Looking for a free modern quilt pattern that makes a big impression without piecing dozens of small blocks? The Spin Me Round quilt by Patty Young and Emalee Grambo of MODKID transforms colorful fabric strips into a striking, spinning design around a central square. The result is a lively square quilt with a clever geometric layout and plenty of room to show off your favorite prints.
Below, you will find the original free PDF pattern links, exact fabric requirements from the designers' instructions, a beginner-friendly explanation of the construction approach, and practical tips for keeping the diagonal pieces accurate. The downloadable PDF remains the source for the complete cutting diagrams and sewing sequence.
Spin Me Round Quilt Pattern at a Glance
| Pattern detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pattern name | Spin Me Round Quilt |
| Designers | Patty Young and Emalee Grambo, MODKID, LLC |
| Finished size | 46 × 46 inches (approximately 117 × 117 cm) |
| Main method | Strip piecing, diagonal cutting, and assembling around a center square |
| Suggested experience | Confident beginner; careful handling of diagonal fabric edges helps |
| Seam allowance | ¼ inch, as specified in the original PDF |
| Pattern format | Free PDF with illustrated instructions |
| Good for | Wall hangings, decorative throws, and colorful gifts |
Download the Free Spin Me Round Quilt Pattern
The pattern is offered as a free download by The Quilting Bea and is also available in a PDF hosted by Baby Lock. The designers' own MODKID free-pattern archive lists Spin Me Round as well.
Get the original Spin Me Round instructions
Download Free Quilt Pattern (PDF) Alternative PDF via Baby LockThe files open on external websites. If one link is unavailable, try the other or visit the free pattern listing at The Quilting Bea.
Fabric Requirements for the 46-Inch Quilt
The following quantities come from the designers' original PDF. The sample quilt uses prints from Patty Young's Rendezvous fabric collection, but the design also works with other quilting cottons. FWOF means the full width of fabric.
| Quilt component | Fabric required |
|---|---|
| Quilt top — strips | 14 strips, each 4½ × 40 inches |
| Quilt top — center | One 11½-inch square |
| Backing fabric #1 | One piece 54 inches long × full width of fabric |
| Backing fabric #2 | One strip 10 inches × full width of fabric, plus one 10 × 10-inch square |
| Binding | Five strips, each 2½ inches × full width of fabric |
| Other supplies | Batting, thread, rotary cutter, quilting ruler, cutting mat, pins or clips, and iron |
These are the pattern's listed cutting requirements, not a shopping-yardage estimate. Check your usable fabric width and allow for trimming, prewashing, and any changes to the original layout before purchasing fabric.
Why This Modern Strip Quilt Looks So Different
Many quilts are built from rows of square blocks. Spin Me Round takes another route: strips of fabric are joined into larger panels, cut at an angle, and positioned around one center square. That shift in direction makes the colors appear to sweep around the middle, creating a bold sense of movement.
Because the pieces are relatively large, the project can show off prints that might get lost in tiny patchwork units. The challenge is keeping the strips straight, the angled edges stable, and the center assembly accurate.
How the Spin Me Round Quilt Comes Together
This is a high-level guide to help you understand the process before opening the PDF. For the exact marks, diagrams, order of seams, and trimming measurements, follow the designers' illustrated instructions.
1. Plan two groups of seven strips
Divide the 14 strips into two coordinated groups. The original sample uses contrasting color families to make the spinning effect easier to see. Lay the strips out before sewing and check that neighboring prints do not blend together.
2. Sew the strip sets and press
Join each group into a larger fabric panel using the pattern's ¼-inch seam allowance. Consistent seams are important because the panel dimensions affect the later diagonal cuts. Press carefully without stretching the fabric.
3. Mark and cut the panels on the diagonal
The designers' diagrams show where to mark each strip set and how to make the angled cuts. Use a ruler and rotary cutter for clean edges. Diagonal cuts can expose bias edges, so handle the pieces gently and avoid tugging them out of shape.
4. Build the design around the center square
The angled sections are arranged around the 11½-inch center square to create the distinctive rotating layout. Follow the PDF closely for the joining order, partial seams, and corner alignment rather than trying to assemble the pieces from a photograph.
5. Square up, quilt, and bind
After the top is assembled, trim it as directed in the pattern. The PDF also illustrates a pieced backing, followed by quilting and binding. A simple all-over quilting design can keep the colorful strips in focus, while a geometric motif can emphasize the movement.
Five Fabric Color Ideas for Spin Me Round
- Warm and cool contrast: Use coral, red, and orange in one strip set, then teal, navy, and blue in the other.
- Modern rainbow: Arrange saturated colors in a deliberate sequence, with a quiet center print.
- Soft cottage style: Combine blush, sage, cream, and tiny florals for a gentler version.
- Bold monochrome: Mix several shades of blue or green, separating them with a few high-contrast prints.
- Scrappy favorites: Use strips from your stash, but repeat a few colors so the quilt still feels coordinated.
Helpful Tips Before You Start Sewing
- Check your ¼-inch seam allowance. Small inaccuracies multiply across seven joined strips.
- Keep the strips straight. Avoid pulling on the fabric while stitching long seams.
- Press, don't stretch. Lift and lower the iron when working near diagonal edges.
- Label the angled pieces. Mark them with removable labels so their orientation remains clear during assembly.
- Follow the center-square sequence. The original pattern explains where to stop and resume stitching around the center.
- Check the PDF before cutting backing. The designers include a pieced-back option with its own measurements.
What Can You Make with a 46 × 46-Inch Quilt?
At 46 inches square, Spin Me Round works especially well as a wall hanging, a decorative throw, or a statement piece over the back of a chair. It also makes a colorful gift for someone who loves graphic fabrics. The original design is a square quilt rather than a standard bed-quilt size; changing the dimensions would require recalculating the construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Spin Me Round quilt pattern really free?
Yes. The Quilting Bea lists it as a free pattern, and Baby Lock hosts a downloadable copy of the designers' PDF. Both sources are linked above.
What is the finished size?
The original pattern specifies a finished quilt size of 46 × 46 inches, approximately 117 × 117 cm.
How many strips do I need?
The quilt top uses 14 strips measuring 4½ × 40 inches, plus one 11½-inch center square. Backing and binding require additional fabric.
Is this a jelly roll quilt?
Not as written. Standard jelly roll strips are usually 2½ inches wide, while this pattern calls for 4½-inch-wide strips. Follow the specified measurements unless you are intentionally redesigning the quilt.
Is Spin Me Round beginner-friendly?
A confident beginner who can sew straight, consistent seams may enjoy it. The diagonal cuts and the center-square joining sequence call for extra attention, so it helps to read the entire PDF first.
Can I make a larger version?
Possibly, but the published instructions are drafted for the 46-inch square quilt. Enlarging the design requires new measurements and may change the construction; test any modifications before cutting all your fabric.
Final Thoughts
Spin Me Round is a memorable example of how simple fabric strips can create an unexpected modern quilt design. Choose prints with clear contrast, take your time with the diagonal edges, and keep the designers' illustrated PDF beside your sewing machine. The finished quilt rewards careful piecing with a lively, swirling layout.
Original pattern resources: MODKID Free Patterns · The Quilting Bea pattern listing · Baby Lock free quilting projects.
