.jpg)
If you are looking for a quilt that is colorful, fast to piece, and genuinely beginner friendly, this Easy Brick Quilt is an excellent place to start.
This simple design uses 5-inch precut fabric squares arranged in alternating straight and staggered rows. The offset layout creates the look of a brick wall while avoiding one of the most frustrating parts of beginner patchwork: matching lots of seams at intersections.
The free Brick Quilt tutorial featured in this guide was created by Leah Day, quilting teacher and designer. Her sample quilt used 93 precut 5-inch squares and finished at approximately 36" × 49.5".
Easy Brick Quilt at a Glance
| Project | Easy Brick Quilt |
| Designer / Tutorial | Leah Day |
| Skill Level | Beginner |
| Main Fabric | 5" precut squares / charm squares |
| Sample Quilt Size | Approximately 36" × 49.5" |
| Squares Used in Sample | 93 precut 5" squares |
| Main Technique | Straight piecing with staggered rows |
Why the Brick Quilt Is Great for Beginners
Many beginner quilts use a traditional grid, which means several seams need to meet perfectly where blocks come together.
The Brick Quilt changes that arrangement by offsetting every other row. Because the vertical seams are staggered, you do not have a long series of intersections to match.
That makes this design a useful first quilt for practicing:
- A consistent quarter-inch seam allowance
- Chain piecing
- Sewing long patchwork rows
- Pressing seams
- Keeping a quilt top flat and square
- Basic quilting and binding
What Is a Brick Quilt?
A brick quilt gets its name from the way the fabric pieces are arranged. Instead of placing every seam directly above the seam in the previous row, alternating rows are offset.
The result resembles traditional brickwork.
It is a simple layout, but changing the fabrics can completely change the look of the finished quilt. Bright prints create a playful scrap quilt, while a limited palette can produce a much more modern design.
Why 5-Inch Charm Squares Work So Well
Charm squares are precut fabric squares that commonly measure 5" × 5". Because most of the cutting has already been done, they can dramatically reduce preparation time.
They are particularly useful for a Brick Quilt because you can combine many different prints without having to cut dozens of individual squares yourself.
You can use:
- A large charm pack
- Several coordinating charm packs
- 5-inch squares cut from your own scraps
- Leftover precuts from previous projects
Choose Precuts of the Same Size
Not every manufacturer's precut square is exactly identical in size. If you mix several packs, place a few squares on top of one another before you begin sewing.
If there are noticeable differences, trim them to one consistent measurement. Uniform pieces will make your rows easier to assemble and help the quilt top lie flat.
Planning a Scrappy Brick Quilt
One of the nicest things about this design is that you do not need a complicated color plan.
For a relaxed scrappy quilt, mix the prints before you begin and distribute strong colors throughout the quilt rather than concentrating them in one area.
A Simple Fabric Rule
Try not to place two identical prints immediately beside one another. Beyond that, you can allow the colors to fall quite naturally.
This makes the Brick Quilt especially useful when you want to sew quickly instead of spending hours rearranging individual pieces.
Basic Construction of the Easy Brick Quilt
The design alternates between two types of rows:
- Full rows made from complete 5-inch squares
- Staggered rows shifted sideways to create the brick effect
Leah Day’s sample uses six full rows and five staggered rows. The staggered rows receive partial pieces at the ends so that the sides of the quilt remain relatively even.
Step 1: Mix Your Fabric Squares
Separate and shuffle your precut squares so that fabrics from the original collection are not still grouped in their factory order.
This is especially helpful when a charm pack contains several prints in multiple colorways.
Step 2: Chain Piece the Squares
Pair the squares and sew them together with a consistent ¼" seam allowance.
Instead of stopping and cutting the thread after every pair, feed one pair after another through the sewing machine.
This technique, known as chain piecing, is one of the fastest ways to construct a quilt made from many repeated pieces.
Step 3: Build Longer Rows
Join the paired squares into longer units and continue until you have complete rows.
The sample quilt uses rows eight squares wide for the full-width rows. You can change the number of squares if you want to make your quilt narrower or wider.
Step 4: Create the Staggered Rows
The alternating rows are shorter at their main center section and use partial pieces at both outer edges.
Those end pieces shift the vertical seams away from the seams in the neighboring rows, producing the classic brick-wall layout.
Follow Leah Day’s original tutorial for her exact cutting measurement and row configuration.
Step 5: Lay Out the Quilt Before Joining Rows
Arrange the full rows and staggered rows alternately on a design wall, floor, or large table.
Look at the quilt from a distance before sewing. Move any fabric that creates an unwanted concentration of one color or print.
