The Fastest Baby Quilt Pattern! - Suzy Quilts (2024)

Not only is Maypole the fastest baby quilt pattern, it's wonderfully versatile and allows you to use all different kinds of fabric other than typical quilting cotton. Have you been curious to try out flannel, double gauze, or maybe even knits? Ooooh baby, this quilt pattern is for you!

I had a moment two weeks ago when I looked at a calendar and realized it was October. October?? I could have sworn it was still September! I had promised to finish a baby quilt by mid October for a shower and out of absolutely nowhere I was only one week away. How did this time warp happen?

MayPole: The Fastest Baby Quilt Pattern

The Maypole quilt pattern is so fast to sew because the design is comprised of large strips of fabric sewn into four blocks. Two of them being identical, I might add. Once those four blocks are finished, the last step is simply to sew them all together!

Here are my top three reasons why I keep coming back to this pattern over and over again...

3 Reasons Why Maypole is the Fastest Baby Quilt Pattern

• It's very forgiving. Ya'll, I didn't even iron my fabric before cutting into it to make these double gauze baby quilts seen here. Do you know how wavy double gauze is? It's like sewing with an eel. A really soft eel. But once you sew the top together, you trim the entire quilt and somehow it magically works out! Are my Maypole quilts always squared nicely? Oh heck no! But who cares? Will this cuddly soft baby quilt hang in a museum or get crammed into strollers and diaper bags, barfed on and most likely washed and stretched to the point that it would eventually become some variation of a rhombus anyway. I don't sweat the squaring.
• It's easy to quilt. When you're rushing around gathering fabric and trying to have a quilt top completed in a set amount of time, you're probably only thinking one step ahead. With the Maypole pattern that's totally fine, because once your top is finished, and you get to the actual quilting part, just stitch in the ditch. Bam. Done. Most batting instructions say to quilt anywhere from 4-8" apart. None of these strips are wider than that so you're good!
• It works well with many different aesthetics.This means you don't need to think long and hard about picking fabrics. Is your minimalist "neutrals only, please" niece having a baby? Perfect, make her a Maypole quilt. Is your loud and proud "love all the colors" daughter having her third kid? Congrats, grandma! Make her a Maypole quilt. I haven't seen a Maypole quilt I didn't like and there are over 2,000 in the tag #MaypoleQuilt on Instagram! Check it out for yourself!

You May Also Like...

• A Quilty Adventure: How to Sew with Different Fabrics
• How to Make the Softest Baby Quilt in the World
• Maypole Quilted Floor Pillow Tutorial
• New Horizons Quilt with Double Gauze
• ​Quilting with Flannel: Tips of the Trade

Maypole: Explore Different Fabrics!

Here's the truth of it, if you are on a deadline and just need to get it done, use the fabric you are most comfortable with. However, if you have a teeny tiny bit more time (you don't need much more time cause this is still going to be the fastest baby quilt pattern of your life) try some ultra cozy fabrics!

Make a Maypole Quilt with Double Gauze

• It's flowy and soft. I love the finished feel of double gauze and use it any chance I get. Full disclosure though, it's not something I mix and match into just any quilt pattern. Because double gauze is actually two pieces of gauze (yes, somewhat similar to medical gauze but with a tighter weave) it can't be cut up into super small pieces or it will fray and come apart. Read more about the origins and special features of double gauze here – How to Sew with Double Gauze.
• Not all double gauze is the same. In most cases when you buy quilting cotton you know exactly what you're going to get. That's not really the case with double gauze. Sometimes it's crinkly and sometimes it's smooth. Sometimes the weave is so tight you can't really see that it's "gauze" when other times it looks like something out of a first aid kit.

Where to Buy Double Gauze

This is where I'll get really honest with you about quality and feel of double gauze based on my experience. Just because you want to make the fastest baby quilt pattern doesn't mean you want to scrimp on cuddlability. Here's some double gauze I really like

• The Texture: Cotton Muslin Crinkle
• The Buttery Soft Cuddle: Nirvana Double Gauze by Robert Kaufman
• The Best Prints: Nani Iro
• The Most Unique: Spoonflower - this is my least favorite texture, but I love that you can print original artwork onto fabric. In both of these baby quilts the amazing artist Kelly Ventura printed some of her watercolors onto double gauze fabric for me to use.

Make a Maypole Quilt with Flannel

Now that I am very aware of it being fall (the cooler rainy weather should have clued me in), I get a lot of questions from readers asking about what patterns work well with flannel. Well, my darlings, you know what I'm going to say. Make a Maypole quilt!

We don't need to cover the highs and lows of sewing with flannel here because that's already been done in other posts. If you're interested in making a mega soft, warm and FAST baby quilt, use flannel! Oh, and wool batting. Oooooh YES! Here are some posts to check out:

• Quilting with Flannel: Tips of the Trade
• Why Wool Batting Makes the Warmest Quilts

Quick Sewing Tip!

ALWAYS pre-wash and sew with at least a 1/4" seam allowance. Since this pattern allows for a wider seam allowance without sacrificing any accuracing (you're not matching points) maybe even bump that up to 3/8". Both double gauze and flannel fray. Plus, count on baby quilts to get laundered a lot, so keep those seams strong with a thicker-than-usual seam allowance.

Below you can see that thick seam allowance in action as I sew binding on. I cut my binding in 2.5" strips instead of 2.25" to account for the wider seam allowance.

More Fast Baby Quilt Patterns to Try

In addition to the Maypole pattern, we have a few others that are very fast too and would also work with different kinds of fabric.

• Fishing Net
• Bayside
• Squared(free)
• Reflections
• Sugar POP

Have you made a Maypole quilt yet? If not, what are you waiting for? The clock is ticking! 😉

Comment below with any double gauze, flannel or quilt-related questions. I hope this post helps you the next time you're frantically speeding around your sewing machine trying to figure out the fastest bay quilt pattern because OMG it's now November and Christmas is only a month away? ACK!