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For this rail fence baby quilt, the finished size is 37 1/2 × 47 1/2 inches, with 5-inch finished blocks. The pattern uses strip piecing: sew five fabric strips into a set, cut the set into segments, then rotate and arrange those segments to create the rail-fence effect. The instructions below follow the AllPeopleQuilt Rail Fence Baby Quilt pattern; its fabric quantities assume 44/45-inch-wide, 100% cotton fabrics and include 1/4-inch seam allowances.
Finished size and supplies
Plan on a finished quilt measuring 37 1/2 × 47 1/2 inches. The blocks finish at 5 inches square. Before cutting, wash and press fabric if that is your usual quilting practice, and check that your selections provide enough usable width for the specified strips.
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| Fabric or material | Quantity | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Assorted dark prints and tone-on-tones | 3/4 yard total | Dark rails in the blocks |
| Assorted light and medium prints | 3/4 yard total | Light rails in the blocks |
| Red tone-on-tone | 1/4 yard | Inner border |
| Multicolor print | 1 1/8 yards; 1 1/2 yards if directional | Outer border and binding |
| Backing fabric | 2 5/8 yards | Quilt backing |
| Batting | 46 × 56 inches | Quilt interior |
The source’s cutting list specifies 28 dark strips and 27 light/medium strips, each 1 1/2 × 18 inches. Cut inner-border strips 1 1/2 inches wide, outer-border strips 5 1/2 inches wide, and binding strips 2 1/2 inches wide. The listed yardage is not a substitute for the pattern’s full cutting map: consult the complete pattern instructions for how to allocate the assorted prints and cut all border pieces.
How to make the rail-fence blocks
Each block comes from a five-strip set. The arrangement of dark and light fabrics within each set makes one group of blocks read as dark and the other as light when the pieces are laid out.
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Make the dark blocks
- Choose one dark print or tone-on-tone and one light or medium print for each set.
- Sew together three 1 1/2 × 18-inch strips of the dark fabric with two strips of the light or medium fabric, alternating the fabrics as directed in the pattern.
- Make six dark strip sets. Crosscut each set into 5 1/2-inch segments to yield 18 dark blocks.
Make the light blocks
- For each set, sew three light/medium strips with two dark strips, alternating the fabrics as directed in the pattern.
- Make five light strip sets and crosscut each into 5 1/2-inch segments to yield 17 light blocks.
Press seams consistently as you work so the joined strips lie flat; follow the pattern’s detailed pressing and cutting guidance for the complete construction. The segments are cut 5 1/2 inches wide so the blocks finish at 5 inches after they are sewn into the quilt.
Arrange and sew the quilt center
Lay out the 35 blocks in seven rows, alternating light and dark blocks. Orient the strips within the dark blocks horizontally and those within the light blocks vertically. This change in direction, along with the alternating value, creates the woven rail-fence appearance.
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When the layout looks balanced, sew the blocks into rows, keeping their orientation intact. Join the rows to form the quilt center, matching seams where practical and checking that the top lies flat before adding borders.
Add borders and finish the quilt
- Add the 1 1/2-inch inner border, then the 5 1/2-inch outer border, using the pattern’s cutting and assembly instructions.
- Layer the quilt top with the 46 × 56-inch batting and backing. Baste the layers together using your preferred method.
- Quilt as desired, then bind the edges with the 2 1/2-inch multicolor-print binding strips.
The source pattern credits Kathie Holland’s “Weaving the Rails” as its inspiration and names Laura Boehnke as quilt tester.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check size before using another rail-fence pattern
“Rail fence baby quilt” does not refer to one standard size or set of fabric requirements. For comparison, a separate three-fabric pattern PDF gives a finished size of 30 × 41 inches and a layout of five blocks across by seven down (pattern PDF). Diary of a Quilter lists a 40 × 40-inch baby quilt and a 40 × 56-inch crib quilt (pattern listing).
Those are different projects, not interchangeable versions of the same cutting plan. If adapting a pattern, compare its finished size, block size, strip width and count, fabric quantities, and layout. Do not combine one pattern’s yardage with another pattern’s cutting instructions without recalculating.
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