Walk-About Quilt Pattern

Looking for a quilt pattern that blends bold beauty with simplicity? The Walk-About Quilt Pattern might be just what you need. This 90” x 90” quilt top is a great choice for both seasoned quilters and adventurous beginners, combining the drama of large-scale prints with the precision of half-square triangles. It’s a striking design that walks the line between modern and traditional perfect for showcasing your favorite fabrics.

The beauty of the Walk-About Quilt lies in its clever use of space and contrast. With just a few simple elements large squares and half-square triangles you can create a quilt that looks far more complex than it is to make. This pattern is perfect for quilters who want to make a bold statement without getting lost in intricate piecing. It’s also an excellent opportunity to play with color, texture, and pattern placement to make your quilt truly unique.

Whether you’re quilting for a gift, a bed makeover, or just for the joy of piecing, this pattern is satisfying and quick to assemble. The bold fabric squares serve as the focal point, while the arrow blocks add movement and personality to your design. Ready to get started? Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Choose the Fabrics

For this project, you’ll need three different fabrics:

1 bold print – something vibrant or eye-catching that will stand out in your layout.
2 coordinating fabrics – these should complement your bold print without competing with it.

Yardage Needed:

Bold Print: 3 ½ yards
Coordinating Fabric #1: 1 ¾ yards
Coordinating Fabric #2: 1 ¾ yards

Think florals, modern geometrics, or even batiks for the bold fabric. The coordinating fabrics can be solids, subtle prints, or tone-on-tone textures.

block

Step 2: Cut the Fabrics

Use a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler to ensure clean, precise cuts.

From the bold fabric, cut 13 squares measuring 18 ½” x 18 ½”.
From each coordinating fabric, cut 48 squares measuring 9 ½” x 9 ½”.

These will be used to make the arrow blocks using the half-square triangle (HST) method.

block

Step 3: Piece the “Arrow” Blocks

Each arrow block is made from four HST blocks.

How to Make HSTs:

Place one square from each coordinating fabric right sides together.
Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.
Stitch along that line.
Cut ¼” from the stitched line to create a seam allowance.
Press the seam to one side.

Repeat until you have enough HSTs to make 12 arrow blocks (you’ll need 48 HST units total).

Assemble the Arrow Blocks:

Lay out four HSTs in an arrow configuration (two on top, two on bottom, rotated as needed to form an arrow shape).
Sew the units together into rows, then sew the rows together to complete the block.
Press the seams as desired.

Repeat this process to make 12 arrow blocks in total.

Walk-About Quilt Pattern

Step 4: Assemble the Quilt Top

Lay out your quilt top using the 13 bold fabric squares and the 12 arrow blocks. Alternate between bold squares and arrow blocks to create a balanced and eye-catching layout.

You can use a 5×5 grid (totaling 25 blocks) in the following arrangement:

Rows alternate between bold–arrow–bold–arrow–bold and arrow–bold–arrow–bold–arrow for a dynamic effect.

Once you’re satisfied with the layout:

Sew the blocks together row by row.
Press the seams and then sew the rows together to complete the top.

There you have it—a beautiful and simple Walk-About Quilt Top! This pattern is a wonderful way to showcase a favorite fabric while keeping your piecing straightforward and satisfying. Whether you’re making it for your own home or as a heartfelt gift, the Walk-About Quilt is sure to be a cherished piece.