Free 3 Yard Quilt Pattern: Mosaic Tiles

Sew a beautiful Mosaic Tiles Quilt Pattern with just 3 yards of fabric! 3 yard quilt patterns like this one are the perfect way to get started quilting. All you need is 3 one yard cuts of fabric from your stash. The Mosaic Tiles Pattern from SewCanShe is a 44” x 54” lap quilt pattern that teaches you how to make the classic Mosaic Number 2 quilt block.

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free Mosaic Tiles 3 Yard 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 PDF download is inexpensive and 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.

Why should I sew a 3 yard quilt?

Most 3 yard quilts are throw quilts, lap quilts, or wall hangings because they don’t require a lot of fabric. Since this type of quilt isn’t very big, you can finish your quilt quickly and give it as a gift or use it in your home. Because of the size, throw quilts like this one are easy to quilt on a domestic sewing machine using straight line quilting with your walking foot or free motion quilting.

This Mosaic Tiles quilt is great for beginners. You’ll have enough fabric to finish the quilt top including 20 blocks, one border, and double fold binding. More fabric is required for the backing.

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.

Important notes for AccuQuilt users: the dimensions of the AccuQuilt shapes are slightly different than the dimensions that you would cut using a rotary cutter and ruler. I tested the block using both methods to make sure that the results would be the same (and they are!). It is slightly easier to use the shapes cut using the AccuQuilt cutter because there is less trimming, but an AccuQuilt is not required.

You may need a little extra lighter and darker fabric if you are using an AccuQuilt fabric cutter, so plan accordingly.

How to Choose the Right 3 Yards of Fabric

All my 3 Yard Quilt Patterns make it really easy to pick your fabric. First find 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, I wanted to use one of my favorite fabrics from Tilda’s ‘Chic Escape‘ collection.

After you have chosen your focus fabric, choose one coordinating fabric that is lighter and one coordinating fabric that is darker. My navy blue and cream fabrics are Moda Grunge prints.

This pattern would make a darling baby quilt too, don’t you think? To show you how cute it could be, I used EQ8 to make a version using the new Delivered with Love fabrics from Moda.

If you follow these instructions for choosing your fabrics, you can’t go wrong, and you probably already have 3 fabrics in your stash that will make a beautiful quilt.

Mosaic Tiles Free Three Yard Quilt Pattern

This free quilt pattern includes instructions for a the classic Mosaic #2 Block in two different color variations. There are a total of 20 blocks in this quilt and each block finishes at 10”.

Including the border, this finished lap quilt or baby quilt is 44” x 54”. It’s perfect for your next baby shower, snuggling on the couch, or donating to Project Linus or another worthy organization.

Let’s get creative and sew a fast and easy quilt today!

Important notes: This pattern squeezes as much as possible out of each yard of fabric. 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 width of your fabric pieces before getting started to make sure and follow the cutting charts below carefully. You may need a few inches of extra fabric if you are using an AccuQuilt fabric cutter.

You will need:

• 3 one yard cuts of fabric (a main focus fabric, one darker fabric, and one lighter fabric)
• a rotary cutter acrylic ruler, and mat
• sewing machine
• thread (I suggest thread matching the lighter 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 50” x 62” quilt back)
• a piece of quilt batting at least 50” x 62”

Cutting:

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

• 80 squares 4” x 4”

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• Cut 80 squares with die 55808, the Square on Point 4 1/16″ found in the 10” Qube set.

Note: These squares are slightly different than the size you would cut with a rotary cutter, but that’s okay. I tested this block multiple times using both sets of instructions to provide you with the best pattern possible.

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

• 10 squares 4” x 4”
• 10 squares 6 1/2” x 6 1/2”
• 20 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”
• 5 strips 2 1/2” x 42” (binding strips)

*Please note the special instructions on the cutting diagram to ensure that you have enough fabric.

