When I think back on my children’s early years, I remember that quilts were a big part of their daily lives. Quilts made for snuggling became fort quilts and backyard picnic quilts. I also remember how often a quilt became a play mat where Luke would line up his trucks, cars, tractors and action figures and let his imagination go to town.
My newest quilt pattern, Let’s Play, was designed to feature inspiring juvenile fabrics and encourage play. It’s fat quarter friendly and finishes at 48” x 57”, the perfect size for a child’s quilt. From the adventure inspired fabric to the linear, roadmap like layout of the pattern, Let’s Play was inspired by my son, Luke.
For this quilt, I selected a collection called “Greatest Adventure” by Cinderberry Stitches for Riley Blake Designs. I had been saving a group of fat quarters from this collection for a couple of years, just waiting for the right quilt pattern to come to mind. Luke is a young man now, but I know for certain that he would have loved this quilt when he was a boy. He would have enjoyed the plucky little characters and the tiny word messages.
Let’s Play is a fat quarter friendly pattern. Begin with two dominant color prints (I chose red and navy blue) that will create the intersecting grid or roadmap effect. Then select seven additional coordinating fat quarters to be your feature fabrics. Look for prints that tell a story with pictures.
Binding: The sample shows scrappy binding cut from 2 1/4” strips from the remainder of the fat quarters. (Cutting instructions for scrappy binding are noted in the pattern.) Otherwise, 1/2 yard is required to bind the quilt.
Great quilt and pattern. Also, took me back to our chidhood and my brothers playing with their trucks and cars.
Super cool pattern – I can see how it would work as a play mat (my son would have loved it too). It looks great in these fabrics; definitely a good pattern for showing off feature fabrics. Well done!
Beautiful Taunja! Reminds me of a peek-a-boo quilt with all those fun prints peeking out from all the different rectangles and squares. Lovely design.
Thanks Nelda! Good memories! 🙂
Thanks so much! I really look forward to making it again with another fun set of youth fabrics. It's a nice feeling to know that you are making a quilt that will bring happiness to a child!
Thanks Sigi! I really do think kids would sit (or lay) on this quilt and look at all of the little details . . . the boy wearing the cape, the sweet little dog, all of the messages. Children are so good about noticing details!
This is a very attractive mat and a beautiful idea for play.
Thanks so much Rosemary!