Simple Brick Quilt Pattern Made from Precut Fabric Squares
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Time to read 12 min
Do you have lots of 5 x 5 precut fabric squares collecting dust in your sewing room? Let's sew them together to make this simple Brick Quilt Pattern!
With no matching seams, Brick Quilts are super simple and fast to sew. This is a great quilt pattern for beginners because it's so forgiving and easy to piece.
Brick pattern quilts are less common than grid-style block settings like you see in our 4 Patch Baby Quilt Pattern. Once you get the hang of cutting and piecing the stagger rows, I'm sure this will become your favorite precut quilt pattern.
Jump Ahead in this Brick Quilt Pattern:
Brick Baby Quilt Materials List Choosing the Right Fabrics Let's Get Ready to Make a Quilt Video 1 - How to piece the Brick Quilt Pattern Home Sewing Machine and Tools How to Piece a Brick Quilt Step 1 - Mess Up Your Precut Fabrics! Step 2 & 3 - Make Stacks and Sew Sets of 2 Step 4 - Sew the Sets of 2 Together Step 5 - Sew 6 Rows of 8 Squares Step 6 - How to Piece the Stagger Rows Step 7 - Assemble the Brick Quilt Top Completing the Quilt Top Add Quilt Borders (Optional) Quilting Your Simple Brick Quilt Video 2 - Stagger Stencil Quilting Design Bind the Baby Quilt Edges More Sizes for this Brick Quilt Pattern? Spread the Love and Share this Free Pattern with Your Friends! In Conclusion
Brick Baby Quilt Materials List
Before we dive into the steps, let's gather the materials you'll need to make this Brick Quilt Pattern:
- 1 Super-sized Charm Pack (101 squares) or multiple precut packs from the same manufacturer
- 2 yards of coordinating fabric for backing
- 1/2 yard of fabric for binding
- Crib Sized Batting (at least 36 inches by 45 inches)
- Sewing machine
- Piecing Thread
- Rotary cutter and mat
- Cutting Ruler
- Iron and firm pressing board
Choosing the Right Fabrics
Here's a few tips for picking the right precut fabrics for this baby quilt:
- Look for extra large charm packs which includes 85 - 101 precut squares. The only limit on size for this quilt is the number of 5 x 5 inch squares you have to work with.
- Or Use Many Packs from the Same Brand - You can also use multiple precut charm packs, but make sure they are made by the same manufacturer. Different brands have different dies for cutting precut fabric squares and some are significantly bigger than others.
- Trim Squares to the Same Size if needed - Do you have multiple charm packs from multiple brands you'd like to use together in this Brick Quilt? I recommend the Accu Quilt Go! die cutter and this 5-inch cutting die. It speeds up the process because you can trim 8 squares at a time.
As for the fabric colors, the great thing about precut fabric packs is they are color coordinated! Pick up one super-sized pack for this quilt, or a few coordinating packs and you'll be ready to sew.
Let's Get Ready to Make a Quilt
Set up your workspace in a well-lit area, with your sewing machine, ironing board, and cutting mat within easy reach. I arranged the rows of my quilt and cut the stagger rectangles using my Dingo Craft Storage Cabinet.
You can get a self-healing cutting mat with this craft cabinet that perfectly fits the extended table top. I love having the extra storage and cutting mat on wheels! I can move the entire cabinet wherever I'm working in my sewing room too.
Check that your sewing machine is in good working order, with a new needle if necessary. Click Here to find tips for cleaning and oiling your sewing machine.
Video 1 - How to piece the Brick Quilt Pattern
Are you a visual learner? See all the steps to sewing simple 5 inch square quilt patterns in this video:
Home Sewing Machine and Tools
Shop for the sewing tools and supplies I used in this Brick Quilt Pattern:
Just in case you prefer written instructions, here's all the steps to this brick quilt pattern free to read:
How to Piece a Brick Quilt
Step 1 - Mess Up Your Precut Fabrics!
This Brick Quilt Pattern is very different from our 4 Patch Quilt Pattern because the first step is to jumble up all the fabrics. Throw all the precuts in the dryer, or give them to your toddler, or toss the precut 5-inch squares in the air. Whatever you need to do to completely break up the color order!
This jumbled mess of colors is the key to this scrap quilt. By mixing up the quilt 5 inch squares, you're guaranteed to end up with a quilt that is a beautiful kaleidoscope of color.