Take a Quick Photo
Once you like the arrangement, photograph it. The image becomes an easy reference while rows are moved between your design area, sewing machine, and ironing board.
Step 6: Sew the Rows Together
Join one full row to one staggered row with a consistent quarter-inch seam. Because the seams are intentionally offset, you do not need to match every vertical seam.
Continue alternating rows until the quilt top is complete.
This forgiving assembly method is one of the biggest reasons the pattern works so well for new quilters.
Pressing Tips for a Flat Quilt Top
Whether you prefer pressing seams open or to one side, consistency is more important than the specific method you choose.
- Press rather than aggressively dragging the iron.
- Keep long rows straight while pressing.
- Check that seams are fully opened or fully pressed to the chosen side.
- Give the complete quilt top a final press before layering.
How Big Can You Make a Brick Quilt?
The layout is extremely flexible. Leah Day’s example measures approximately 36" × 49.5", but the same concept can be enlarged simply by adding more squares to each row and adding additional rows.
That means the same technique can be adapted for:
- Baby quilts
- Lap quilts
- Kids' quilts
- Throw quilts
- Charity quilts
- Larger bed quilts
Remember that enlarging the quilt also increases the amount of backing, batting, and binding required.
Optional Borders
A Brick Quilt does not require a border, but adding one can make the project larger or help frame a busy collection of prints.
For a highly scrappy quilt, a solid or low-volume border can provide a visual rest around the patchwork.
For a more coordinated quilt, choose one of the stronger colors from the charm pack and repeat it in the border and binding.
Easy Quilting Ideas for a Brick Quilt
The simple piecing gives you many choices for quilting the finished top. You do not need complicated free-motion quilting to make the design look good.
Straight-Line Quilting
Quilt parallel lines across the rows or follow the horizontal seams. This is one of the easiest choices for a beginner using a domestic sewing machine.
Diagonal Lines
Diagonal quilting creates extra movement against the strong horizontal brick layout.
Gentle Wavy Lines
Slightly wavy lines are forgiving because they do not need to remain perfectly straight. They work especially well on cheerful scrap quilts.
Common Brick Quilt Mistakes to Avoid
Mixing Different-Sized Precuts
Check your squares before sewing if they come from different manufacturers. A small difference repeated across eight or more pieces can affect an entire row.
Using an Inconsistent Seam Allowance
A changing seam allowance can cause neighboring rows to finish at different lengths. Test your quarter-inch seam before chain piecing the whole quilt.
Forcing Long Rows to Match
If one row is noticeably longer than another, investigate the seam allowances rather than stretching one row to fit. Stretching can make the completed quilt ripple.
Overthinking the Scrappy Layout
A Brick Quilt is supposed to feel relaxed. Focus on distributing the strongest colors rather than trying to make every square placement perfect.
View the Free Brick Quilt Tutorial
For Leah Day’s complete row construction, exact staggered-end measurements, photos, videos, quilting ideas, and finishing instructions, visit her original free tutorial.
View the Free Brick Quilt Pattern & Tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Brick Quilt suitable for beginners?
Yes. It uses straight seams and precut squares, and the staggered arrangement means you do not need to match long rows of seam intersections.
What size squares are used?
The featured Leah Day version begins with 5-inch precut squares, commonly called charm squares.
How many charm squares do I need?
Leah Day’s finished sample used 93 five-inch squares. Starting with a larger precut collection gives you a few extra pieces for planning and adjusting the layout.
What size is the finished quilt?
The sample quilt measures approximately 36" × 49.5". You can make the design larger or smaller by changing the number of squares and rows.
Do I need to match seams?
The alternating rows are deliberately staggered, so the vertical seams between squares do not need to meet the seams in the neighboring row. That is one of the reasons this is such an approachable beginner quilt.
Can I use scraps instead of a charm pack?
Yes. Cut your scraps into consistent 5-inch squares and use them in exactly the same type of layout. This can be an excellent way to use leftover quilting cotton.
More Easy Quilt Ideas
- Pinwheel Fantasy Quilt – Free Scrappy Quilt Pattern
- Easy Bow Tie Quilt Block Tutorial
- 7 Free Heart Quilt Patterns and Blocks
Final Thoughts
The Easy Brick Quilt shows how effective a very simple layout can be. Five-inch squares, straight seams, and staggered rows are enough to create a colorful quilt without complicated cutting or difficult seam matching.
It is also an excellent pattern to keep in mind whenever charm packs or fabric scraps begin accumulating in your sewing room. Change the colors, number of rows, and overall dimensions, and the same basic idea can become anything from a small baby quilt to a generous throw.
