Quiltspiration

Spool quilt pattern

6" spools with stitch-and-flip ends and a scrappy thread in the middle, alternating upright and sideways.

The queen size is 90" × 108" with 238 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.

Spool quilt sizes
SizeFinishedBlocksTop fabric
Crib48" × 60"636¼ yd
Throw60" × 72"998½ yd
Twin72" × 90"15412 yd
Full84" × 96"19514 yd
Queen90" × 108"23816½ yd
King108" × 108"28920¼ yd

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

Spool quilt, queen size, 90" × 108"
Queen, 90" × 108"

Crib Spool quilt, 48" × 60"

63 blocks of 6", 9 rows of 7, 3" border.

Spool quilt, crib size, 48" × 60"
Fabric for the crib size
Main, BorderBrown solid2¼ yd
BackgroundCream solid2 yd
Centers5 fabrics, scrappy¼ yd each
Centers, BindingCoral dots¾ yd
Backing2 panels 56" long, seams across; or 1¾ yd of 108" wide3¼ yd
Batting72" × 90"Twin

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 8 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 126 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 5 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 54½" and 2 at 48½".
  • Background: Cut 16 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 252 squares 2½" for the stitch-and-flip corners. Cut 8 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 126 squares 2½".
  • Centers, from each of the 5 fabrics: Teal geometric: Cut 1 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 12 squares 2½". Lime stripe: Cut 1 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 9 squares 2½". Aqua swirl: Cut 1 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 12 squares 2½". Big bloom: Cut 1 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 9 squares 2½". Mustard crosshatch: Cut 1 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 12 squares 2½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 1 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 9 squares 2½". Cut 6 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 228" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 63 Spool blocks, 6" finished (6½" with seam allowance). That takes 126 flying geese.
  2. 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.
  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 (56" × 68"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Throw Spool quilt, 60" × 72"

99 blocks of 6", 11 rows of 9, 3" border.

Spool quilt, throw size, 60" × 72"
Fabric for the throw size
Main, BorderBrown solid3½ yd
BackgroundCream solid3 yd
Centers5 fabrics, scrappy¼ yd each
Centers, BindingCoral dots¾ yd
Backing2 panels 68" long, seams across; or 2 yd of 108" wide4 yd
Batting72" × 90"Twin

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 13 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 198 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 7 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 66½" and 2 at 60½".
  • Background: Cut 25 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 396 squares 2½" for the stitch-and-flip corners. Cut 13 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 198 squares 2½".
  • Centers, from each of the 5 fabrics: Teal geometric: Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 20 squares 2½". Lime stripe: Cut 1 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 16 squares 2½". Aqua swirl: Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 20 squares 2½". Big bloom: Cut 1 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 16 squares 2½". Mustard crosshatch: Cut 1 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 15 squares 2½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 1 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 12 squares 2½". Cut 7 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 276" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 99 Spool blocks, 6" finished (6½" with seam allowance). That takes 198 flying geese.
  2. 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.
  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 (68" × 80"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Twin Spool quilt, 72" × 90"

154 blocks of 6", 14 rows of 11, 3" border.

Spool quilt, twin size, 72" × 90"
Fabric for the twin size
Main, BorderBrown solid5 yd
BackgroundCream solid4¾ yd
Centers5 fabrics, scrappy¼ yd each
Centers, BindingCoral dots1 yd
Backing2 panels 98" long, seams down; or 2¼ yd of 108" wide5½ yd
Batting90" × 108"Queen

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 20 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 308 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 8 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 84½" and 2 at 72½".
  • Background: Cut 39 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 616 squares 2½" for the stitch-and-flip corners. Cut 20 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 308 squares 2½".
  • Centers, from each of the 5 fabrics: Teal geometric: Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 30 squares 2½". Lime stripe: Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 25 squares 2½". Aqua swirl: Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 30 squares 2½". Big bloom: Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 25 squares 2½". Mustard crosshatch: Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 24 squares 2½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 20 squares 2½". Cut 8 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 336" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 154 Spool blocks, 6" finished (6½" with seam allowance). That takes 308 flying geese.
  2. 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.
  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 (80" × 98"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Full Spool quilt, 84" × 96"

195 blocks of 6", 15 rows of 13, 3" border.

