Big Splendor! Free Throw Quilt Pattern

Sew a gorgeous big throw quilt with 12” Four Crown Quilt Blocks and Flower Patch Quilt Blocks. This is the free quilt pattern that you have been saving your favorite fabrics for!

If the name Splendor for a quilt pattern sounds familiar, that’s right! Many of you fell in love with my Splendor 3-Yard Quilt Pattern. After sewing that smaller quilt, you asked for a pattern to make a larger Splendor quilt, so here it is!

Sew through your stash with all my free quilt patterns.

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free Big Splendor Quilt Pattern is included in the blog post below and is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The Optimized for Printing PDF download for $3 is totally optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library for you to access anytime you want? Check it out.

What Size is The Big Splendor Quilt?

This quilt finishes at 72” x 84”. It makes a generously sized throw quilt, perfect for a tall person. You can also use it on a twin bed.

If you love to use your AccuQuilt fabric cutter like I do, I’ll share the optional cutting die numbers to make this pattern Accuquilt-friendly. Using an Accuquilt is optional, but I love it! See all my Accuquilt-friendly quilts. Look under the cutting dimensions below for a list of fabric-cutting dies you may use instead.

Except for the strips and borders, all of the dies I used for this quilt were in the GO! Qube Mix & Match 8″ Block set.

How to Choose Fabrics

Just like my Splendor 3 Yard Quilt Pattern, Big Splendor is easy to pick fabrics for.

I suggest finding a beautiful ‘focus fabric’ in your stash or at your local quilt shop. This should be a fabric that really sings to you – or that makes you think of the intended recipient of the quilt.

In the example above, my focus fabric is a butterfly print by Valori Wells that I had in my stash. After you have chosen your focus fabric, choose two coordinating fabrics. My pink coordinating fabric is a Cotton and Steel Speckled print and the other is a Moda Grunge print.

Lastly, you’ll need a background fabric. The fabric that I chose for my background here is Tilda’s Classic Basics Grey Tiny Dots.

Big Splendor Free Quilt Pattern

This quilt pattern includes instructions for 2 different blocks: the Four Crowns Block and the Flower Patch Block. Both of these blocks are 9-patches so they look great together. There are a total of 30 blocks in the quilt and each block finishes at 12”.

The finished quilt is 72” x 84”. It makes a great twin-size quilt or is perfect for snuggling on the couch.

Important note: The width of each piece must have 42” of usable fabric. Most fabric printed in the last 5-10 years will work great because it’s 44” wide, including the selvages so it is 42-43” wide after you cut off the selvage. Please measure the length and width of your fabric pieces before getting started to make sure.

You will need:

• 1 1/8 yard of Fabric A – your focus fabric
• 1 1/4 yards of Fabric B – coordinating fabric
• 1 yard of fabric C – coordinating fabric
• 3 1/2 yards of background fabric
• a rotary cutter acrylic ruler, and mat
• sewing machine
• thread (I suggest thread matching the background fabric)
• ironing board and iron
• pencil or fabric marking pen

To sew the quilt top into a finished quilt, you will also need:

• 5 yards of fabric for the quilt back (or enough fabric to piece together a 77” x 89” quilt back)
• a piece of quilt batting at least 77” x 89”
• 1/2-5/8 yards of binding fabric

Cutting:

Fabric A is your focus fabric. From this fabric, cut:

• 15 squares 4 1/2” x 4 1/2”
• 60 squares 3 1/4” x 3 1/4”
• 4 strips 2 1/2” x 42”

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• The 4 1/2” squares may be cut with die 55010 (in the 8” Qube set)
• The 3 1/4” squares may be cut with the 4” square on point die 55713 (in the 8” Qube set)
• The strips may be cut with the 2 1/2” strip cutter die 55017

Fabric B is a coordinating fabric. From this fabric, cut:

• 15 squares 4 1/2” x 4 1/2”
• 60 squares 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”
• 8 strips 2 1/2” x 42”

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• The 4 1/2” squares may be cut with die 55010 (in the 8” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 2 7/8” squares, cut 120 – 2” finished HST triangles with die 55063 (in the 8” Qube set, or on the value die)
• The strips may be cut with the 2 1/2” strip cutter die 55017

Fabric C is a coordinating fabric. From this fabric, cut:

• 30 squares 5 1/4” x 5 1/4”
• 4 strips 2 1/2” x 42”

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• Instead of cutting 5 1/4” squares, cut 120 quarter square triangles for a 4” finished square using die 55711 (in the 8” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 2 7/8” squares, cut 120 – 2” finished HST triangles with die 55063 (in the 8” Qube set, or on the value die)
• The strips may be cut with the 2 1/2” strip cutter die 55017

Background Fabric

There is not a cutting diagram for the background fabric. Cut your fabric pieces in the order stated.

From your background fabric, cut:

• 30 squares 5 1/4” x 5 1/4”
• 60 squares 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”
• 16 strips 2 1/2” x 42”
• 7 strips 6 1/2” x 6 1/2” (for the border)

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• Instead of cutting 5 1/4” squares, cut 120 quarter square triangles for a 4” finished square using die 55711 (in the 8” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 2 7/8” squares, cut 120 – 2” finished HST triangles with die 55063 (in the 8” Qube set, or on the value die)
• The strips may be cut with the 2 1/2” strip cutter die 55017

Quilt Piecing

Use a 1/4’’ seam allowance and a short stitch length such as 1.5-2.

Use a Strip Piecing Technique to Make 4-Patch Blocks

1. Place a 2 1/2” x 42” background fabric strip on top of a 2 1/2” x 42” Fabric B strip and sew along the long edge.

Repeat to sew eight 2 1/2” x 42” background fabric strips to the eight 2 1/2” x 42” Fabric B strips.

