Scrappy Butterfly Baby Quilt Tutorial
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share a commission.Are you looking for a fast and easy baby quilt that would be perfect for using up all your scraps? You’ll want to make this one! I used my stash of Island Batik fabric that was leftover from other quilt projects.
If you are looking for a quick baby quilt you will enjoy making this!
Originally I made the quilt using AccuQuilt dies but if this is something you don’t have, continue reading and I’ll share a free template for the butterfly and a PDF of the tutorial. Just scroll down.
Scrappy Butterfly Baby Quilt Tutorial
Finished size is 30″ x 42″
Fabric Requirements:
- 1/2 yard cream or assorted neutral scraps for background blocks
- Scraps in assorted bright batiks for butterflies and squares
- Scraps in assorted bright batiks for the 2 1/2 inch squares
- 1/8 yard brown for antennas
- 1/3 yard for binding in a med dark
- 1 yd backing and batting
If you have a scrap drawer….now is the time to use your 2 ½” squares!
Cutting the blocks:
- Cut 162 – 2 1/2″ squares in assorted bright batiks.
- Using a 1/4″ seam allowance join the 2 1/2″ blocks into 9 patch blocks. Each 9 patch block will measure 6 1/2″ square.
- Make 18 – 9 patch blocks – join together as shown.
Cut 17 – 6 ½” squares from Cream or assorted neutrals for the butterfly background blocks.
Applique:
AccuQuilt has a butterfly die – GO! Serendipity Specialty Set by Edyta Sitar that is what I used for my baby quilt. I also have a template in my PDF if you don’t have the die.
NOTE: Apply fusible web to the wrong side of the fabrics following the manufacturer’s instructions before cutting appliqué shapes.
- Cut 17 – butterflies in assorted colors – template below.
- Cut 17 – antennas from Brown
Use your favorite method of applique to apply each butterfly to the 6 1/2″ cream blocks. I used invisible thread for the free motion applique on the butterflies.
The antennas could be embroidered on but I used a fabric pen – fast and easy!
Sew the blocks together into 7 rows of 5 blocks, then join the rows.
Layer your backing, batting and top and quilt as desired.
Cut your binding fabric into 4 – 2 1/2″ strips, join together and bind your quilt. Look at my tutorial on attaching the binding by machine.
I did a stipple quilt pattern on the butterfly blocks and a wiggle diagonal line through the 9 patch blocks.
Here is a closeup showing the quilting and the antennas.
I have received several emails and photos from quilters who have made this butterfly baby quilt if you make one I would love to see it!
If you enjoy applique, you should take a look at my Snowflake baby quilt tutorial or my easy beginner baby quilt tutorial.
Get the free PDF to make the Butterfly Baby Quilt.
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About Connie
Hi, I’m Connie Kresin Campbell, the quilter, writer, and photographer behind Freemotion By the River. I enjoy inspiring others with my quilt tutorials and patterns. You’ll also see my sweet adopted dogs from time to time.
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Cute baby quilt. I noticed a lot of blog posts, not just yours, say “use your favorite method of applique”. Not having experience with applique, could you do a post about all the methods of applique?
Thanks for this creative DIY! This quilt is beautiful, as are all of your others. I’d want to express my gratitude for your kind presents. I’d use my favorite appliqué technique, the blanket stitch, to give it some definition and aesthetic appeal.
Wow, the quilting makes the butterflys appear like reverse applique. I had to look at the pictures that are closer to figure it all out. I also love the quilting
patterns, heavy on the background of the butterflys and light on the patches.
BEAUTIFUL
Hi I just downloaded the Butterfly Baby quilt its so cute. I have the Go Critters die and this would be cute with alternating the critters. Thank You.
Hi Connie,
What a lot of wonderful work. You are so creative!!! Don’t know how you get everything done.!
I love receiving your email and I just love to sit snd view the wonderful work and your ideas!!
Thank you so much!!!
Lorraine !!
Thank you! You have some beautiful quilts and I look forward to exploring your site.
I hope you find many quilt projects to make Mona!