Spool quilt, full size, 84" × 96"
Fabric for the full size
Main, BorderBrown solid6 yd
BackgroundCream solid5¾ yd
Centers5 fabrics, scrappy¼ yd each
Centers, BindingCoral dots1 yd
Backing3 panels 92" long, seams across; or 2¾ yd of 108" wide7¾ yd
Batting120" × 120"King

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 25 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 390 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 9 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 90½" and 2 at 84½".
  • Background: Cut 49 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 780 squares 2½" for the stitch-and-flip corners. Cut 25 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 390 squares 2½".
  • Centers, from each of the 5 fabrics: Teal geometric: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 35 squares 2½". Lime stripe: Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 30 squares 2½". Aqua swirl: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 35 squares 2½". Big bloom: Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 30 squares 2½". Mustard crosshatch: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 35 squares 2½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 2 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 30 squares 2½". Cut 9 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 372" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 195 Spool blocks, 6" finished (6½" with seam allowance). That takes 390 flying geese.
  2. Lay out the blocks in 15 rows of 13, turned as shown. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
  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 (92" × 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 Spool quilt, 90" × 108"

238 blocks of 6", 17 rows of 14, 3" border.

Spool quilt, queen size, 90" × 108"
Fabric for the queen size
Main, BorderBrown solid7¼ yd
BackgroundCream solid7 yd
Centers5 fabrics, scrappy¼ yd each
Centers, BindingCoral dots1 yd
Backing3 panels 98" long, seams across; or 3¼ yd of 108" wide8¼ yd
Batting120" × 120"King

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 30 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 476 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 10 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 102½" and 2 at 90½".
  • Background: Cut 60 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 952 squares 2½" for the stitch-and-flip corners. Cut 30 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 476 squares 2½".
  • Centers, from each of the 5 fabrics: Teal geometric: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 42 squares 2½". Lime stripe: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 42 squares 2½". Aqua swirl: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 42 squares 2½". Big bloom: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 42 squares 2½". Mustard crosshatch: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 35 squares 2½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 35 squares 2½". Cut 10 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 408" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 238 Spool blocks, 6" finished (6½" with seam allowance). That takes 476 flying geese.
  2. Lay out the blocks in 17 rows of 14, turned as shown. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
  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 (98" × 116"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

King Spool quilt, 108" × 108"

289 blocks of 6", 17 rows of 17, 3" border.

Spool quilt, king size, 108" × 108"
Fabric for the king size
Main, BorderBrown solid8¾ yd
BackgroundCream solid8½ yd
Centers5 fabrics, scrappy1¾ yd total
Centers, BindingCoral dots1¼ yd
Backing3 panels 116" long, seams across; or 6½ yd of 108" wide9¾ yd
Batting120" × 120"King

Cutting

  • Main, Border: Cut 37 strips 6½" × WOF. Subcut 578 strips 2½" × 6½". Cut 11 strips 3½" × WOF. Join end to end. Cut 2 at 102½" and 2 at 108½".
  • Background: Cut 73 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 1156 squares 2½" for the stitch-and-flip corners. Cut 37 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 578 squares 2½".
  • Centers, from each of the 5 fabrics: Teal geometric: Cut 4 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 54 squares 2½". Lime stripe: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 48 squares 2½". Aqua swirl: Cut 4 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 54 squares 2½". Big bloom: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 48 squares 2½". Mustard crosshatch: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 45 squares 2½".
  • Centers, Binding: Cut 3 strips 2½" × WOF. Subcut 40 squares 2½". Cut 11 strips 2½" × WOF. Join into one 444" strip.

Putting it together

  1. Make 289 Spool blocks, 6" finished (6½" with seam allowance). That takes 578 flying geese.
  2. Lay out the blocks in 17 rows of 17, turned as shown. Sew the rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions from row to row, then join the rows.
  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 (116" × 116"), batting and top, quilt, and trim. Join the binding strips end to end, press them in half lengthwise and sew to the front.

Making the Spool quilt from precuts

The scrappy prints can come from jelly rolls, layer cakes or charm packs. Everything else, borders and binding included, comes from the yardage in the fabric list for each size.

Precuts for the Spool quilt
SizeJelly rollLayer cakeCharm pack
Crib4 strips, 1 roll4 squares, 1 layer cake16 charms, 1 pack
Throw7 strips, 1 roll7 squares, 1 layer cake25 charms, 1 pack
Twin10 strips, 1 roll10 squares, 1 layer cake39 charms, 1 pack
Full13 strips, 1 roll13 squares, 1 layer cake49 charms, 2 packs
Queen15 strips, 1 roll15 squares, 1 layer cake60 charms, 2 packs
King19 strips, 1 roll19 squares, 1 layer cake73 charms, 2 packs

More quilts for each precut: jelly roll quilt patterns, layer cake quilt patterns, charm pack quilt patterns.

See this quilt in your own fabric

With the cut list for your size, checked against your stash.

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