Open and press the seams toward the darker fabric.

Tips:

• Pressing your seams toward the darker fabrics enables you to nest the seams in Step 4.

2. Subcut each strip set into pieces that are 2 1/2” wide. Cut at least 15 pieces from each strip set for a total of 120 pieces.

3. Place a 2 1/2” x 42” background fabric strip on top of a 2 1/2” x 42” Fabric A strip and sew along the long edge.

Repeat to sew four 2 1/2” x 42” background fabric strips to the four 2 1/2” x 42” Fabric A strips and four 2 1/2” x 42” background fabric strips to the four 2 1/2” x 42” Fabric C strips.

Open and press the seams toward the darker fabric.

4. Subcut each strip set into pieces that are 2 1/2” wide. Cut at least 15 pieces from each strip set for 60 pieces in each color combination (120 total).

5. Sew the pieces into 4-Patch units:

Sew two background fabric/Fabric B pieces together as shown (one flipped upside down) to make a 2-color 4-patch. Repeat to make 60 4-patches.

Sew a background fabric/Fabric C piece together with a background fabric/Fabric A piece to make a 3 color 4-patch. Repeat to make 60 4-patches.

Set the 4-patch units aside while you make quarter square triangle (QST) units.

Make 60 quarter Square Triangle Units

Note: If you are an AccuQuilt user, you may have cut quarter square triangle pieces instead of 5 1/4” squares. In that case, sew 2 background fabric quarter square triangle pieces together with 2 Fabric C quarter square triangle pieces to make the 4” QST unit shown below. Repeat to make 60 pieces.

1. Use the pencil or fabric marking pen to draw a diagonal line across the wrong side of all the 5 1/4” background fabric squares. This is a cutting line.

Place the 5 1/4” background fabric squares right sides together with the 5 1/4” Fabric C squares. Pin the squares together.

2. Sew 1/4’’ away from the cutting line on on both sides of the line.

3. Cut each piece in half diagonally along the line. Open and press to make 2 half square triangles (HST units). Repeat to make 60 HST units.

4. Place two HST units right sides together with the seams aligned and the darker fabrics on opposite sides. Draw a diagonal line that crosses over the seam on the top HST. This is a cutting line. Pin the HST units together.

5. Sew 1/4’’ away from the cutting line on on both sides of the line.

6. Cut each piece in half diagonally along the line. Open and press to make 2 quarter square triangles (QST units). Trim and square up each QST unit to 4 1/2” x 4 1/2”, if possible.

Repeat to make 60 QST units that are 4 1/2” x 4 1/2”.

Make 60 Square in a Square Units

1. Subcut all of the 2 7/8” squares in half diagonally. You should have 120 background fabric triangles and 120 Fabric B triangles. Skip this step if you are an AccuQuilt user and cut 2” finished HST triangles instead of 3” squares.

2. Center the long edge of a background fabric triangle along one side of a 3 1/4” Fabric A square and stitch. Repeat with a Fabric B triangle on the opposite side. Open and press the seams away from the center. Trim away the dog ears on that hang off the edges.

3. Repeat to sew one background fabric and one Fabric B triangle to the top and bottom edges of the square. Press the seams away from the center again. Trim and square up the unit to 4 1/2’’ square, if possible.

Repeat to make 60 square in a square units the same way.

Assemble the Four Crowns Blocks

1. Arrange the following 9 pieces to make each Four Crowns Block:

• 4 four patch units with 3 colors
• 4 quarter square triangle units
• 1 Fabric B square 4 1/2” x 4 1/2”

Sew together in 3 rows. Sew the rows together to make the block.

2. Square the block to 12 1/2” x 12 1/2”, if desired. Repeat to make 15 blocks.

Tip: I love using my 12 1/2” square ruler to square up 12” blocks.

Assemble the Flower Patch Blocks

1. Arrange the following 9 pieces to make each Flower Patch Block:

• 4 four patch units with 2 colors
• 4 square in a square units
• 1 Fabric A square 4 1/2” x 4 1/2”

Sew together in 3 rows. Sew the rows together to make the block.

2. Square the block to 12 1/2” x 12 1/2”, if desired. Repeat to make 15 blocks.

Assemble the Splendor 3 Yard Quilt Top

1. Arrange the 30 quilt blocks in an alternating pattern on a large table, a quilt design wall, or the floor. Make 6 rows, each row with 5 blocks.

2. Sew the blocks together in 6 rows.

3. Sew the quilt block rows together.

Sew the Quilt Border

1. Piece together the 7 – 6 1/2” background fabric strips to make the borders.

The expected length of the side borders is 72 1/2”. I highly recommend measuring the quilt top and cutting all borders the correct size. See how to cut the correct size quilt borders.

Cut two side border pieces the correct length. Attach the side borders.

2. The expected length of the top and bottom borders is also 72 1/2”. Measure and cut 2 top and bottom border pieces. You may need a few extra inches of fabric for the top or bottom border piece. This can be cut from the background fabric scraps. Attach the top and bottom border pieces.

Finishing the Big Splendor Quilt Pattern

1. Cut or piece together a 77” x 89” piece of quilt backing fabric and make a quilt sandwich with the backing, batting, and top.

2. Baste together with fusible batting, pins or basting spray.

3. Quilt as desired. Straight line quilting or cross hatch quilting with your walking foot would be easy on a domestic sewing machine. I quilted this quilt on my longarm using a quilting design by Karlee Porter.

4. Cut 5 binding strips and bind using your favorite method. This is my favorite quilt binding method.

xoxo,