Thank you for making these patterns available. I plan to make the Scrappy Butterfly Quilt – love it. How do you make the body (center part between the wings)? I did download the template so have the wings pattern and understand about the antenna
But the body?? Thanks in advance
OOPS – I now see how to make the body. Sorry about that
Hi Connie
Thank you for all the free patterns and other things you send our way. I have been patch working for about seven years now and love all the new things I have learnt along the way and all the things I have yet to learn.
Tina
Hi Connie,
Thank you very much for sending me your free gifts,I am new to quilting so all the new things I can learn from you is very appreciated I thank you very much l
,,, Linda
I love the butterfly quilt and the many others you have…thank you so much for your generous gifts. I would do a blanket stitch which is my favorite stitch for doing applique gives it definition and looks nice. hugs
Thank you Connie I am hoping to learn a lot from you, since I am just learning to quilt. Again Thank you.
I am new to your sites. I am really enchanted with this Butterfly quilt. I have started organizing my different sized scrappy squares for 2 1/2 to 4 inch sized blocks. I have tons of batik scraps too. Thank you.
Thank you. I have the regular crank by hand Accuquilt and I know I have the dog and cat dies. I would love to have Edyta’s die with the leaves and cute little bird someday. I think this design would even be beautiful using a fuzzy cut novelty print for those who don’t like to applique. I didn’t read the article yet but glanced through. I have to leave shortly but will read it when I return. Very pretty.
I cannot find the butterfly template! Hint? Please.
Double check your emails Kathy, that is where you’ll find it.
Hi Connie
I can’t get into your library even though I have the password you gave me. What am I doing wrong?
I would also like to have the template for the Butterfly Baby Quilt.
Love it
BellÃsimo!!! Gracias por compartir!
Where do I put the password in for free pattern down loads?
Connie, you are so kind in sharing your beautiful quilt patterns with all of us. I really appreciate it. The butterfly quilt is so beautiful, I can’t wait to get done with my present project so I can get started. Thank you so much again. You are truly a Blessing!
Precioso Quilt. Estoy tentada a hacerlo con los scraps de mi batimos. Gracias por compartirlo. Un saludo
This is such a beautiful quilt Connie! Thank you for sharing your pattern xx
Good Mourning! I love butterflies & this is awesome ! Thank you so much .
Good Morning,
Today as I was looking through email from FaveQuilts, I was interested in a quick baby quilt, and your butterfly quilt look like something I can do. After opening the file, I was taken to Craftsy’ s for your FREE quilt pattern. I must take the time to send this Thank You to you for making these patterns available to us and free. Sometimes quilts uses so much fabric there’s not much left over to buy a pattern. It is a very kind thing you do to help others and I appreciate it. Have a wonderful day.
It is a great design! I was just curious if you stitched in the ditch before you did the waggle diagonal line and stipple quilt pattern? This is my first quilt. (I made a quilted tote bag once but this is my first quilt blanket). Thanks for the advice.
* wiggle diagonal line not waggle
Hi Connie – what a beautiful quilt. Thank you so much for sharing the pattern. ~smile~
Roseanne
Thank you for this free quilt pattern, much appreciated
Thank you, I really want to make this quilt for my granddaughter. I sewed many little dresses for her when she was a baby and growing up. I saved all those scraps.Sarah is thirty years old now and a art school teacher.I know this would make a lovely gift for her.
Your granddaughter would love it!
Thank You Connie! Beautiful Quilt, looking forward to getting started. Thanks Again for sharing.
You are so welcome Joyce, have fun!
Very sweet.
Thank you Connie for this beautiful quilt pattern.
Love it! So colorful.
Beautiful quilt! I like how you used the markers, great idea.
Beautiful Batik Butterfly quilt Connie Dear. I think this works for any age. Thank you very much for including your link o the butterfly. Butterflies are the bearer’s of 10,000 happinesses.
Adorable quilt, Connie!!! Thanks for sharing it!!!
So glad to get your newsletter and see your beautiful quilts. I like all of them but I love the Butterfly with the difference you made. Keep sending your updates. Glad you are back!
such a great fun happy quilt!
Connie, how would you recommend doing the applique for the butterflies?
I really love this quilt Connie. It will make a beautiful lap quilt. Thank you for the pattern.