March 09, 2020

Splashdown: Free Pattern for charm packs!

When Maywood Studio asked me to design fabric they let me know they usually offered a free pattern to go along with the fabric. They told me I could design it or they could. I decided I wanted to design it, because the whole collection felt like my baby, and this is what I came up with: a baby quilt that can be made with a charm pack!


The quilt measures 40" x 40". I called it Splashdown and it is a tribute to the way astronauts returned safely to earth in early space travel: their capsule would descend through the atmosphere, deploy parachutes and then land in the ocean. In the quilt, the center plus sign indicates the intended landing site, and the outward echoing half-square triangles represent the landing "splash"!

To see a PDF of the pattern, click here. You can then save the file to your computer if you wish.

Hot tip: the pattern is written for a single charm pack, BUT, if you have four charm packs (or a layer cake - a collection of 10" squares) you could make the pattern four times, for a larger, 80" x 80" quilt! Check out how that might look!


The thing I'm most proud of is making those diagonal geese in the corners easy to piece, without paper piecing. I'm sure other quilters have figured that one out before me, but all the same I was delighted when it turned out!

If you end up using the pattern I'd love to see how it turns out! Those of you who ordered fabric from me should be receiving it this week! Thanks for all the Moongate love!

There were a couple of non-critical errors in the originally published pattern but the link has been updated now. 





18 comments:

Chris K. said...

The way you did the diagonal geese is brilliant!

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

I love the name and back story; as a former aerospace engineer who worked in the space industry (both for NASA and in private industry) I get it! It's been so fun to follow along with your fabric line debut. <3

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

When I click on the link, my computer tells me it's not safe, and doesn't send me to the pattern. It did the same thing when I clicked on the link in your email newsletter. I've never gotten that message before.

Christine B said...

Beautiful pattern Christina.... I loved the baby size but when I scrolled down the the larger size I loved it even more!! Christine xx

Gene Black said...

Thanks, I saw the free pattern last night and downloaded it. I think it will be a great baby quilt pattern.

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for such a well-thought out design!! It is lovely and I can't wait to make it!!

quilt101 said...

I think making four units would make an excellent grown up size quilt, although it is a great baby quilt too!! Thanks for sharing!

Allison said...

I love the secondary patterns created in the Layer Cake version of the quilt :-)

A Left-Handed Quilter said...

Your method for making that corner flying geese block is VERY clever! I have some charm packs that have been waiting for this pattern - thanks for sharing - ;))

Susan said...

I don't actually think I've ever seen anyone make diagonal geese with that method, so good for you! It seems to me it would make it very easy. I really like the pattern, and I like that four of them makes a large quilt. Thank you! I will look for the fabric at a quilt shop near me.

KaHolly said...

A delightful quilt to showcase your pretty fabrics. I love the story behind the quilt!

Rebecca Grace said...

How fun! I love the secondary design when the four large blocks are sewn together!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

very cool pattern!

Jan said...

Thank you for this new design! I really like the four blocks together. So many possibilities.

whoFilets said...

Very cute!

Trish said...

Thank you for this awesome free pattern. I have some charm packs that I have been waiting to use along with a layer cake. This would be a great gift for a new mom and baby.

D. Kirchoff said...

So much fun, might make another!
I did struggle with the diagonal geese blocks in step 9 and then getting them to line up with the triangle units.
Any tips?
ThNks

Gemini Jen NZ said...

This pattern has been on my to-do list for a while...here is my version, finished in May! Thanks for sharing the pattern with us. http://jenscraftwork.blogspot.com/2021/06/splashdown.html

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