Free 3 Yard Quilt Pattern: Aunt Dinah (2024)

Sew a beautiful Aunt Dinah Quilt Pattern with just 3 yards of fabric! 3 yard quilt patterns are fast and easy to sew. If you have 3 one yard cuts of fabric in your stash and are feeling creative, let’s sew a quilt. Aunt Dinah from SewCanShe is a 54” x 54” throw quilt pattern that showcases Aunt Dinah Quilt Blocks mixed with some Irish Chain Quilt Blocks to really make Aunt Dinah sparkle!

This blog post has been converted to anoptionalPDF that’s optimized for printing. Find ithere. The free Aunt Dinah 3 Yard Quilt Pattern is included in the blog post below and is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The Optimized for Printing PDF download for $3 is totally optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library for you to access anytime you want?Check it out.

Why should I sew a 3 yard quilt?

Most 3 yard quilts are throw quilts or lap quilts because they don’t require a lot 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, throw quilts like this one are easy to quilt on a domestic sewing machine. This Aunt Dinah quilt is great for beginners.

You’ll have enough fabric to finish the quilt top including 9 blocks and a 2 borders. More fabric is required for the backing and binding.

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.

Except for the strips, all of the dies I used for this quilt were in the GO! Qube Mix & Match 10″ Block set.

How to Choose the Right 3 Yards of Fabric

This Aunt Dinah 3 Yard Quilt Pattern makes 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.

In the example above, I wanted a fun Christmas quilt, so my gnome focus fabric is from the Hygge Christmas collection by Lewis & Irene. It’s out of print already but Lewis & Irene have released more adorable Christmas fabric since then.

Do you love gnomes as much as I do? Check out my 10 favorite Gnome Sewing Patterns!

After you have chosen your focus fabric, choose one coordinating fabric that is lighter and one coordinating fabric that is darker. Both of my coordinating fabrics are Moda Grunge Basics.

Wouldn’t a more traditional blue and cream version of the Aunt Dinah quilt look gorgeous too? The focus fabrics in the quilt above is a floral by Morris & Co for Free Spirit Fabrics.

If you follow these instructions for choosing your fabrics, you can’t go wrong, and you probably already have 3 fabrics in your stash that will make a beautiful quilt.

Aunt Dinah Free Three Yard Quilt Pattern

This free quilt pattern includes instructions for 2 different blocks: the Aunt Dinah Block and an Irish Chain Block variation. Both of these blocks are 9-patches so they look great together. There are a total of 9 blocks in the quilt and each block finishes at 15”.

The finished throw quilt is 54” x 54”. It’s perfect for snuggling on the couch or donating to Project Linus or another worthy organization.

Important note: This pattern squeezes as much as possible out of each yard of fabric. The width of each piece must 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 darker fabric, and one lighter fabric)
• a rotary cutter acrylic ruler, and mat
• sewing machine
• thread (I suggest thread matching the lighter fabric)
• ironing board and iron
• pencil or fabric marking pen

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

• 3 1/2 yards of backing fabric (or enough to piece together a 59” x 59” quilt back)
• a piece of quilt batting at least 59” x 59”
• 1/2 yard of binding fabric

Cutting:

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

• 9 squares 5 1/2” x 5 1/2”
• 32 squares 3” x 3”

You will also need to sew together 5-6 strips to make the outer border. It is best to wait until it’s time to make that border. Then you can measure the quilt top and cut exactly what you need.

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• The 5 1/2” squares may be cut with die 55803 (in the 10” Qube set)
• The 3” squares may be cut with die 55804 (in the 10” Qube set)
• The strips may be cut with the 3 1/2” strip cutter die 55017

Note: I did not use my AccuQuilt to cut these particular pieces because I wanted to make sure I had enough fabric. As you can see from the cutting chart, it’s very close!

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

• 10 squares 6” x 6”
• 20 squares 3” x 3”
• 5 squares 6 1/2” x 6 1/2”
• 16 strips 3” x 5 1/2”
• 5 strips 2” x 42”

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• Instead of cutting 6” squares, cut 20 5” finished HST triangles with die 55805 (in the 10” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 6 1/2” squares, cut 20 5” finished QST triangles with die 55806 (in the 10” Qube set)
• The strips may be cut with the 2” strip cutter die 55025

Note: I only used my AccuQuilt cutter to cut the HST and QST triangles.

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

• 5 squares 6 1/2” x 6 1/2”
• 10 squares 6” x 6”
• 16 strips 3” x 10 1/2”
• 20 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”

Optional Accuquilt cutting instructions:

• Instead of cutting 6 1/2” squares, cut 20 5” finished QST triangles with die 55806 (in the 10” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 6” squares, cut 20 5” finished HST triangles with die 55805 (in the 10” Qube set)
• Instead of cutting 3 1/2” squares, cut 40 2 1/2” finished HST triangles with die 55807 (in the 10” Qube set)
• The strips may be cut with the 3” strip cutter die 55084

Note: I only used my AccuQuilt cutter to cut the HST and QST triangles.

