The rail fence quilt pattern is perfect for beginners. Begin by sewing strips of fabric together, cut them apart into squares and then rotate them to make a pattern for your quilt.
This quilt pattern goes together quickly, without any fussy piecing. Try different fabric combinations for totally different looks – even great for using up scraps. The key is to look at the value of your fabrics to make sure that you have enough contrast to show the design.
How to Make a Rail Fence Quilt Block
Learn how to make the rail fence quilt pattern with this step-by-step tutorial with photos. This is an easy pattern and perfect for beginners.
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In this tutorial I used 1-1/2 inch strips of fabric. You can use any width of strip to start. The key to this block is when you finish sewing your strip set together, you cut it into blocks. This strip set finished at 5-1/2 inch width, so I cut 5-1/2 inch squares from the set.
Materials
- Fat quarter of five different fabrics
- Coordinating thread for sewing
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Pressing surface
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Quilter's ruler
Instructions
- Start by laying out your fabrics. Important to the rail fence quilt block is a range of values, from light to dark. This helps create the design of the rail fence. Here are the fabrics I selected.
- Cut your fabrics into equal width strips. For this quilt block, I started with 1-1/2 wide strips which forms a finished 5-inch block.
Sew the strips together in order with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Here I started with the teal and am sewing the red to the teal.
- Next, sew the next color. Here it is the red-orange strip of fabric.
- Next, I sewed the pink fabric. You don't need to press between sewing each strip. We'll do that after the entire strip set is sewn together.
- And, last, sewing the mint green strip to the set.
- Now is the time to go to your pressing station and press the strip. Press the seams to your preference. For more information refer to our article on pressing your seams for quilting.
- Once your strip set is pressed, you cut squares. For this strip set, I started with 1-1/2 wide strips. I used five (5) strips for the set. My sewn together strip set is finished at 5-1/2 inches. The rail fence quilt block is based off of squares. I cut the strip set into 5-1/2 inch square blocks.
Once the blocks are cut, have fun with different layouts to create the rail fence design. Here is one layout. - Here is another layout idea. See how it looks different with just a 90 degree shift!
- Or, try a diagonal layout for your rail fence quilt blocks.
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Can you make a rail fence quilt from a jelly roll?
Yes! Starting with a jelly roll makes this quilt even quicker – and you know your fabrics will coordinate! I pulled together some solids from a jelly roll for a simple lap quilt.
I picked a light, medium and dark value from six different solid color fabrics.
Start by sewing each of the strip sets together with the dark on one side, medium in the middle and light value on the other side. The strip sets are sewn together and ready to be pressed.
After pressing the strip sets, cut each strip set into square blocks. Jelly roll strip sets are 2-1/2 inches wide. Three strips sewn together make a 6-1/2 inch wide strip of fabric. Cut each strip into 6-1/2 blocks. Each strip gives you six (6) finished blocks. Here I’m cutting one of the strip sets into blocks.
After the blocks are cut, go to your design wall and have fun laying out your quilt blocks. Here is the layout I choose for the jelly roll rail fence quilt.
Sew together either by row or by column. I chose the column method for this quilt since it is easy to remember to shift the next block by 90 degrees.
Make it quicker by lining up your piles of blocks and sew them in a chain method.
The quilt top has been sewn together and is now ready for quilting.
How many strips should you use for a rail fence quilt block?
You can use as many as you’d like! I like to use a minimum of three. A two (2) color rail fence is referred to as the Endless Stairs quilt block.
How wide are the strips for a rail fence quilt?
You can make the strips any width you’d like. The key to making a rail fence quilt is to cut the blocks from the strip set the exact width of the strip set. The rail fence quilt design is created by shifting squares 90 degrees.
Browse through more free quilt patterns on Create Whimsy.
