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Thursday, September 25, 2014

Strip Tango Quilt

Hey y'all, this tutorial was originally included in the Oh Sew Baby! tutorial series at Fort Worth Fabric Studio last summer, but it's been awhile, and I felt like it was time to include it here as well!

 This quilt is one of my favorite go-to quilts to make when I need a fast and fun baby quilt.  It's easy to put together, simple to vary, and is fat quarter friendly.  That's a win in my book!


 You'll need at least nine fat quarters for this quilt.  Trim your fat quarters to 20.5 inches.  Then from each fat quarter, cut four strips, 4.5 x 20.5 inches for a total of 36 strips.


This quilt really is a snap to put together if you just remember a couple of important "rules."  First, one full strip length is equal to five strips sewn together in the opposite direction-


 This is going to be important to keep the proportions of your quilt correct.  Secondly, the quilt will measure 48 inches in width, which equals two full strip lengths, plus two "short sides" by 60 inches, which is three full strip lengths.

When I make this pattern, I always like to play around with the layout until I am happy with it, then take a picture.  Trust me, the picture can really help if your layout gets messed up. (ahem, pets and children anyone?)


I chose to lay my strips out into thirds.  Notice that the top third of the quilt has two horizontal strip sets, plus two vertical strips?  The other two thirds each only have one horizontal strip set, but seven vertical strips (remember, five vertical strips are equal to the width of one horizontal set).


Once you've decided on your layout, just start sewing your strips together in sections!  ps- I'm a quilting rebel and I do NOT press this until the very end.  Shhh...don't tell the quilt police!


Just join your sections together and, voila!  Your quilt top is finished!  The important thing to remember with this quilt is to have fun with it.  I like to think of it as a puzzle, but you get to decide where the pieces go!  The result is a modern, random look that appears more difficult than it really is.

This quilt is also really easy to modify to suit your size needs.  Bohemian Charm is another example of a quilt I've made with this pattern.  This one measures 60 x 64 inches, so it is three full strips in width by three full strips, plus one "short side" in length.  I did not choose to construct this one in thirds, and it's actually tough to tell where the different sections are, which I love!  I added some lines to the photo so you can see how this one goes together.



The finished quilt measures 48 x 60 inches.  A perfect size for a baby, but still big enough to be useful for years!


I hope that the next time you need a quick baby quilt, you'll give Strip Tango a try!



61 comments:

  1. Just pinned this one! This looks like a good one to have on hand for a quick baby quilt.

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  2. Thanks for an easy tutorial. I didn't see the series. I knew about it and just let time get away. I love the baby quilt and the larger quilt is fantastic. It's a great way to utilize some of the 4.5 or larger scraps of fabric with which you are in a snit. Sometimes I have small yardage left and just don't know what to do with it. I hate to cut it and waste it. 4.5 isn't quite enough for the 2 - 2.5" cuts, so this helps solve that issue and much left time consuming than HST.

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  3. Everyone needs a quick quilt to make! Either for a fast gift or just for fun! Love this one very much!

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  4. I love both these quilts but must say that the bohemian charm fabric is just pipping the other to the post lol. Quilty hugs

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  5. Thanks for sharing this one again! I've been starting to keep my eye out for fat quarter friendly projects to use my Sherbet & Lace fat quarter bundle with and this is one of my favorites!

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  6. So cute and easy! I may some perfect fabrics to give this a try this weekend!

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  7. Wow! You caught me with those Amy Butler fabrics. What a great idea for my own Amy Quilt! I think you are wonderful!! Italy be awhile but this is the pattern for me. Thank you very much!! Judy jlblvn at gmail dot com

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  8. What a great and fast quilt. The impact it makes with really bold prints is great. Thanks for sharing!

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  9. many thanks for this I have a great nephew/niece due in the next couple of weeks and this I am sure will be very acceptable

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  10. I think I will definitely be keeping this one on Pintrest for future reference! Thanks for sharing! It's a goodie!

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  11. This is so pretty! Thanks for sharing.

