Free 3 Yard Baby Quilt Pattern: Starship

Sew a Starship quilt for your favorite little future astronaut! The Starship Baby Quilt Pattern from SewCanShe requires just 3 different 1-yard pieces of fabric. I have made this pattern super easy to sew and super easy for anyone to love.

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free Starship 3 Yard Baby 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 quilt does this free pattern make?

Most 3 yard quilts are not very large because they don’t require a lot of fabric. This space themed quilt pattern makes a darling baby, crib, or throw quilt that is 46” x 46”. Three yards will be enough fabric for the quilt top and the binding. You’ll need more fabric for the quilt backing.

Your rocket loving little guy or gal may not be a baby anymore, but that’s okay! This quilt is still a great size for a child to snuggle up on the couch with or keep on their bed. The search for the perfect quilt for a boy is over!

And did I mention that there are space ships all over it? This quilt has 5 space ship quilt blocks (the rockets are blasting off!) and 4 ‘Fireball’ quilt blocks (that are really just bright orange friendship star blocks).

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.

How to Choose the Right 3 Yards of Fabric for this Starship Quilt

This easy to sew quilt pattern makes it really easy to pick your fabric too. First find a gray or silver ‘rocket ship fabric’. This fabric can have metallic accents if you like.

The second fabric is your ‘fireball’ fabric that’s also the fire coming out from the bottom of the rockets. I picked a bright orange-red fabric.

Finally, choose a third fabric to be your background fabric. Mine is a light colored Grunge fabric from Moda, but you don’t have to choose a light background.

Look how bold and fun the quilt is with a dark background. If you sew for little ones you might already have the right fabrics in your stash!

Space Ship Free Three Yard Quilt Pattern

This free quilt pattern includes instructions for a 12” (finished) Space Ship Block and a simple 12” (finished) Friendship Star block. There are only 9 quilt blocks in this quilt, which is another reason why it is so quick to sew!

The finished baby or child’s throw quilt is 46” x 46”. It’s perfect for gifting to a little guy or gal, snuggling on the couch, or donating to Project Linus or another worthy organization.

You will need:

• 3 one yard pieces of fabric (a space ship fabric, a fireball fabric, and a 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:

• 3 yards of backing fabric (or enough to piece together a 51” x 51” quilt back)
• a piece of quilt batting at least 51” x 51”

Cutting:

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

• 5 rectangles 4 1/2” x 7 1/2”
• 2 squares 5 1/4” x 5 1/4”
• 5 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”
• 5 outer border strips 4” x 42”

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• Instead of cutting 5 1/4” squares cut 5 4” finished QST triangles with die 55711 (available separately or in the 8” Qube set)
• The 3 1/2” squares may be cut with die 55701 (available separately or in the 12” Qube set)
• The border strips may be cut with the 4” strip cutter die 55085

Fabric B is the fireball fabric. From this fabric, cut:

• 8 squares 5” x 5”
• 4 squares 4 1/2” x 4 1/2”
• 5 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”
• 5 strips 2” x 42” for making 4 patch units and for the inner border
• 5 strips 2 1/2” x 42” (or your preferred width of binding)

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• Instead of cutting 5” squares, cut 16 4” finished HST triangles with die 55710 (available separately or in the 8” Qube set)
• The 4 1/2” squares may be cut with die 55708 (available separately or in the 8” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 3 1/2” squares, cut 10 2 1/2” finished HST triangles with die 55804 (available separately or in the 10” Qube set)
• The 2” strips may be cut with the 2” strip cutter die 55025
• The binding strips may be cut with the 2 1/2” strip cutter die 55017

Fabric C is the background fabric. From this fabric, cut:

• 1 strip 2” x 42”
• 10 rectangles 2” x 12 1/2”
• 10 rectangles 3” x 7”
• 5 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”
• 5 squares 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”
• 8 squares 5” x 5”
• 16 squares 4 1/2” x 4 1/2”

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• Instead of cutting 3 1/2” squares, cut 10 2 1/2” finished HST triangles with die 55804 (available separately or in the 10” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 2 7/8” squares, cut 10 2” finished HST triangles with die 55712 (available separately or in the 8” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 5” squares, cut 16 4” finished HST triangles with die 55710 (available separately or in the 8” Qube set)
• The 4 1/2” squares may be cut with die 55708 (available separately or in the 8” Qube set)

Quilt Piecing

Use a 1/4’’ seam allowance and a regular stitch length such as 2 – 2.5.

How to Sew the Space Ship Quilt Block

Make 10 4-Patch Units

1. Sew the 2” x 42” Fabric B strip right sides together with the 2” x 42” Fabric C strip along one edge. Open and press towards the darker fabric.

2. Sub-cut this 2-color strip into 20 pieces that are 2” wide. They should be 3 1/2” tall. Discard the leftover fabric pieces.

