How to Make a Mermaid Tail Baby Quilt using GO! Dies

Hello, quilters! Katy here from KatyQuilts to share a quick and easy baby quilt tutorial using the GO! Chinese Lanterns-8" Finished Die. 

This quilt finishes to a 36 1/2" square, making it a perfect size for taking with baby in a stroller or car seat.

Ready? Let’s sew!

Finished Mermaid Tail Bay Quilt

Dies Needed

Fabric Needed

  • 1/3 yard of light teal
  • 2/3 yards of dark teal
  • 1 1/3 yards of white background
  • 1 1/4 yards of backing 

Cutting Instructions

  1. From the light teal fabric, cut:
    1. Two strips measuring 5 1/4" x Width of Fabric (WOF)
      • Subcut 14 of Shape B from the GO! Chinese Lanterns-8" Finished Die
      • Subcut 14 of Shape C using the GO! Chinese Lanterns-8" Finished Die
  2. With the dark teal fabric, cut: 
    1. Two strips measuring 5 1/4" x WOF
      • Subcut 14 of Shape B using the GO! Chinese Lanterns-8" Finished Die
      • Subcut 14 of Shape C on the GO! Chinese Lanterns-8" Finished Die
    2. Four WOF strips with the GO! Strip Cutter-2 1/2" (2" Finished) 3 Strips Die for binding
  3. Using the white background fabric, cut:
    1. Two strips measuring 5 1/2" x WOF
      • Subcut 28 of Shape A on the GO! Chinese Lanterns-8" Finished Die
    2. Four WOF strips using the GO! Strip Cutter-2 1/2" (2" Finished) 3 Strips Die
      • Subcut two of these strips to 32 1/2"
      • Subcut the other two strips to 36 1/2"
    3. One background piece for a 16 1/2" square
    4. Two background pieces measuring 8 1/2" x 16 1/2"
    5. One background piece for an 8 1/2" square

Sewing Instructions

1. Sew 14 quarter blocks like this: 

2. Sew 14 more quarter blocks like this:

3. From these quarter blocks, piece and sew eight units like this: 

4. Using the remaining quarter blocks, piece and sew six units like this:

5. Lay out and sew the pieces
like this: 

6. Sew the units in the long vertical strip together and the shorter horizontal strips together.

7a. Sew the background pieces into place.

7b. Continue to sew the background pieces into place.

8. Add one 2 1/2" x 32 1/2" strip to each side. 

9. Add the 2 1/2" x 36 1/2" strips to the top and bottom.

10. Sew the strips into place.

11. Quilt and bind as desired. 

In case you were wondering about the name, I used this adorable scale print on the back, and the triangle shapes from the GO! Chinese Lanterns-8" Finished Die on the front reminded me of mermaid tails!

If you make your own version of this tutorial, please share the photo on social media using the hashtag #AccuQuiltBuilt and don't forget to tag @katyquilts and @AccuQuilt so that we can see your spring creation!