Rail Fence Quilt Tutorial

I love how this Rail Fence Quilt variation turned out. I was a bit concerned about the colour choices when we made the first quilt, but I actually liked the finished look. So I have gone with similar colours for this tutorial.

The quilt top measures 47½” x 56½”. However, as we know, once you add your quilting and the binding, the quilt will be slightly smaller.

What You Need

• Colour 1 (orange) – ½  yard
• Colour 2 (blue) – 1¼ yards
• Colour 3: (black spot) – ¾ yard
• Colour 4 (white spot – border) 3/8 yard
• Backing –  3 ¾  Yards. This allows for 4″ overage. You may get away with less fabric if you are doing an open quilt design that doesn’t pull the fabric in too much.
• Batting  –  a piece measuring 51½” x  60½”

Cutting Instructions

Blocks

Cut 5 strips of each colour across the width of the fabric (wof).

• Colour 1 – 5 strips measuring  2¾”
• Colour 2 – 5 strips measuring  2¾”
• Colour 3 – 5 strips measuring  5″

Borders

• Border 1 – Cut 5 strips measuring 2″ across the wof
• Border 2 – Cut 5 strips measuring 4½” across the wof.

Watch the video below or scroll down for written instructions

(Can’t see the video? You may have an adblocker installed.)

Construct the Blocks

Sew the strips together in sets of 3 colours, using a ¼” seam. (Note: We don’t bother cutting off the selvedges at this point.)

You will end up with 5 strips made up of one strip of each colour.

Your strips should measure 9½” in width when sewn together.

Take one of the strips and trim the selvedge off from one end.

Now cut each of the strips into 9½” blocks. You should get 4 blocks from each strip with a total of 20 blocks.

 

Lay the blocks out as shown.

Sew the blocks together in sets of two. Then sew the sets of two together to complete a row. You should end up with 5 rows of 4 blocks each.

Watch the video above to see how we press the seams to ensure that the rows nest nicely together.

Sewing the rows together.

Lay the first row over the next, right sides together and sew together with a quarter inch seam. Make sure to nest the seams together.

Do the same with the next two rows.

Sew those 4 rows together and add the last row.

Construct the Borders

You will need to join 2 strips together to make the long edge borders.

Border 1

• Border 1 long edge – 2 strips measuring 45½” x 2″ (side border)
• Border 1 short edge – 2 strips measuring 39½” x 2″ (top and bottom border)

Sew the two long edges onto the sides of the quilt.

Then sew the top and bottom border onto the quilt.

Border 2

You will need to sew two strips together to make the outside borders.

• Border 1 long edge – 2 strips measuring 48½” x 4½” (side border)
• Border 1 short edge – 2 strips measuring 47½” x 4½” (top and bottom border)

Sew the two long side borders on first.

Then sew the top and bottom borders.

Your quilt top should now be complete.