Fabric selection for this project is a snap. Once you have chosen your layer cake or charm pack, simply select two coordinating background fabrics and begin! The hardest part might be deciding which pretty square of fabric is “next up” in your layout!

As you can see by the photographs, Next Up is a versatile pattern that really shows off the range of prints in a fabric designer’s collection. In my large sample, I used a layer cake of Chestnut Street by Fig Tree & Company for Moda. The pale blue coordinating fabric is Moda Bella Solid Ruby Ice (9900-169). The neutral in this quilt is Moda Bella Solid Porcelain (9900-182).


In my small sample, I used a charm pack of Farmhouse II by Fig Tree & Company for Moda. The charcoal colored coordinating fabric is Moda’s Cross Weave Black (12119-53). Doesn\’t that black cross weave fabric make the warm and scrappy prints pop? It also adds a very nice texture to the quilt. The neutral fabric in this sample is the cream text print from Farmhouse II.

The machine quilting on both of these projects was done by my friend Barb at Quilts on Broadway in Foley, MN. Please visit her Facebook page to learn more about her business. She’s a gem to work with!
Here are the material requirements for both sizes of Next Up:

Layer Cake Version
Finished size: 86” X 86”
Materials Needed:
1 layer cake (or 42 squares 10” x 10”)
Light blue…………………. 2 5/8 yards
Neutral……………………… 1 1/4 yards
Backing……………………. 7 7/8 yards
Binding…………………….. 3/4 yard
Charm Pack Version
Finished size: 38” X 38”
Materials Needed:
1 charm pack (or 42 squares 5” x 5”)
Cross Weave Black……… 3/4 yard
Neutral……………………… 1/3 yard
Backing……………………. 2 5/8 yards*
Binding…………………….. 3/8 yard
*Note: Check with your long-arm quilter. You may get by with just 1 1/3 yard if 44” wide is acceptable to your quilter. That’s what I was able to do with my quilter, Quilts on Broadway.
Next Up is available as a digital download pattern on my Etsy Shop. The Farmhouse II fabric collection that I used in my smaller quilt will be released by Moda in October. I plan to have a limited number of kits available in the charm pack size. Be sure to follow my blog for more news on that!
Please don\’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Facebook if you make one of my patterns. I love to see your finished quilts!
Thank you, quilting friends, for your ongoing support and encouragement! Now go and get carried away quilting!
~Taunja

11 thoughts on “New pattern: Next Up, a charm pack or layer cake quilt

  1. Love these super cute and lovely patterns, Taunja! Both are beautiful! The darker background really makes the fabrics pop in the smaller version, but the softer blue in the larger quilt is so inviting.

  2. Another beauty to be added to the CAQ pattern collection! I love both colorways and how they each look so different from each other. Of course you can't go wrong with Fig Tree!!!

  3. Hi, I am currently making the small version. I cut my black cross weave per instructions of 8 rectangles 2 1/2 x 10 1/2 (8) now that I am sewing things together the instructions state 2 1/2 by 8 1/2 together with 3 neutral 1 1/2 squares make 4. Should the 2 1/2 x 10 1/2 be the 2 1/2 by 8 1/2 strips? Because nothing in the smaller version calls for 2 1/2 by 10 1/2. Thanks.

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