Step 2 & 3 - Make Stacks and Sew Sets of 2
From your messy pile of precut fabrics, pull 20 squares and set them aside. These will be used for the stagger rows. Now grab two 5-inch squares and stack them together in sets of 2. Make sure the fabrics are right sides together and begin sewing.
Sew the 5-inch squares together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. You don't need to stop and press the seam allowances. Continue sewing squares together until you run out.
Notice - there is no plan, no layout, no fiddling, no hemming or hawing. The key to speed in quilting is to limit your decision making. If we want a scrappy Brick Quilt, you need to piece the squares together randomly, with no color plan or special order.
This is the key to making this easy baby quilt pattern. By messing up the precuts and randomly sewing them together in sets of 2, you will quickly cut the stack of squares in half.
Step 4 - Sew the Sets of 2 Together
At this point you should have a long chain of 2 squares pieced together. Break the thread chain between the squares and begin sewing the sets of 2 together. This will create longer rows of 4 squares each.
You will need a few sets of 2 squares set aside for later. Pull out 5 sets of 2 squares and put them with the 20 squares that are already set aside.
Part of what makes this Brick Quilt pattern so fast is our chain piecing technique. This involves feeding pairs of squares through the sewing machine one after the other without cutting the thread in between.
It’s a huge time-saver because it keeps the sewing machine in stitching-mode. Chain piecing reduces both bobbin thread waste and the chance that your sewing machine will gag and break thread.
As you sew your squares together, be consistent with your seam allowance. A 1/4-inch seam allowance is standard in quilting. If your seams are not uniform, your quilt top may not lie flat, and the squares may not align properly. Click Here to find a patchwork foot that can make this seam allowance easier to maintain.
Notice that we didn't visit our pressing board? Because these seams don't overlap, there's no reason to stop and press at this time.
Step 5 - Sew 6 Rows of 8 Squares
Now you should have rows of 4 squares connected with a thread chain. Break the thread between the fabrics and sew 12 sets together.
This will create 6 long rows with 8 squares each. These "whole" rows determine the final width of the Brick Quilt pattern so if you would like this quilt to be bigger, just keep piecing!
Take these 6 rows to your pressing board. Decide whether to press seams open or to one side (totally your choice). The key with seam pressing is to be consistent. If you decide to press seams open, press ALL the seams open throughout the quilt.
"The key with seam pressing is to be consistent. If you decide to press seams open, press ALL the seams open throughout the quilt."
Step 6 - How to Piece the Stagger Rows
Remember the 20 single squares and sets of 2 squares we set aside earlier? We'll need those now, along with the remaining pieced rows of 4 squares to piece our stagger rows.
First, piece the units together to create 5 rows of 7 squares. I used a set of 4 squares + 2 squares + 1 single square.
Now let's cut the stagger rectangles for the outer edges. If you are working with perfect 5-inch squares, the correct size is 2 3/4 x 5 inches.
But precuts are NEVER perfect. I found cutting these rectangles 3 x 5 inches worked the best. You'll need to cut a total of 10 - 3 x 5 inch rectangles.
Piece the rectangles to both ends of your 7 square rows. Press the seam allowances and you're ready to sew the rows together!
Step 7 - Assemble the Brick Quilt Top
Lay out the 6 whole rows and 5 stagger rows to plan your Brick Quilt pattern. Don't get stuck on this stage! It really doesn't matter of you end up with several squares of the same color, or print in the same spot. No one will notice, I promise!
Take the stagger row off the wall and fold it in half to find the midpoint. Align the midpoint of the stagger row with the center seam of the whole row. None of the seams will align (yay!) Pin the midpoint of the rows together and generally align the edges of the rows.
Sew the rows together with 1/4 inch seam allowance, then press the seam as desired. Repeat this process until you have completed the Brick Quilt top.
"My quilt used 93 precut 5 x 5 inch squares and measured 36 x 49.5 inches."
Completing the Quilt Top
After all rows are sewn together, give the entire quilt top a final press. My quilt used 93 precut 5 x 5 inch squares. The final size of my Brick Baby Quilt measured 36 x 49 1/2 inches.
Check for any puckers and press the stuffing out of them to show em' who's boss. Your quilt top is now complete and ready for quilting!
Add Quilt Borders (Optional)
If you want to add a border to your quilt, now is the time to do so. Cut two strips of coordinating fabric as wide as you'd like (6 inch borders are very popular) by the width of your quilt top.
