Sea Diamonds Free Quilt Pattern

There is something lovely about a quilt that lets a favourite print take centre stage, and this free Sea Diamonds pattern does exactly that. Half of the blocks are plain squares, fussy cut so a motif sits right in the middle, and the other half frame a square set on point with soft triangles, so the finished top reads like a row of little windows opening onto the sea. It measures 40" x 48", which is a generous baby quilt or a lap quilt to keep folded over the arm of the sofa.

Here is why this one is worth making:

• The pieced blocks start from 5 inch squares. You cut fifteen 5" squares in one colour and fifteen in another, slice each one once along the diagonal, and sew those triangles around a 6-1/8" centre square set on point. Trim the block to 8-1/2", leaving a quarter inch beyond every point of the centre, and it is finished.
• Fussy cutting is the heart of it. Fifteen 8-1/2" squares are cut from a printed panel so a motif lands centred in each one, which is why the quilt looks designed rather than simply assembled. It is a slow, happy job with a square ruler and a cup of tea beside you.
• The layout is only six rows of five. The pieced blocks alternate with the fussy cut ones in four slightly different triangle arrangements, so the top comes together quickly once the trimming is done. Press the block seams towards the printed squares and the row seams to one side, and everything nests just as it should.

You will need about 1 yard of the printed panel, 1-1/3 yards for the centre squares, three 3/8 yard cuts for the triangles and the binding, and 3 yards for the backing.

You can download the full pattern here, with cutting charts, block diagrams and the quilt assembly layout: Download the free Sea Diamonds pattern (PDF)

If you make one, I would love to know which print you choose for the centre of your squares. Will you go with the sea, or take it somewhere else entirely? Tell us in the comments below, we always love seeing what you create.