Monthly Mini Quilt Pattern… Ladybug Liberty

This Mini Quilt Pattern is a new classic! I’m so in love with the Ladybug Liberty Mini Quilt that was designed for us by Fat Quarter Shop!

We’ve had some amazing designers contribute to this free mini quilt pattern series, so if you’re just joining us now you can find all of our previous mini quilts on my Mini Quilt Pinterest Board.

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The blog post below is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The PDF download is inexpensive and optional.

Ladybug Liberty is such a sweet combination with classic stars and a cute (big) ladybug. This mini quilt features both piecing and applique, and it’s easy too!

This mini quilt is perfect for a patriotic theme, like my mini quilt and Fat Quarter Shop’s – but you don’t have to sew it that way! I bet it would look adorable in other colorstories too.

So let’s get on with it!

Ladybug Liberty Mini Quilt Pattern

Download the free Ladybug Liberty templates here.

Fabric Requirements & Cutting:

Fat Quarter of background Fabric A:

• 1 – 4 ½” square
• Fabric B 32 – 1 ½” x 2 ½” rectangles
• Fabric C 12 – 1 ½” squares

Fat Eighth of teal check Fabric:

• D 20 – 1 ½” squares

Fat Eighth of red stripe:

• Fabric E 2 – 2 ½” x 5” rectangles
• Fabric F 5 – 2 ½” squares

Fat Quarter of blue dot:

• Fabric G 1 – 5” x 5 ½” rectangle
• Fabric H 3 – 2 ½” squares
• Fabric I 24 – 1 ½” squares

You will also need:

• the free Ladybug Liberty templates
• 1/4 yard of blue check: Fabric J 2 – 2” x width of fabric strips (binding)
• a fat quarter (18” x 20”) of fabric for the backing
• 1/2 yard Heat n Bond Fusible Lite
• OPTIONAL – Impressions Orange Peel Quilting Template Set (the downloadable template above also includes this shape)
• Embroidery floss for antennae

Piecing Instructions:

Sew together two Fabric D squares and one Fabric B rectangle. Press toward the Fabric B rectangle and make ten units.

Sew together two Fabric B rectangles and one Fabric F square. Press toward the Fabric B rectangles and make five units.

Sew the units together to make five Nine-Patch Blocks. Press toward the center.

Draw a diagonal line on the back of the Fabric I squares. Add a Fabric I square to either end of a Fabric B rectangle and stitch on the drawn lines to make a flying geese unit. Trim away the extra fabrics outside the 1/4’’ seam allowance. Press toward the Fabric I squares and make twelve units.

Sew together two Fabric C squares and one Flying Geese Unit. Press toward the Fabric C squares and make six units.

Sew together two Flying Geese Units and one Fabric H square. Press toward the Fabric H square and make three units.

Sew the units together to make three Star Blocks. Press away from the center.

Assemble the Blocks into rows. Use the Fabric A square in the center of the last row. Make three rows.

Press rows in alternating directions. Assemble rows into the mini quilt center and press the seams downward.

Cut the Ladybug Body from the Fabric G rectangle using the template and applique in place.

Note: The tutorial for this mini quilt has detailed instructions for applique with HeatnBond lite.

Cut the Ladybug Wings from the two Fabric E rectangles using the free template and applique in place.

Tip:  it’s nice to have a sturdy plastic template sometimes, and this Orange Peel Template Set has just the right size (you can use the 3” one for the ladybug wings).

Use three strands of embroidery floss for the antennae, if desired.

Quilt and bind as desired!

As you can see, I forgot to hand embroider the antennae before I took pictures (oops!), but I had so much fun quilting a meandering stitch all over the mini quilt, except on the ladybug – like she’s been crawling all over it!

Check out all my free mini quilt patterns!

As always, I love to see the things you make with my free patterns and tutorials! Post a picture on Instagram and tag me @sewcanshe or #sewcanshe so I can take a look!

xoxo,