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  12. This quilt is proof that you don't need a complicated pattern to have a gorgeous quilt. The pattern really let's the fabric shine and I love it! Thanks for sharing. :)

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  13. I just finished my first quilt using your pattern. Thanks so much for sharing the pattern!
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/7534002@N05/15205400047

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  14. I love this quilt I will be making it for my granddaughter, thanks.

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  15. Am I wrong, I see 36 strips in this quilt. It isn't that I don't love it but I'm having a little trouble with it.

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    1. you're right! I will edit that in the post! Thanks for pointing it out. I think if you choose a different layout, you could make it work with less strips.

      :) Kelly

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    2. I tried to print instructions for the Strip Tango Quilt...too many Ads blocking instructions.

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  16. I just finished this pattern and am totally in love with how quickly and beautifully this quilt came together. I am a beginner quilter and it was the perfect pattern to start with. I am wondering if there is an easy 'formal' to know how much fabric to buy/strips to cut to make this into a queen sized quilt?

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    1. Thank you Carolyn! I've never made one that big in this pattern. I would suggest that you do what I would do- sketch it out! Then count up the number of strips you need and divide by four (number of strips per fabric). Good luck!

      :) Kelly

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    2. The Boho quilt strips look so much wider than 4"? Is it the pic? Also, how do you assemble it...

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  17. I like how wuick and easy this pattern is. It would be a good stash buster too!!!

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  18. I had printed this tutorial out ages ago because I liked the fact that it showcased large print fabrics. I finally made it this weekend at a day retreat. I had mine up on the wall as I pieced together the rows and I think at least five or six women commented on your pattern and got your blog name from me. My version is pink and green.

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  19. Thanks for the great pattern. I just whipped this one up today. It looks great. I'm making it for a niece of mine who is expecting her first baby. Now to figure out how to make a back for this size quilt. I look forward to checking out more of your patterns. BTW--I'm in East TN (formerly of the Houston area)--love TN and the 4 seasons we have here.

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoy it! It is so great to have a fast quilt pattern in the arsenal when you really need one. We love the four seasons of TN as well, though I could do with just a little less winter. Small world- we moved here from the Houston area as well (Pearland). We loved living there too. My husband's parents are in The Woodlands, so it was nice to have some family close by and my parents were only 4 hours away. We are much further from family here, but still love where we live.

      :) Kelly

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  20. Definatly going to try this one. Looks great!

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  21. Definatly going to try this one. Looks great!

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  22. Love this! I'm a beginner. Are there instructions for finishing the quilt? Thanks!

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  23. When you piece together the pattern what seam allowance do you recommend?

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    1. Hi Anastasia! Always 1/4" seam allowance. Just an FYI- that is the standard for quilting. Enjoy making your quilt!

      :) Kelly

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  24. I love this. I just bought some beautiful fat quarters at Tuesday Morning! I can't wait to get started.

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  25. Do you have a picture of layout/how you sewed the amy butler one together in sections? I'm wanting to make a quilt about that size and am horrible at visualizing how to do that sort of thing lol

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    1. Hello, Brooke! I have a photo that may help you out, but I can't attach it here, and you are a no-reply blogger. If you will use the email link on my right sidebar to contact me directly, I can send it to you.

      :) Kelly

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  26. Cute and quick! Thanks for showing us how it was done. I'm always looking for new patterns to make donation quilts for "Quilts for Kids". I'm going to try this one.

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  27. I love this quilt but I'm wondering about the top stitching that I think I see on this quilt. Is it done after the backing is added and is it done on the machine? Also, do you have a tutorial for the edging? Thank you!

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    1. What you are referring to as top stitching are actually the quilting stitches. Yes, the quilting is done after the three layers are basted together, and then stitched on my domestic machine, though if you are a beginner, I would definitely start with straight line quilting. The finishing edge of the quilt is called binding, and if you look on my Tutorials page, you will find a tutorial for quilt binding by machine. Good luck!

      :) Kelly

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    2. Regarding "though if you are a beginner, I would definitely start with straight line quilting" : I'm curious how this will look on the back since the pieces are not symmetrically oriented. I'm a newbie and so any suggestions would be appreciated (eg should I just "stitch in the ditch" or try something more wavy across the entire length.)

