Rail fence baby quilt pattern
Three 2½" strips of soft solids cut into 7½" squares and turned to zigzag. Strip sets make it one of the fastest baby quilts to sew.
The queen size is 88.5" × 111" with 154 blocks. Each size below has its own fabric list, cutting and backing, worked out for 42" fabric with ¼" seams, 10% extra and yardage rounded up to the next ¼ yard.
| Size | Finished | Blocks | Top fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crib | 43.5" × 58.5" | 35 | 3½ yd |
| Throw | 58.5" × 73.5" | 63 | 5¼ yd |
| Twin | 73.5" × 88.5" | 99 | 7¾ yd |
| Full | 81" × 96" | 120 | 8½ yd |
| Queen | 88.5" × 111" | 154 | 10¼ yd |
| King | 111" × 111" | 196 | 12¾ yd |
The Rail Fence block page has the cutting for single blocks in four sizes and the piecing step by step, with a drawing of every unit.
Crib Rail Fence Baby quilt, 43.5" × 58.5"
35 blocks of 7½", 7 rows of 5, 3" border.
 | Main, BorderRose solid | 1½ yd |
 | BackgroundWhite solid | ¾ yd |
 | Centers, BindingFog solid | 1¼ yd |
| Backing2 panels 51.5" long, seams across; or 1½ yd of 108" wide | 3 yd | |
| Batting72" × 90" | Twin |
Cutting
- Main, Border: Cut 3 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 35 strips 3" × 8". Cut 5 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 53" and 2 at 44".
- Background: Cut 3 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 35 strips 3" × 8".
- Centers, Binding: Cut 3 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 35 strips 3" × 8". Cut 6 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 216" strip.
Putting it together
- Make 35 Rail Fence blocks, 7½" finished (8" with seam allowance). That takes 35 Rail Fence blocks.
- Lay out the blocks in 7 rows of 5, turned as shown. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
- Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
- Layer the backing (51.5" × 66.5"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.
Throw Rail Fence Baby quilt, 58.5" × 73.5"
63 blocks of 7½", 9 rows of 7, 3" border.
| Main, BorderRose solid | 2 yd |
| BackgroundWhite solid | 1¼ yd |
| Centers, BindingFog solid | 2 yd |
| Backing2 panels 66.5" long, seams across; or 2 yd of 108" wide | 3¾ yd | |
| Batting72" × 90" | Twin |
Cutting
- Main, Border: Cut 5 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 63 strips 3" × 8". Cut 7 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 68" and 2 at 59".
- Background: Cut 5 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 63 strips 3" × 8".
- Centers, Binding: Cut 5 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 63 strips 3" × 8". Cut 7 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 276" strip.
Putting it together
- Make 63 Rail Fence blocks, 7½" finished (8" with seam allowance). That takes 63 Rail Fence blocks.
- Lay out the blocks in 9 rows of 7, turned as shown. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
- Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
- Layer the backing (66.5" × 81.5"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.
Twin Rail Fence Baby quilt, 73.5" × 88.5"
99 blocks of 7½", 11 rows of 9, 3" border.
| Main, BorderRose solid | 3 yd |
| BackgroundWhite solid | 2 yd |
| Centers, BindingFog solid | 2¾ yd |
| Backing2 panels 96.5" long, seams down; or 2½ yd of 108" wide | 5½ yd | |
| Batting90" × 108" | Queen |
Cutting
- Main, Border: Cut 8 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 99 strips 3" × 8". Cut 8 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 83" and 2 at 74".
- Background: Cut 8 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 99 strips 3" × 8".
- Centers, Binding: Cut 8 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 99 strips 3" × 8". Cut 8 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 336" strip.
Putting it together
- Make 99 Rail Fence blocks, 7½" finished (8" with seam allowance). That takes 99 Rail Fence blocks.
- Lay out the blocks in 11 rows of 9, turned as shown. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
- Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
- Layer the backing (81.5" × 96.5"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.
Full Rail Fence Baby quilt, 81" × 96"
120 blocks of 7½", 12 rows of 10, 3" border.
| Main, BorderRose solid | 3¼ yd |
| BackgroundWhite solid | 2¼ yd |
| Centers, BindingFog solid | 3 yd |
| Backing3 panels 89" long, seams across; or 2½ yd of 108" wide | 7½ yd | |
| Batting90" × 108" | Queen |
Cutting
- Main, Border: Cut 9 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 120 strips 3" × 8". Cut 9 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 90½" and 2 at 81½".
- Background: Cut 9 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 120 strips 3" × 8".
- Centers, Binding: Cut 9 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 120 strips 3" × 8". Cut 9 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 366" strip.
Putting it together
- Make 120 Rail Fence blocks, 7½" finished (8" with seam allowance). That takes 120 Rail Fence blocks.
- Lay out the blocks in 12 rows of 10, turned as shown. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
- Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
- Layer the backing (89" × 104"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.
Queen Rail Fence Baby quilt, 88.5" × 111"
154 blocks of 7½", 14 rows of 11, 3" border.
| Main, BorderRose solid | 4 yd |
| BackgroundWhite solid | 2¾ yd |
| Centers, BindingFog solid | 3½ yd |
| Backing3 panels 96.5" long, seams across; or 3½ yd of 108" wide | 8¼ yd | |
| Batting120" × 120" | King |
Cutting
- Main, Border: Cut 11 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 154 strips 3" × 8". Cut 10 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 105½" and 2 at 89".
- Background: Cut 11 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 154 strips 3" × 8".
- Centers, Binding: Cut 11 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 154 strips 3" × 8". Cut 10 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 411" strip.
Putting it together
- Make 154 Rail Fence blocks, 7½" finished (8" with seam allowance). That takes 154 Rail Fence blocks.
- Lay out the blocks in 14 rows of 11, turned as shown. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
- Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
- Layer the backing (96.5" × 119"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.
King Rail Fence Baby quilt, 111" × 111"
196 blocks of 7½", 14 rows of 14, 3" border.
| Main, BorderRose solid | 4¾ yd |
| BackgroundWhite solid | 3½ yd |
| Centers, BindingFog solid | 4½ yd |
| Backing3 panels 119" long, seams across; or 6¾ yd of 108" wide | 10 yd | |
| Batting120" × 120" | King |
Cutting
- Main, Border: Cut 14 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 196 strips 3" × 8". Cut 11 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 105½" and 2 at 111½".
- Background: Cut 14 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 196 strips 3" × 8".
- Centers, Binding: Cut 14 strips 8" × WOF. Subcut 196 strips 3" × 8". Cut 11 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 456" strip.
Putting it together
- Make 196 Rail Fence blocks, 7½" finished (8" with seam allowance). That takes 196 Rail Fence blocks.
- Lay out the blocks in 14 rows of 14, turned as shown. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
- Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
- Layer the backing (119" × 119"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.
See this quilt in your own fabric
With the cut list for your size, checked against your stash.
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