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• Cut 10 squares with die 55808, the Square on Point 4 1/16″ found in the 10” Qube set.
• Instead of cutting 6 1/2” squares, cut 40 5” finished QST triangles with die 55806 (in the 10” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 3 1/2” squares, cut 40 2 1/2” finished HST triangles with die 55807 (in the 10” Qube set)
• The strips may be cut with the 2 1/2” strip cutter die 55017

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

• 10 squares 4” x 4”
• 10 squares 6 1/2” x 6 1/2”
• 20 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”
• 5 strips 2 1/2” x 42”

*Please note the special instructions on the cutting diagram to ensure that you have enough fabric.

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• Cut 10 squares with die 55808, the Square on Point 4 1/16″ found in the 10” Qube set.
• Instead of cutting 6 1/2” squares, cut 40 5” finished QST triangles with die 55806 (in the 10” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 3 1/2” squares, cut 40 2 1/2” finished HST triangles with die 55807 (in the 10” Qube set)
• The strips may be cut with the 2 1/2” strip cutter die 55017

Quilt Piecing

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

How to Sew the Mosaic Number 2 Quilt Blocks

1. Cut all of the 6 1/2” Fabric B and Fabric C squares in half diagonally twice. You should have 40 triangles in each fabric. These will be referred to as the ‘quarter square triangles.’

2. Cut all of the 3 1/2” Fabric B and Fabric C squares in half diagonally once. You should have 40 triangles in each fabric. These will be referred to as the ‘half square triangles.’

3. Sew two Fabric B quarter square triangles to a Fabric A 4” square as shown. Press the seam toward the darker fabric.

Make 20 pieces.

4. Sew two Fabric C quarter square triangles to a Fabric A 4” square as shown. Press the seam toward the focus fabric.

Make 20 pieces.

Use scissors or a ruler and rotary cutter to trim away the ‘dog ears’ at the top of each piece, as shown. Note: You can skip this step if you cut your pieces with AccuQuilt dies since the dog ears are trimmed off on the die.

5. Sew together two Fabric B half square triangles, two Fabric A 4” squares, and one Fabric C 4” square as shown.

Make 10 pieces.

6. Sew together two Fabric C half square triangles, two Fabric A 4” squares, and one Fabric B 4” square as shown.

Make 10 pieces.

Use scissors or a ruler and rotary cutter to trim away the ‘dog ears’ at the top and bottom of each piece, as shown. Note: You can skip this step if you cut your pieces with AccuQuilt dies since the dog ears are trimmed off on the die.

Assemble the Mosaic #2 Quilt Blocks

1. Arrange 3 of the pieces made in the previous steps together with 2 more Fabric B half square triangles as shown.

Sew the rows together to make the block. Square the block to 10 1/2” x 10 1/2”, if desired. Repeat to make 10 blocks in this color variation.

2. Arrange 3 of the pieces made in the previous steps together with 2 more Fabric C half square triangles as shown.

Sew the rows together to make the block. Square the block to 10 1/2” x 10 1/2”, if desired. Repeat to make 10 blocks in this color variation.

Assemble the Mosaic Tiles 3 Yard Quilt Top

1. Arrange the 20 quilt blocks in an alternating pattern on a large table, a quilt design wall, or the floor.

2. Sew 5 rows together, each row with 4 blocks. Then sew the 5 rows together.

Measure and Sew the Border

1. Piece together 2 1/2” strips of the lighter fabric (Fabric C) to make the border.

The expected length of the side border pieces is 50 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. Attach the side borders.

2. The expected length of the top and bottom border pieces is 44 1/2”. Measure your quilt and cut 2 strips for the top and bottom border. Attach the top and bottom border pieces.

Finishing the Mosaic Tiles Three Yard Quilt Pattern

1. Cut or piece together a 50” x 62” or larger 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. Cut 5 binding strips and bind using your favorite method. This is my favorite quilt binding method.

As always, I love seeing the quilts you make with my free sewing patterns. Please post a picture to Instagram and tag me @sewcanshe so I can take a look!

xoxo,