This adorable scrappy toddler tumbler quilt is made with a Tumbler block.  In this lesson, we will discover how to create a One Patch quilt and how to make a Custom Patch.  We will use the custom patch to create the same size 5 inch tumbler die that goes with my Sizzix Fabi fabric cutter,  If you don’t have a die cut machine, you can print the template instead.  Lets create!

Scrappy Toddler Tumbler Quilt

Size: 40″ x 40″

Skill Builders:

  • Working with one patch designs
  • Creating a custom patch

On to the design!

  1. Open EQ8.
  2. Let’s name the Project.  The project name appears at the top left of the EQ8 Window. Right now the project says Untitled – EQ8.
  3. On the left side toolbar, click the New project button. 
  4. On the Create a new project tab, type in the project name field Scrappy Tumbler.
  5. Click OK.  The box will close.  Notice the project name Untitled has been replaced with Scrappy Tumbler.

  6. Under DESIGN QUILTS, select Design a quilt from scratch.

  7.   Under the NEW QUILT tab, scroll through the ribbon options and select the One Patch layout.  
  8.  Go to the LAYOUT tab.
  9.  Under the Patch style, select Tumblers.
  10. The unfinished size of the Tumbler from my Sizzix Tumbler Die is 5″ x 5″, so the finished size would be 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ allowing for the 1/4″ seam allowances on each side.  Under finished size of Units, enter a Width of 4.5 and a Height of 4. 5 into the entry fields or by using the slider bars.  Since we are making a toddler quilt, lets adjust the number of units down until they measure about 45″ square.  In this case change the units to 8 Horizontal and 10 Vertical.
  11. This looks pretty good except the shape of the tumbler is too narrow.  The finished top of the tumbler only measures 1 1/2″” and the finished top of the tumbler for my Sizzix die is 2 1/2″ across.  In order to make the tumbler shape match the size of the Sizzix tumbler diecut shape, we will have to create a custom patch.
    Note: Custom patches allow you to change their shape.  They have light gray “glides”, which run horizontally or vertically from the patch corners.  You can pull on the glides in the One Patch Layout palette to change the shape.
  12.  Under Patch Style, select Custom (Glide).  You will find it at the bottom of the list.
  13. Again we need to enter the finished size of the Tumbler from the Sizzix Die which is  4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″.  Under finished size of Units, enter a Width of 4.5 and a Height of 4.5 into the entry fields or by using the slider bars.

  14.  Hover over the right dotted light gray line and you will see two bars with arrows appear. Click, hold and glide the line to the right watching the size of the space on the top right.  Get it as close to 1″ as you can.
  15. Now hover over the left dotted light gray line and you will see two bars with arrows appear. Click, hold and glide the line to the left watching the size of the space on the top left.  Get it as close to 1″ as you can.   The center should measure as close to 2 1/2″ as you can get.   With those numbers, you pretty much have the one patch matching the finished measurements of the actual Sizzix Tumbler die.
  16. Now take a look at the Size of the Quilts Center layout and adjust the NUMBER OF UNITS until it measures about 40″ x 40″.  In this case, enter 6 horizontal units and 9 Vertical units.

  17. Select the Borders tab to display the Borders Palette.
  18. Under Lock size adjustments, select all and move the borders to zero.

  19. Select the Design tab
    Under Block tools on the ribbon bar, you are not allowed to drop blocks into a one patch design.  Let’s remove the default blocks.  Right click on any block, select Clear all unused blocks.  You will be prompted ” Are you sure you want to remove all unused blocks and their colorings?”.  Click yes and since we have not saved any blocks into any quilts, the blocks will all be cleared.
  20. Select Fabric Tools on the ribbon bar.
  21. Select Paintbrush on the Sketchbook Fabrics & Colors palette. Click on a fabric or solid color and then click on the patches in your quilt to update them. I chose a scrappy design.
Now you have designed a cute scrappy toddler tumbler quilt.

Design Variations

    

Try playing with other coloring patterns to create different looks in your quilt designs.
Hint: Hold down the CTRL key when you color a block and observe what happens.  Did it color all of the blocks of that shape?

Now that you have your design, here are  Tips and Help Articles to help you get ready to sew up your design.

How to print fabric yardage estimates

If you don’t have a fabric cutting die, you can print out a template for the tumbler block.  Get the instructions below.

How to print templates

Ready to Quilt?

Now that you have designed this with EQ8, why not stitch up your own scrappy toddler tumbler quilt?  You can find  a DETAILED TUTORIAL for this quilt on my Lori Miller Designs blog.

Questions or Feedback?

Please share your ideas, questions and feedback in the comments. Thanks!

Lori J. Miller lives in Troy, Michigan, where she designs, stitches and sews quilts and quilty things. She loves experimenting with fun colors and designs to make playful and clever products for the modern stitcher.  Sewing since age 11, Lori has deep roots in sewing and quilting traditions that add a unique dimension to her designs.  She loves designing using Electric Quilt 8, Electric Quilt Mini and EQ Stitch.  You can follow her quilting adventures on her blog at lorimillerdesigns.com or on instagram @lorimillerdesigns