Holiday Sparkle: 3 Yard Christmas Quilt Pattern

Sew a red and white throw quilt for the holidays or any day with just 3 yards of fabric! This free quilt pattern with half-square triangles is a generous 52” x 52” and works especially well with small print fabrics. 3 Yard Quilts are extremely popular because most quilters have 3 yards of fabric in their stash that are just waiting to be sewn into something special. Let me show you how to make gorgeous half square triangle star quilt blocks and sew them into a family treasure.

The blog post below is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. There is an optional PDF download offered at the end of the post.

What Size is a 3-yard Quilt?

This particular quilt finishes at 52” x 52”, which is a throw-size quilt. You’ll have enough fabric to finish the quilt top, including 9 large blocks and 1 border. More fabric is required for the binding and quilt back.

Most 3-yard quilts are throw quilts or lap quilts because they don’t require a lot of fabric. Many of them (like this one) would also make a darling holiday wall hanging. Since this type of quilt isn’t very big, you can finish it quickly and give it as a gift or use it in your home. Because of the size, throw quilts are easy to quilt on a domestic sewing machine.

I named this quilt Holiday Sparkle because the holidays will soon be upon us and I love creating quilts that appear to shimmer like stars. Of course, this pattern is fun to sew any time of the year and with so many different fabrics. I didn’t use special holiday themed fabrics – just my favorite shades of pink!

The large 16” quilt block is similar to the block in my 3 Yard Carpenter’s Star Quilt Pattern.

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.

All of the cutting dies for these blocks are included in the GO! Qube Mix & Match 8″ Block.

How to Choose the Right 3 Yards of Fabric for a 3 Yard Quilt

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.

After you have chosen your focus fabric, choose one coordinating fabric that is lighter and one coordinating fabric that is darker. The lighter fabric may be considered a background fabric. It’s important that it has good contrast with the other two fabrics.

If you follow these instructions for choosing your fabrics, you can’t go wrong, and you probably already have the right yardage in your stash to make a beautiful quilt.

Wouldn’t this quilt pattern make a beautiful quilt in blue and navy too? These are some William Morris prints from Free Spirit Fabrics.

Holiday Sparkle Free Three Yard Quilt Pattern

This free quilt pattern includes instructions for an easy star block made out of squares, rectangles, and half square triangles. The block is made in two different color combinations that I call Block A and Block B. There are 9 blocks in this quilt, and each block finishes at 16”.

Including the border, this finished throw quilt is 52” x 52”. It’s perfect for snuggling on the couch, gifting to a friend, or donating to a worthy organization.

Let’s get creative and sew a beautiful quilt today!

Important note: The width of each fabric yard should 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 will need:

• 3 one-yard cuts of fabric (a main focus fabric, one dark fabric, and one light fabric)*
• a rotary cutter, acrylic ruler, and cutting mat
• sewing machine
• thread (I suggest thread matching the lighter fabric)
• ironing board and iron

*Some extra fabric may be required if you are using an AccuQuilt Go! fabric cutter.

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

• 3 1/4 yards of backing fabric (or enough to piece together a 57” x 57” or larger quilt back)
• a piece of quilt batting at least 57” x 57”
• 1/2 yard of fabric for the binding

Cutting:

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

• 216 squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• 2 1/2 inch squares may be cut with die 55709 (in the GO! Qube Mix & Match 8″ Block set), or the value die

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

• 104 squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”
• 36 squares 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”
• 4 strips 2 1/4” x 42”
• 1 strip 2 1/4” x 21”

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• Instead of cutting 2 7/8” squares, cut 72 – 2” finished HST triangles with die 55712 (in the GO! Qube Mix & Match 8″ Block set), or the value die
• The border strips may be cut with the 2 1/4” strip cutter die 55053

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

• 112 squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”
• 36 rectangles 2 1/2” x 4 1/2”
• 36 squares 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• 2 1/2 inch squares may be cut with die 55709 (in the GO! Qube Mix & Match 8″ Block set), or the value die
• 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” rectangles may be cut with die 55715 (also in the 8” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 2 7/8” squares, cut 72 – 2” finished HST triangles with die 55712 (also in the 8” Qube set) or the value die

Quilt Piecing

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

Tip: It is helpful to use a scant 1/4” seam allowance when sewing half square triangle units. That way, you will have a little extra to trim away and make your pieces perfectly sized.

How to Sew the Holiday Sparkle Quilt Blocks

Make 72 Fabric B/C Half Square Triangles (HST’s)

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

Place the 36 – 2 7/8” Fabric B squares right sides together with 36 – 2 7/8” Fabric C squares. Pin the squares together.

2. Sew a scant 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). Trim each HST to 2 1/2” square. Repeat to make 72 Fabric B/C HSTs.

Sew the Block Foundation Strips

1. Sew a 2 1/2” Fabric A square, 2 HST units, and a 2 1/2” Fabric B square together as shown. Make 36 pieces.

2. Sew 2 1/2” Fabric A, B, and C squares together as shown. Make 52 pieces.

3. Sew 2 1/2” Fabric B, A, and B squares together as shown. Make 20 pieces.

4. Sew 2 1/2” Fabric A, B, and A squares together as shown. Make 16 pieces.

5. Sew a 2 1/2” Fabric A square and a 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” Fabric C rectangle together as shown. Make 36 pieces.

Make 5 of Holiday Sparkle ‘Block A’

1. Sew 4 foundation strips together as shown. Make 20 pieces.

2. Sew a strip with half square triangles on the side of each piece, as shown. Make 20 quarter-blocks.

3. Rotate and sew 4 quarter-blocks together to make a ‘Block A.’ Repeat to make 5 blocks.

Make 4 of Holiday Sparkle ‘Block B’

1. Sew 4 foundation strips together as shown. Make 16 pieces.

2. Sew a strip with half square triangles on the side of each piece, as shown. Make 20 quarter-blocks.

3. Rotate and sew 4 quarter-blocks together to make a ‘Block B.’ Repeat to make 4 blocks.

Assemble the Holiday Sparkle 3 Yard Quilt Top

1. Arrange the 9 quilt blocks on a quilt design wall, table, or bed as shown. There are 3 rows, 3 blocks in each row.

2. Sew the rows of blocks together.

3. Sew the rows together.

Finishing the Holiday Sparkle Three Yard Quilt Pattern

1. Cut or piece together a 57” x 57” 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,