Quilt Patterns by Doris: Rail Fence

Finished size about 42″ x 42″. Four colors in 100% cotton. Download as a word document here railfence easy quilt pattern by Doris

There are four colors in this simple to make quilt. One of the fabrics will also be used for the backing. Three fabrics are used to make the “rails” and the fourth is used for the border. You can use a fifth color for the backing if you wish. OR you can make it with three colors by using one of the rail colors as the border. Adjust yardage accordingly. Instructions are written for using four colors.

Color number 1 Borders and Back: 2 yards
Color number 2 : 1/2 yard
Color number 3 : 1/2 yard
Color number 4 : 1/2 yard

Cutting guide for 42″ size using 44″ wide cotton. Wash fabric, iron, fold selvages together, press. Cut strips across the full width of the fabric. Kit contents:

Always launder fabric before using. This removes any sizing or other chemicals and pre-shrinks the fabric. Use a mild detergent and no fabric softener. Cut with rotary cutter and mat to the measurements as shown above. Decide which colors will go where and the order for the rails. Keep in mind that the outside colors will form the rails. Set aside the backing square and the border fabric strips. Press seams towards darker fabric, or press seams open, whichever is easier for you.

42″ x 42″

Color 1 Borders and Back: four strips 3-1/2 inches wide and one 43″ square for the backing

Color 2: 4 strips 3-1/2 inches wide

Color 3: 4 strips 3-1/2 inches wide

Color 4: 4 strips 3-1/2 inches wide

1. Arrange the 3 fabrics for the rails in stacks of 4.

2. Sew two together. Take one from the first stack and one from the second. Sew with 1/4″ seam along entire length. Try for a consistent seam. Sew each of the fabrics in the first stack to one from the second. Press seams toward darker color.

3. Make four.

4. Sew a strip from the third stack to each of these on the right side to form the rails as planned. Press seam toward darker color.

5. Make 4.

6. Stack these 4 units on cutting mat and align with horizontal lines on board. At this point you will know how even your seams are by how flat they lay. Measure for a common width “X”. Using rotary cutter, make a straight cut evening ends and removing selvages.

7. Cut across 4 times to “X” measurement as shown. Ideally this should be 9-1/2″. It will probably be less. You now have 16 rail fence blocks.

8. Sew Blocks Together Lay the blocks out in 4 rows of 4, rotating each one 90 degrees to form the rails as shown. The same color will be either on the top or on the left side of each block when correctly placed. Make two beginning with a horizontal row, and two beginning with a vertical one. Press seams toward horizontal blocks.

9. Sew the Rows Together: Lay out the 4 rows alternating them as shown.

10. Flip the first row over the second, placing right sides together, align and match opposing seams. Sew with 1/4″seam.

11. Press seam in either direction.

12. Flip these over row 3 and sew.

13. Press seam.

14. Flip row 4 up over these and sew.

15. Press whole unit.

Borders: Pin top and bottom borders to quilt, right sides together with quilt, short edges extending a bit beyond quilt. Sew with a 1/4″ seam, then trim ends to match the width of the quilt. Repeat with two more strips on sides.
Making the sandwich: Press the fabric to be used for the quilt back. Lay out a piece of batting the required size (should be 44″ square) on a flat surface. Place the pressed piece of backing fabric RIGHT SIDE UP on top of the batting. Place the completed, pressed top WRONG SIDE UP on top of backing. RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER!
Smooth the wrinkles and center the top on the batting and backing. The top will be slightly smaller. Make sure the backing and batting are the same size or a bit larger than the top. Pin around the edges, through all the layers.
Starting on any edge and about one third in from any corner, sew 1/4″ from the raw edge of top around all four sides, leaving an opening of about 10″. Start with backstitching, pivot at each corner, and end with backstitching. Trim seams and clip corners. Turn carefully to right side, pulling corners as square as possible. Press lightly and stitch opening shut by hand or machine. Topstitch around the outer edges to make the quilt more durable. Use a decorative stitch if you wish.
Tying the quilt: Use all 6 strands of embroidery floss threaded through a needle. From the top of the quilt, push the needle through and back up 1/4″ away. Pull the thread, leaving about 4″. Wrap the threads in the right hand not once but twice around the other thread. Pull tightly. Tie again, wrapping the left thread two times around right. Repeat this in a pattern over the whole quilt. Every 3″ to 4″ is good coverage. Trim floss ends to 1/2″ to 1/4″. OR machine quilt.