21 Beautiful 3 Yard Quilt Patterns: All Free!

Are you looking for an “on trend” quilt? Three yard quilt patterns are super popular right now and easy to sew. If you have 3 one-yard cuts of fabric in your stash and are feeling creative, you’ll find your next project here.

Here are 21 beautiful 3-yard quilt patterns you will fall in love with! These free quilt patterns (all with step-by-step photo tutorials) are a great way to quickly put together a quilt! I release new patterns all the time, so this list will grow. Bookmark the page to check back later!

You will be inspired to sew a new quilt after seeing how beautiful and easy these beginner friendly quilts are to make.

What size quilt does 3 yards make?

Most 3-yard quilts are throw quilts or lap quilts because they don’t require a lot of fabric. You can also make a darling baby quilt with 3 yards 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, lap quilts and throw quilts like these one are easy to quilt on a domestic sewing machine using straight line or free motion quilting. They are great for beginner quilters.

For all of these simple patterns, 3 yards is enough fabric to finish the quilt top. More fabric will be required for the backing and binding.

What You’ll Need to Make a Quilt

Three yard quilt patterns are perfect for quilters of all skill levels. Besides 3 yards of fabric from your stash or your local quilt shop, here are some basic sewing supplies you will want to have ready:

• a sewing machine
• thread
• pins
• at least one acrylic ruler (6” x 24” is a good size), a rotary cutter and cutting mat
• a walking foot will be very helpful if you want to use straight line quilting to finish your quilt
• Optional: I love using my AccuQuilt fabric cutter

All my 3 Yard Quilt Patterns make fabric selection really easy. Sometimes I use prints from a single fabric collection and sometimes, I mix it up! First, find a beautiful ‘focus fabric’ to start with. This should be a fabric that really sings to you – or that makes you think of the intended recipient of the quilt. After you have chosen your focus fabric, choose one coordinating fabric that is lighter and one coordinating fabric that is darker.

Bear’s Paw Free Quilt Pattern

The Bear’s Paw quilt block dates back to the 1850s and is rumored to be a part of the Underground Railroad. It may have symbolized a trail that led to food and water. Whether or not that is true, I believe that quilt makers have quietly influenced our history and homes more than we will ever know.

Dream House Quilt

The easy Dream House Quilt Pattern uses a collage quilt block to make a 49 1/2” x 59” throw quilt pattern with 9 1/2” quilt blocks.

Carpenter’s Star Quilt Pattern

You can make a classic Carpenter’s Star Quilt with just 3 Yards of Fabric.

This particular quilt block is very popular on the internet using the name ‘Carpenter’s Star,’ but very similar blocks have been named Carpenter’s Wheel and Star of Bethlehem. I love the reference to Christmas.

Easiest 3 Yard Quilt Pattern Ever

Make your first quilt or your 100th quilt with The Easiest 3 Yard Quilt Pattern Ever! This quilt pattern is perfect for showcasing your favorite large scale prints.

3 Yard Chandelier Quilt Pattern

This fabulous quilt design is so popular, and here’s your chance to make a 3 Yard Chandelier quilt. This free quilt pattern makes a throw quilt that is approximately 48” x 59” with 8” Chandelier quilt blocks.

The blocks are set on point. In the blog post and the PDF pattern, I share instructions for making the side blocks and the corner pieces.

Spools and Stars 3 Yard Quilt

Spool Quilts are a quilter’s favorite pattern to make! This fun quilt uses a spool quilt block to make a 47” x 57” throw quilt pattern with 10” quilt blocks. The blocks make stars as secondary designs too! Check out my 3 Yard Spools and Stars Quilt Pattern.

Diamond in a Square Quilt Pattern

Even though the Diamond in a Square pattern has just one block, sewing the same block with different fabrics makes secondary patterns appear. This simple patchwork quilt is perfect for beginners.

Can you see the stars? My step-by-step quilt tutorial includes quilt piecing tips to help you get the best results.

Other names for the Diamond in a Square Block include the Square on Point Quilt Block or the Square in a Square Quilt Block.

Stars and Ladders Free 3-Yard Quilt Pattern

The free Stars and Ladders 3-Yard Quilt Pattern teaches shortcut methods for sewing 4-patch units, half square triangles, and quarter square triangles. It is great for beginners.

Dutchmans Puzzle Quilt Pattern

The free Dutchmans Puzzle 3-Yard Quilt Pattern uses three different fabrics in each block, instead of just two, in order to make a beautiful secondary design. Can you see the Friendship Stars and pinwheels in the secondary design?

