Quiltspiration

Mariner's Compass quilt pattern

16" compasses of sixteen points each, set with 2" sashing. Every point and background wedge is a template piece, so it is a project for foundation paper piecing or careful hand piecing.

The queen size is 98" × 116" with 30 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.

Mariner's Compass quilt sizes
SizeFinishedBlocksTop fabric
Crib44" × 62"65¾ yd
Throw62" × 80"1210 yd
Twin62" × 98"1512½ yd
Full80" × 98"2016 yd
Queen98" × 116"3023 yd
King116" × 116"3627¼ yd

The Mariner's Compass block page has the cutting for single blocks in four sizes and the piecing step by step, with a drawing of every unit.

Mariner's Compass quilt, queen size, 98" × 116"
Queen, 98" × 116"

Crib Mariner's Compass quilt, 44" × 62"

6 blocks of 16", 3 rows of 2 with 2" sashing, 3" border.

Mariner's Compass quilt, crib size, 44" × 62"
Fabric for the crib size
Main, Sashing, BorderNavy sprig tree3¼ yd
BackgroundCream solid1½ yd
Centers, Cornerstones, BindingGold tonal1 yd
Backing2 panels 52" long, seams across; or 1½ yd of 108" wide3 yd
Batting72" × 90"Twin

Cutting

  • Main, Sashing, Border: Cut 4 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 24 pieces from Mariner's Compass template A. Cut 4 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 48 pieces from Mariner's Compass template C. Cut 6 strips 8½" × WOF. Cut 24 pieces from Mariner's Compass template G. Cut 9 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 17 strips 2½" × 16½". Cut 5 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 56½" and 2 at 44½".
  • Background: Cut 7 strips 3⅜" × WOF. Cut 48 pieces from Mariner's Compass template B. Cut 7 strips 3½" × WOF. Cut 48 pieces from Mariner's Compass template D.
  • Centers, Cornerstones, Binding: Cut 3 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 24 pieces from Mariner's Compass template E. Cut 1 strips 5" × WOF. Cut 6 pieces from Mariner's Compass template F. Cut 1 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 12 squares 2½". Cut 6 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 224" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 6 Mariner's Compass blocks, 16" finished (16½" with seam allowance). That takes 6 Mariner's Compass blocks.
  2. Sew 3 rows of 2 blocks with a sashing strip between the blocks and at both ends. Sew 4 sashing rows of 2 strips and 3 cornerstones. Join the rows, starting and ending with a sashing row.
  3. Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (52" × 70"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Throw Mariner's Compass quilt, 62" × 80"

12 blocks of 16", 4 rows of 3 with 2" sashing, 3" border.

Mariner's Compass quilt, throw size, 62" × 80"
Fabric for the throw size
Main, Sashing, BorderNavy sprig tree5½ yd
BackgroundCream solid3 yd
Centers, Cornerstones, BindingGold tonal1½ yd
Backing2 panels 88" long, seams down; or 2 yd of 108" wide5 yd
Batting72" × 90"Twin

Cutting

  • Main, Sashing, Border: Cut 7 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 48 pieces from Mariner's Compass template A. Cut 7 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 96 pieces from Mariner's Compass template C. Cut 12 strips 8½" × WOF. Cut 48 pieces from Mariner's Compass template G. Cut 2 strips 16½" × WOF. Subcut 31 strips 2½" × 16½". Cut 7 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 74½" and 2 at 62½".
  • Background: Cut 14 strips 3⅜" × WOF. Cut 96 pieces from Mariner's Compass template B. Cut 14 strips 3½" × WOF. Cut 96 pieces from Mariner's Compass template D.
  • Centers, Cornerstones, Binding: Cut 6 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 48 pieces from Mariner's Compass template E. Cut 2 strips 5" × WOF. Cut 12 pieces from Mariner's Compass template F. Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 20 squares 2½". Cut 8 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 296" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 12 Mariner's Compass blocks, 16" finished (16½" with seam allowance). That takes 12 Mariner's Compass blocks.
  2. Sew 4 rows of 3 blocks with a sashing strip between the blocks and at both ends. Sew 5 sashing rows of 3 strips and 4 cornerstones. Join the rows, starting and ending with a sashing row.
  3. Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (70" × 88"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Twin Mariner's Compass quilt, 62" × 98"

15 blocks of 16", 5 rows of 3 with 2" sashing, 3" border.

Mariner's Compass quilt, twin size, 62" × 98"
Fabric for the twin size
Main, Sashing, BorderNavy sprig tree7 yd
BackgroundCream solid4 yd
Centers, Cornerstones, BindingGold tonal1½ yd
Backing3 panels 70" long, seams across; or 2 yd of 108" wide6 yd
Batting90" × 108"Queen

Cutting

  • Main, Sashing, Border: Cut 9 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 60 pieces from Mariner's Compass template A. Cut 9 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 120 pieces from Mariner's Compass template C. Cut 15 strips 8½" × WOF. Cut 60 pieces from Mariner's Compass template G. Cut 19 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 38 strips 2½" × 16½". Cut 8 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 92½" and 2 at 62½".
  • Background: Cut 18 strips 3⅜" × WOF. Cut 120 pieces from Mariner's Compass template B. Cut 18 strips 3½" × WOF. Cut 120 pieces from Mariner's Compass template D.
  • Centers, Cornerstones, Binding: Cut 7 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 60 pieces from Mariner's Compass template E. Cut 2 strips 5" × WOF. Cut 15 pieces from Mariner's Compass template F. Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 24 squares 2½". Cut 8 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 332" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 15 Mariner's Compass blocks, 16" finished (16½" with seam allowance). That takes 15 Mariner's Compass blocks.
  2. Sew 5 rows of 3 blocks with a sashing strip between the blocks and at both ends. Sew 6 sashing rows of 3 strips and 4 cornerstones. Join the rows, starting and ending with a sashing row.
  3. Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (70" × 106"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Full Mariner's Compass quilt, 80" × 98"

20 blocks of 16", 5 rows of 4 with 2" sashing, 3" border.