Quilt Piecing

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

How to Sew the Aunt Dinah Quilt Block Pieces

1. Subcut all of the 6” squares and the 3 1/2” squares in half diagonally. Skip this step if you are an AccuQuilt user and cut half square triangles instead of 6” and 3 1/2” squares.

2. Sew one of the light half square triangles to the side edge of a 3” darker fabric squares as shown. Press.

3. Sew another light half square triangle to the top edge of the square as shown. Press. Make 20 triangle shaped pieces.

4. Sew one of the darker half square triangles to a triangle shaped piece as shown. Trim to 5 1/2” square, if desired. Make 20 pieces.

5. Use the pencil or fabric marking pen to draw a diagonal line across the wrong side of the five 6 1/2” Fabric C squares. This is a cutting line.

Place the 6 1/2” Fabric C squares right sides together with the five 6 1/2” Fabric B squares. Pin the squares together.

6. Sew 1/4’’ away from the cutting line on on both sides of the line.

7. Cut each piece in half diagonally along the line. Open and press to make 2 half square triangles (HST units). Repeat to make 10 HST units.

8. Use the pencil or fabric marking pen to draw a diagonal line across the wrong side of the ten 6” Fabric C squares. This is a cutting line.

Place a 6” Fabric C square right sides together with a light/dark HST unit. The diagonal line should cross over the seam on the HST underneath. Pin the HST units together.

9. Sew 1/4’’ away from the cutting line on on both sides of the line.

10. Cut each piece in half diagonally along the line. Open and press. Trim and square up each piece to 5 1/2” x 5 1/2”.

Make 20 pieces.

Assemble the Aunt Dinah Quilt Blocks

1. Arrange 8 of the pieces made in the previous steps together with a 5 1/2” Fabric A square as shown.

Sew together in 3 rows. Sew the rows together to make the block.

2. Square the block to 15 1/2” x 15 1/2”, if desired. Repeat to make 5 Aunt Dinah blocks.

How to Sew the Irish Chain VAriation Blocks

1. Sew two 3” x 5 1/2” Fabric B pieces to the sides of a 5 1/2” x 5 1/2” Fabric A square. Make 4 block center pieces.

2. Sew two 3” x 3” Fabric A squares to the ends of a 3” x 5 1/2” Fabric B strip. Make 8 pieced strips.

3. Sew two pieced strips to the top and bottom of each block center as shown.

4. Sew two 3” x 10 1/2” Fabric C strips to the sides of each block center.

5. Sew two 3” x 3” Fabric A squares to the ends of a 3” x 10 1/2” Fabric C strip. Make 8 pieced strips.

6. Sew two pieced strips to the top and bottom of each block. Square the blocks to 15 1/2” x 15 1/2”, if desired. Make 4 Irish Chain variation blocks.

Assemble the Aunt Dinah 3 Yard Quilt Top

1. Arrange the 9 quilt blocks in an alternating pattern on a large table, a quilt design wall, or the floor.

2. Sew the blocks together to make 3 rows.

3. Sew the quilt block rows together.

Measure and Sew the Inner Border

1. Piece together five 2” strips of the darker fabric (Fabric B) to make an inner border.

The expected length of the side border pieces is 45 1/2”. I highly recommend measuring the quilt top and cutting all border pieces the correct size. See how to cut the correct size quilt borders. Attach the side borders.

2. The expected length of the top and bottom border pieces is 48 1/2”. Measure your quilt and cut 2 strips for the top and bottom border. Attach the top and bottom border pieces.

Measure and Sew the Outer Border

1. Measure your quilt top with the inner border to determine whether you need to cut five or six 3 1/2” wide strips of fabric for your outer border. Piece the strips together.

The expected length of the outer side border pieces is 48 1/2”. Cut the strips the required length. Attach the side border pieces.

2. The expected length of the top and bottom border pieces is 54 1/2”. Measure your quilt and cut 2 strips for the top and bottom border. Attach the top and bottom outer border pieces.

Finishing the Aunt Dinah Three Yard Quilt Pattern

1. Cut or piece together a 59” x 59” 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.

I used quilting rulers to stitch in the ditch around all of the pieces in my blocks. Then I used my Babylock Sashiko 2 machine to add lots of straight line and cross hatch quilting that looks like hand quilting. It’s so easy and the stitching is beautiful!

4. Cut 5 binding strips and bind using your favorite method. This is my favorite quilt binding method. For this quilt, I used my Sashiko machine to finish sewing my binding too.

xoxo,