Before cutting your border strips, measure your quilt top in three places—the middle and near each end. Use the average of these measurements to ensure your borders are not too tight or too loose, which could cause the quilt to warp.
Sew one strip to the top and one to the bottom of the quilt top, right sides together. Press the seams open. When attaching the borders, pin them carefully from the middle, distributing any fullness evenly. Begin sewing from the quilt’s center towards the edges to avoid any puckering and to keep the quilt top flat.
Cut two more border strips the length of your quilt and sew one to each side, pressing the seams open.
Quilting Your Simple Brick Quilt
Now we take our Brick Quilt top, which is only half finished at this point and turn it into a sandwich! For some reason this is making me laugh - Brick Sandwich? It doesn't sound all that appetizing.
But our quilt sandwich is the three layers necessary to make a quilt - backing fabric, batting in the middle, and our quilt top.
If you've never layered or basted a quilt before, definitely check out my quilting workshop Basting Basics. This online quilting class will teach you all the steps to basting your quilts securely in a variety of methods.
Video 2 - Stagger Stencil Quilting Design
I decided to quilt my Brick pattern quilt with Checkerboard - a stagger stencil design. Quilting with stencils is very easy - place the paper stencil on your quilt and stitch through the paper and quilt at the same time.
By following the marked line on the quilting stencil, you can see exactly where to stitch next. This takes the guess work and challenge out of free motion quilting. While following the lines on the quilting stencil, focus on moving the quilt slowly over the machine bed.
Did you notice this was a silent quilting tutorial? The stagger stencil quilting technique on this Brick Baby Quilt is so easy, it doesn't require any explanation. Place the stencils and quilt across, then when you begin the next row, make sure to cut the stencil in half to create the stagger effect.
After quilting, check the back of the quilt for thread breaks. Tie off and bury your loose threads in the center of the quilt. This secures the thread tails permanently so you can wash your quilt and never worry about the quilting unraveling.
Bind the Baby Quilt Edges
The last step to making this free charm pack quilt patterns is to bind the quilt edges. This step can often catch beginning quilters off guard. But wait - there's more???
Click Here to find my 3 part quilt binding tutorial and learn all the steps to traditional, mitered corner quilt binding. This method involves cutting additional fabric into long strips. You piece this binding on the edges of the quilt and you can complete all of the steps using your sewing machine.
I've also recently shared a new faster quilt binding method that uses the backing as the binding. Watch this video to see how it works:
More Sizes for this Brick Quilt Pattern?
I hope you've enjoyed this 5 inch precut quilt pattern and are ready to make your first baby quiltt! This brick quilt pattern is so versatile and can be adapted to fit any aesthetic.
The choice is yours, whether you opt for a contemporary style featuring vibrant shades, or a classic pastel baby quilt. It all depends on the precut charm packs you choose.
This is my most forgiving pattern for beginners, as it doesn't involve any matching seams. The stagger quilting design is just one idea for quilting this baby quilt too. I hope you'll check out our walking foot quilting and free motion quilting tutorials to learn more options for quilting.
Another advantage of the brick pattern quilt is that it can be easily adjusted to make a smaller or larger quilt. Depending on the number of 5-inch squares you have or the desired size of quilt, you can add or remove rows as needed.
Would you like a size chart added to this pattern? Would you like to easily see how big of a quilt you can make with a certain number of 5-inch squares?
Contact us and let me know the size of Brick Quilt you'd like to make. I'll happily update this post with a Brick Quilt Pattern size chart if there are enough quilters interested!
Spread the Love and Share this Free Pattern with Your Friends!
Piecing a quilt like this is no fun all by yourself. Make sure to share this free Brick Quilt pattern with your quilting friends. Feel free to use this design for charity quilts or to make and sell if desired.
If you liked this quilting project, I have a few more precut 5-inch square patterns for you to check out:
In Conclusion
This Simple Brick Quilt Pattern really is the easiest, fastest way to piece precut 5-inch squares. The less time we spend agonizing about the fabric colors and the more time we spend piecing, the faster our quilt top will get finished.
I love matching the simple stagger patchwork pattern with the simple stagger quilting design. Any of our Printable Quilting Stencils will work great for this baby quilt, but I personally love the Checkerboard stencil best.
Let's go quilt,
Leah Day