Sawtooth Star Quilt Pattern from 3 Yards

My super-easy Sawtooth Star 3 Yard Quilt Pattern features the most beloved star quilt block of all time! If you are looking for an easy quilt for a boy, just add fabric in his favorite colors. Put this one in your pinterest collection of beginner quilt patterns! New quilters will love this pattern for the classic shapes and ease of construction.

One Block Sawtooth Star Quilt Pattern

This One-Block Sawtooth Star Quilt Pattern from is a 50” x 50” throw quilt pattern with a 40” block in the center. It would make a stunning wall hanging. There are holly and berries applique blocks in the corners for a special and festive touch. If you don’t want a holiday quilt with holly and berries, you can leave off the applique pieces, use different applique motifs, or make 5 1/2” machine embroidered blocks for the corners of the quilt.

Mosaic Tiles Quilt from 3 Yards of Fabric

The Mosaic Tiles 3 Yard Quilt Pattern is super easy because there’s only one block to learn! This simple quilt pattern makes a darling baby quilt too. Check out the free Mosaic Tiles Quilt Pattern to see.

Splendor Quilt Pattern

The Splendor 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 12 blocks in the quilt and each block finishes at 12”.

This lap-size quilt is 40” x 52”. It’s perfect for snuggling on the couch or donating to Quilts of Valor, Project Linus, or another worthy organization.

Aunt Dinah Quilt Pattern

The Aunt Dinah Quilt Pattern from SewCanShe is a larger throw quilt that showcases Aunt Dinah Quilt Blocks mixed with some Irish Chain Quilt Blocks to really make Aunt Dinah sparkle! This finished quilt is 54” x 54”.

Jacobs Ladder Quilt Pattern

This Jacob’s Ladder easy quilt pattern from SewCanShe is a 54” x 54” throw quilt pattern. There is only one block to learn, and I’ll show you my favorite way to use long strips of fabric to strip-piece four patch blocks to help you get done even faster. This easy pattern features only squares and half square triangles. It’s a great pattern if you are making your first quilt!

Twin Star Easy Quilt Pattern

This Twin Star quilt is great for beginners. My step-by-step instructions will make sewing it a breeze! You’ll have enough fabric to finish the quilt top including 12 blocks and 2 borders. More fabric is required for the backing and binding.

Weathervane Quilt Pattern

The Weathervane Quilt Pattern from SewCanShe is a 52” x 52” throw quilt pattern that showcases Weathervane Quilt Blocks mixed with some Windmill Quilt Blocks to really make the Weathervane dance! You’ll learn a quick method for flying geese blocks.

The free XOXO 3 yard quilt pattern would make a darling baby quilt, Valentine’s wall hanging, or cuddly throw quilt. Simple shapes never looks so beautiful.

The free Amish Star Quilt Pattern from SewCanShe is a 50” x 50” throw quilt pattern with big Amish Star quilt blocks.

Starship 3 Yard Baby Quilt Pattern

The Starship Baby Quilt pattern also includes instructions for 2 different blocks: my one of a kind Space Ship Block plus a bold Fireball (friendship star) Block. Both of these blocks are easy to sew together. There are a total of 9 fun blocks in the quilt and each block finishes at 12”. The pattern shows an exciting ‘night launch’ dark variation that you’ll also love.

Chunky Star Quilt Pattern

My ‘Chunky Star’ 3 Yard Quilt Pattern uses a variation of the Ohio Star Quilt Block. There are 5 Chunky Star quilt blocks and 4 single chain quilt blocks to add movement and frame up the stars.

Use a 1 Yard Panel For a 3 Yard Quilt

This Panel Quilt Pattern can be used with any size fabric panel, but 1-yard fabric panels are prevalent. That means including the borders, you’ll only need 3 yards of fabric to make the quilt!

Make Your Own Creative Variations

Even though these quilt patterns are all called ‘3 yard quilts,’ feel free to unloose your own creativity and try a new variation:

• Make a scrappy quilt by using different precuts or scraps for the focus fabric. You could try this for the lighter fabric and darker fabric too.
• I have been known to use 4 fat quarters instead of an un-cut 1 yard of fabric, but I can’t promise you that using fat quarters will always work.

Remember, the cutting and sewing instructions for all of these quilts are included in the blog posts. Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. I also offer an Optimized for Printing PDF download for $3, which is totally optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library to access anytime you want? Check it out.

As always, I love to see the projects that you sew up using my free patterns and tutorials. Please post a picture to Instagram and tag me @sewcanshe so I can take a look!