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    3. You can quilt with evenly spaced quilting lines across the entire quilt (straight or wavy), or you definitely could use the pattern as a reference for the quilting lines. The non-symmetrical pattern would create a neat design on the back side. Have fun with it!

      :) Kelly

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  28. LOVE THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS PATTERN!! Awaiting 2nd GREATGRANDSON today and want to make this😀

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  29. Quick quilt to practice my new free motion quilting skills.

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  30. Id like this one in a full size quilt. Very pretty!

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  31. I just cut out all the strips to make 2 of these in pink/green and grays and cannot wait to get to them. I've decided to make quilts for all 17 of my great great nieces and nephews. But I've also decided I'm only making them when they're 5 and beyond because I know their mothers won't use the quilts. If the kids are old enough they'll insist that Aunt Maureen SAID I can use my quilt. I'm devious. This is definitely going to be used for a few of the boys quilts because I've got the perfect fabrics for them. Thanks so much for the pattern and directions.

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    1. What a special gift! I'm sure they will love them. Enjoy the pattern!

      :) Kelly

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  32. Tried to print, but the ads get in the way. Any suggestions?

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  33. Sorry, email is larnold08329@roadrunner.com

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  34. Could you use a jelly roll to make this quilt?

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    1. The strips are wider than jelly roll strips, so I don't think so.

      :) Kelly

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  35. Confused by the size of your quilt as the pattern reads 45 1/2 x 45 1/2, and your note said it was 48 x 60. I have had numerous surgeries lately so I have been unable to quilt for awhile. And as my daughter is having a baby boy (on or before Dec 5), I am excited to find this adorable quilt!

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  36. Thanks so much for the great baby quilt tutorial! I am making a baby quilt for my soon to be born granddaughter. I have three colors an orange floral, an orange with a slightly darker orange flower print and solid teal. Do I need six more prints or solid fabric? I'm brand new to quilting and just finished a full size quilt in mint greens for my oldest granddaughter.

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  37. Thank you very much did this, I’ve just made it as a gift, what a great pattern, quick and easy. Looks absolutely lovely.

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  38. I love this quilt pattern. I bought my daughter a sewing machine for Christmas and we had 2 tops made by the weekend.She has never quilted before. I will be teaching her how to free motion quilt the tops in the coming weeks. Thank you for a great pattern that provided a great bonding experience between mother and daughter.

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  39. How do I join this blog, web page, etc.

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  40. Is there a PDF to download with this pattern? That would be easier than printing out the webpages.

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    1. Hello, Lee! No, there isn’t a printable pattern since this is just a tutorial.

      :) Kelly

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  41. This is lovely BUT this is not a beginner pattern to be completed in an afternoon. Now nothing worth doing needs to be done quickly but let’s not discourage less than experienced quilters. I am a craft sewer and love making baby quilts. The size of this quilt made assembly difficult for someone without all of a real quilters equipment.
    Love the look though and as I’ve soldiered through I am pleased with the outcome of my blanket.

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    1. Please note that there is nowhere in my post that states that this can be completed in an afternoon. The top is quick to put together, and can be done in that time, but fully finishing the quilt will take longer. My guess is that you’ve found this tutorial on Fave Quilts, and THEY have called it an “afternoon” project- not me. Happy sewing!

      :) Kelly

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  42. Hello, just wanted to let you know that this is a fantastic pattern and is easy if you follow the instructions. Depends on your fabric choices for the overall effect. Just starting a black and white one so will let you know.
    Thank you once again.
    Diane Pearce

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  43. Love this quilt! I’ve made five now - one for each grandchild’s birth, each with different fabrics. I use flannels, and I do not put a batting in between when I quilt it - that way it snuggles nicely around the kids without feeling heavy. The quilt starts out on the floor while the baby is immobile. Then it goes to the toddler crib as a blanket. The four year old has it on her bed. I’ll be making my sixth next month!
    Julie R

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    1. That is so wonderful to hear! I’m so happy you love making this one.

      :) Kelly

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Thanks so much for your comment and for visiting! I read and appreciate every single comment, and I reply to each one as soon as I can. If you don't hear back from me, you might be a no-reply blogger. :)

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