Bereavement Quilt Pattern

Sadly, there are times in life when one experiences the untimely death of a baby due to miscarriage, still birth, and/or early infant death. Families oftentimes need something tangible to remember their babies and a bereavement quilt is a keepsake that helps fulfill this need.

These are simple (a basic nine-patch block), yet very special little quilts that measure 22" x 22". They are designed with the center block a plain square, so that a personal message can be added, such as the baby's name, date, and so forth. There is no need to use batting in the quiltlet™ and embellishments are also allowable, as a baby will probably never be wrapped in one of these.

The original concept for this pattern came from an e-mail requesting the Quilting Passion Charity Project volunteers to donate quilts to an organization dedicated to serving this unfortunate need. The organization, The Sidney Center, sponsors a project called Quilts For Carol's Angels. The Sidney Center is located in Eugene, Oregon and accepts donations any time. In fact, this organization requires approximately 50 quilts a month to meet its current needs. You can choose to make the pattern below or come up with one of your own. To make a donation to Quilts For Carol's Angels, please contact Tammie, Project Coordinator. To make a donation to the Quilting Passion Charity Project, please contact either Peggy, Project Coordinator or myself (Terry).

Cut one (1) 6.5" x 6.5" square from either white, white on white, cream, or cream on cream fabric. This is the center square of the quiltlet that can be used to write pertinent information on.
Cut four (4) 6.5" x 6.5" squares from Coordinating Fabric 1.
Cut four (4) 6.5" x 6.5" squares from Coordinating Fabric 2.
Cut three (3) 3" x width of fabric (approximately 42") strips from Coordinating Fabric 3. This is the outer border of the quiltlet. If you cut carefully and have wider fabric, you can get by with only cutting two (2) of these strips.
Cut three (3) 2.25" x width of fabric (approximately 42") strips from fabric that coordinates and "frames" the quiltlet. This is to be used as the binding. If you prefer not to use a binding, then simply cut the backing larger than needed and fold it over to the front and hem or use the "birthing" technique to make your quiltlet.
Cut one (1) 24" x 24" square. This can be any fabric you choose. It is for the backing. If you use the backing as part of the binding, mentioned in the step above, then cut this square approximately 26" x 26".
Begin by sewing two (2) of the three (3) rows together. Each row consists of three (3) squares in each row. The first and third rows will use Coordinating Fabric 1, Coordinating Fabric 2, then Coordinating 1 again. Refer to Diagram A at the right for an illustration of each of these rows should like like after sewing three (3) squares together, using Fabrics 1 and 2.
Press the seams in rows 1 and 3 in the same direction. It doesn't matter, at this point, which direction you choose.
Sew the middle row together by sewing Coordinating Fabric 2, the middle "plain" square (that is white, white on white, cream, or cream on cream), then Coordinating Fabric 2. Refer to Diagram B at the right.
Press the seams in the middle row so that they go in the opposite direction of rows 1 and 3.
Sew the top row to the middle row, using your directional seam pressing as a guide to "snug" the intersections. Refer to Diagram C, at right.
Sew the bottom row onto the middle row from the quiltlet in step 10. Refer to Diagram D, at right.
Press the row seams so that they all go in one direction.
Now, it's time to add the side borders. Using the strips cut from Coordinating Fabric 3 in step 4 above, sew a strip to each side of the large nine-patch. Refer to Diagram E, at right.
Press the seams toward the borders and then trim the ends off even with both the top and bottom of the quiltlet.
Sew strips from Coordinating Fabric 3 on the top and bottom of the quiltlet. Refer to Diagram F, at right.
Press the seams toward the borders and then trim the ends off even with the side border exterior edges. At this point, the quiltlet should be square.
It is now time to quilt the quiltet and bind it. You can either continue with these instructions or choose your own method. If choosing this method, layer the backing (right side down, facing the flat surface), batting, and quilt top (right side facing up, toward you).
Baste or pin the quiltlet sandwich together.
Add a label to the back side of the quiltlet, either before quilting or before binding. I add mine before quilting, when I have the opportunity, so that it is quilted with the quilt.
Quilt as desired.
Bind as desired. Refer to Diagram G, located below, for an idea of what your finished quiltlet should look similar to.
Embellish as desired, however, this is optional. Please check with the charity that you are donating to to make sure that embellishments are acceptable.
Donate it to a charity of your choice!

Diagram G

Diagram A

Diagram B

Diagram C

Diagram D

Diagram E

Diagram F

Here are two (2) quilts submitted by Tammie that were donated to Quilts For Carol's Angels.

"All About Blocks" is a work in progress, so be sure to check back often, as more and more free block patterns in multiple sizes are added! All block patterns that are linked to from the "Quilting Passion Patterns" page are created by Terry Crawford, and although many of them are traditional patterns, a great deal of them are original designs. Please respect the copyright of this site. Thank you!