Mariner's Compass quilt, full size, 80" × 98"
Fabric for the full size
Main, Sashing, BorderNavy sprig tree9¼ yd
BackgroundCream solid5 yd
Centers, Cornerstones, BindingGold tonal1¾ yd
Backing3 panels 88" long, seams across; or 2½ yd of 108" wide7½ yd
Batting90" × 108"Queen

Cutting

  • Main, Sashing, Border: Cut 12 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 80 pieces from Mariner's Compass template A. Cut 12 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 160 pieces from Mariner's Compass template C. Cut 20 strips 8½" × WOF. Cut 80 pieces from Mariner's Compass template G. Cut 25 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 49 strips 2½" × 16½". Cut 9 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 92½" and 2 at 80½".
  • Background: Cut 23 strips 3⅜" × WOF. Cut 160 pieces from Mariner's Compass template B. Cut 23 strips 3½" × WOF. Cut 160 pieces from Mariner's Compass template D.
  • Centers, Cornerstones, Binding: Cut 9 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 80 pieces from Mariner's Compass template E. Cut 3 strips 5" × WOF. Cut 20 pieces from Mariner's Compass template F. Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 30 squares 2½". Cut 9 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 368" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 20 Mariner's Compass blocks, 16" finished (16½" with seam allowance). That takes 20 Mariner's Compass blocks.
  2. Sew 5 rows of 4 blocks with a sashing strip between the blocks and at both ends. Sew 6 sashing rows of 4 strips and 5 cornerstones. Join the rows, starting and ending with a sashing row.
  3. Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (88" × 106"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Queen Mariner's Compass quilt, 98" × 116"

30 blocks of 16", 6 rows of 5 with 2" sashing, 3" border.

Mariner's Compass quilt, queen size, 98" × 116"
Fabric for the queen size
Main, Sashing, BorderNavy sprig tree13 yd
BackgroundCream solid7½ yd
Centers, Cornerstones, BindingGold tonal2½ yd
Backing3 panels 106" long, seams across; or 3½ yd of 108" wide9 yd
Batting120" × 120"King

Cutting

  • Main, Sashing, Border: Cut 18 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 120 pieces from Mariner's Compass template A. Cut 18 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 240 pieces from Mariner's Compass template C. Cut 30 strips 8½" × WOF. Cut 120 pieces from Mariner's Compass template G. Cut 5 strips 16½" × WOF. Subcut 71 strips 2½" × 16½". Cut 10 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 110½" and 2 at 98½".
  • Background: Cut 35 strips 3⅜" × WOF. Cut 240 pieces from Mariner's Compass template B. Cut 35 strips 3½" × WOF. Cut 240 pieces from Mariner's Compass template D.
  • Centers, Cornerstones, Binding: Cut 14 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 120 pieces from Mariner's Compass template E. Cut 4 strips 5" × WOF. Cut 30 pieces from Mariner's Compass template F. Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 42 squares 2½". Cut 11 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 440" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 30 Mariner's Compass blocks, 16" finished (16½" with seam allowance). That takes 30 Mariner's Compass blocks.
  2. Sew 6 rows of 5 blocks with a sashing strip between the blocks and at both ends. Sew 7 sashing rows of 5 strips and 6 cornerstones. Join the rows, starting and ending with a sashing row.
  3. Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (106" × 124"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

King Mariner's Compass quilt, 116" × 116"

36 blocks of 16", 6 rows of 6 with 2" sashing, 3" border.

Mariner's Compass quilt, king size, 116" × 116"
Fabric for the king size
Main, Sashing, BorderNavy sprig tree15½ yd
BackgroundCream solid9 yd
Centers, Cornerstones, BindingGold tonal2¾ yd
Backing3 panels 124" long, seams across; or 7 yd of 108" wide10½ yd
Batting120" × 120"King

Cutting

  • Main, Sashing, Border: Cut 21 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 144 pieces from Mariner's Compass template A. Cut 21 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 288 pieces from Mariner's Compass template C. Cut 36 strips 8½" × WOF. Cut 144 pieces from Mariner's Compass template G. Cut 6 strips 16½" × WOF. Subcut 84 strips 2½" × 16½". Cut 11 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 110½" and 2 at 116½".
  • Background: Cut 42 strips 3⅜" × WOF. Cut 288 pieces from Mariner's Compass template B. Cut 42 strips 3½" × WOF. Cut 288 pieces from Mariner's Compass template D.
  • Centers, Cornerstones, Binding: Cut 16 strips 1⅜" × WOF. Cut 144 pieces from Mariner's Compass template E. Cut 5 strips 5" × WOF. Cut 36 pieces from Mariner's Compass template F. Cut 4 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 49 squares 2½". Cut 12 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 476" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 36 Mariner's Compass blocks, 16" finished (16½" with seam allowance). That takes 36 Mariner's Compass blocks.
  2. Sew 6 rows of 6 blocks with a sashing strip between the blocks and at both ends. Sew 7 sashing rows of 6 strips and 7 cornerstones. Join the rows, starting and ending with a sashing row.
  3. Add the 3" border: measure through the middle of the quilt, sew strips to the sides first, then to the top and bottom.
  4. Layer the backing (124" × 124"), 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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