3. Sew two of the sub-cut pieces together as shown to make a 3 1/2” square 4-patch unit. Repeat to make 10 4-patches.

4. Sew two 4-patch units together with a Fabric B 3 1/2” x 3 1/2” square in the center. Make sure that 1 of the the 4-patches is rotated as shown.

Make 10 Half Square Triangles (HST’s)

1. Use the pencil or fabric marking pen to draw a diagonal line across the wrong side of all of the 3 1/2” Fabric C squares. This is a cutting line.

Place the 3 1/2” Fabric A squares right sides together with the 3 1/2” 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). Press. Trim each HST to 3” square. Repeat to make 10 HST units.

If you are using AccuQuilt-cut fabric pieces, sew the 10 Fabric A 2 1/2” HST pieces together with the 10 Fabric C 2 1/2” HST pieces. Press.

4. Sew a 3” x 7” Fabric C rectangle to each of the HST pieces as shown.

Important: Pay close attention to the orientation of the HST Units. 5 should be sewn oriented in one direction and the other 5 should be sewn oriented in the opposite direction.

Press.

Make 5 Flying Geese Units

This method makes 8 flying geese units. You will have 3 leftover for a different project.

1. Use the pencil or fabric marking pen to draw a diagonal line across the wrong side of all of the 2 7/8” Fabric C squares. This is a cutting line.

2. Place two of the 2 7/8” Fabric C squares right sides together on a 5 1/4’’ Fabric A square,  aligned with opposite corners. The squares will overlap and the drawn lines (from Step 1 above) should make a single diagonal line across the larger square.

3. Sew 1/4’’ away from the drawn line on either side. Cut the piece apart along the line. Fold the small triangles up and press.

4. Fold back the smaller triangles and press. Place another 2 7/8” square right side down on each piece, aligned with the remaining corner as shown. Stitch 1/4’’ away from the drawn line on either side.

5. Cut apart the pieces along the line. Fold back the triangles and press to make 4 flying geese units. Press. Trim the flying geese units to 2 1/2’’ x 4 1/2’’.

Repeat one more time to make 8 pieces. You will need 5 flying geese units for this quilt. Save the remaining 3 for a different project.

If you are using AccuQuilt-cut fabric pieces, sew 2 Fabric C 2” HST pieces together with a Fabric A 4” QST piece to make a 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” flying geese unit. Repeat to make 5 flying geese units. Press.

6. Sew a 4 1/2” x 7 1/2” Fabric A rectangle to each of the flying geese units as shown. Press.

Assemble the Starship Quilt Blocks

1. Arrange 2 opposite HST units together with one flying geese unit in the center as shown above. Sew together. Press.

Make 5 starships.

2. Sew a 4-patch ‘fire’ piece the bottom of each starship.

3. Sew 2 2” x 12 1/2” rectangles to the side edges of each starship. Press.

4. Square the block to 12 1/2” x 12 1/2”, if desired. Repeat to make 5 Starship blocks.

How to Sew the Fireball (Friendship Star) Quilt Block

Make 10 Half Square Triangles (HST’s)

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

Place the 5” Fabric C squares right sides together with the 5” Fabric B 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). Press. Trim each HST to 4 1/2” square. Repeat to make 16 HST units.

If you are using AccuQuilt-cut fabric pieces, sew the 16 Fabric B 4” HST pieces together with the 16 Fabric C 4” HST pieces. Press.

4. Sew two 4 1/2” Fabric C squares to either side of a half square triangle. Pay close attention to the orientation of the half square triangle. Make 8.

5. Sew two half square triangles to either side of a 4 1/2” Fabric B square. Pay close attention to the orientation of the half square triangles. Make 4.

6. Sew 3 pieces together as shown above to make a Fireball Block. Make 4.

Assemble the Starship 3 Yard Quilt

1. Arrange the 9 quilt blocks in 3 rows with alternating Starship Blocks and Fireball Blocks.

2. Sew them together in 3 rows. Sew the rows together.

3. The expected length of the side inner border pieces is 36 1/2”. I highly recommend measuring the quilt top and cutting all border pieces the correct size. See how to cut the correct size quilt borders. Cut and attach the side borders using the 2” wide Fabric B strips.

4. The expected length of the top and bottom border pieces is 39 1/2”. Measure your quilt and cut 2 strips for the top and bottom border. Attach the top and bottom border pieces.

5. Piece together the five 4” Fabric A strips to make an outer border.

The expected length of the outer side border pieces is 39 1/2”. Measure your quilt top with the inner border first and cut the strips the required length. Attach the side border pieces.

6. The expected length of the top and bottom outer border pieces is 46 1/2”. Measure your quilt and cut 2 strips for the top and bottom border. Attach the top and bottom outer border pieces.

Finishing the Starship Three Yard Quilt Pattern

1. Cut or piece together a 51” x 51” 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 fast and easy.

4. Sew together the 5 binding strips from Fabric B and bind using your favorite method. This is my favorite quilt binding method.

xoxo,