Quilt Patterns for Layer Cakes

By Jayne | Published on 17th June 2025

Quilters know that half the fun of sewing is in choosing the fabric—and for many, layer cakes are a great option. No, we’re not talking about dessert (though quilting often pairs well with snacks). They're perfectly coordinated, precut, and ready to be stitched into something beautiful.

In this blog, we’ll explore some of the most popular and beginner-friendly quilt patterns that use layer cakes

What is a Layer Cake?

In the fabric world, a Layer cake is a bundle of 10" fabric squares, usually 42 pieces, all from a single fabric collection. The Layer Cake precut—a bundle of 10″ × 10″ fabric squares—is actually a proprietary term introduced by Moda Fabrics, emerging alongside their early "precut" innovations. Moda first unveiled its precut concept with the Jelly Roll strips in Autumn 2006. Soon after, Moda followed up with its trademarked Layer Cake format, typically containing 42 coordinated 10-inch squares. Since then other fabric manufacturers have followed with their own version, such as the Robert Kaufman Ten Square and Free Spirit Big Charm Park

We have our own version here at the Cotton Patch, called a Patchwork Palette, where we curate a collection of 10" fabric squares for a particular collection or colour palette and style.

These can contain anything from 18 to 40 pieces. Please check the requirements for each pattern as you may need more Patchwork Palettes for the quilt than a 40-42 piece Layer Cake

10" is such a versatile size as it can also be sliced into charm squares (5"), rectangles, or triangles, offering endless pattern potential. This minimizes leftover scraps and makes a more efficient use of fabric

Here we've compiled a list of a number of quilt patterns that are free to download, and use a layer cake and perhaps some fabric for sashing or background

Before we start, you can find all of the Layer Cakes and Patchwork Palettes that we have in stock by clicking the button above or the images below

We might not have the same fabric pack that is used as the example for the quilt, but with a wide variety to choose from we're sure that you'll find something that will look just as good!

Image of 2 layer cakes of fabric, one as a colourwheel and one as a pack — Click to Shop Layer Cakes and Patchwork Palettes

Anita's Bow Twist Quilt Pattern

Designed by Anita Grossman Solomon for Robert Kaufman fabrics
Finished Size: 47-1/2" x 47-1/2"
Skill Level: Confident Beginner

Each block is created from (3) 5" x 10" rectangles

You will need 39 10" squares, to make this size, with fabrics appearing twice in the quilt - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 20 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

3/8 yard (35cm) for binding
3 yards (2.75m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Anita's Bow Twist Quilt please click here

Cobblestone Street Quilt Pattern

Cobblestone Street Quilt in whisker Wonderland fabrics

Finished Size: 54" x 69"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need (40) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 20 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

1-1/4 yards (1.25m) for sashing - shown in pink on the image

5/8 yard (60cm) for binding
3-1/2 yards (3.25m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Cobblestone Street Quilt please click here

Quilt kit in Silver Lake fabrics available here

Diamond Dance Quilt Pattern

Finished Size: 72" x 88"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need (32) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 16 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

4-2/3 yards (4.5m) for sashing - shown in black on the image

2/3 yard (65cm) for binding
5-1/2 yards (5m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Diamond Dance Quilt please click here

Dutch Braid Quilt Pattern

Dutch Braid Quilt in Blast from the Past fabrics

Finished Size: 60" x 74"
Skill Level: Intermediate

You will need (35) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 18 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

1-1/4 yards (1.25m) for the centre squares - shown in blue on the image
1-3/8 yards (1.3m) for the background and inner border - shown in white on the image
1-1/8 yards (1.05m) for the outer border

1/2 yard (50cm) for binding
4 yards (3.75m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Dutch Braid Quilt please click here

Quilt kit also available here

Framed Jewels Quilt Pattern

Framed Jewels Quilt in Joli Bijou fabrics

Designed by Ariga Wilson for Robert Kaufman fabrics
Finished Size: 53-1/2" x 62"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need at least (30) 10" squares, more if you want more variety of colours - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 15 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

1/3 yard (35cm) for inner border
7/8 yard (80cm) for outer

1/2 yard (50cm) for binding
3-1/2 yards (3.25m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Framed Jewels Quilt please click here

Garden Plots Quilt Pattern

Designed by Elise Lea for Robert Kaufman fabrics
Finished Size: 64" x 72-1/2"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need (42) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 21 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

1-5/8 yards (1.5m) for the sashing - shown in white on the image

5/8 yard (60cm) for binding
4 yards (3.75m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Garden Plots Quilt please click here

Garden Tiles Quilt Pattern

Garden Tiles Quilt in Autumn Fields fabrics

Finished Size: 61" x 73"
Skill Level: Intermediate

You will need (30) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 15 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

1-1/3 yards (125cm) for the rectangle borders
1-1/4 yards (115cm) for background
3/8 yard (35cm) for the inner border - shown in brown on the image
1 yard (95cm) for the outer border

1/2 yard (50cm) for binding
4 yards (3.75m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Garden Tiles Quilt please click here

Habitat Quilt Pattern

Habitat Quilt in Batik Butterfly fabrics

Finished Size: 40" x 50"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need (42) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 21 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

1/3 yards (35cm) for the inset squares - shown in black on the image

3/8 yard (35cm) for binding
3-1/4 yards (3m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Habitat Quilt please click here

Lavender Fields Quilt Pattern

Finished Size: 51" x64"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need (40) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 20 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

7/8 yards (35cm) for the sashing squares - shown in burgundy on the image
1/8 yard (15cm) for the cornerstones - shown in white on the image

1/2 yard (50cm) for binding
3-1/3 yards (3.25m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Lavender Fields Quilt please click here

Library Quilt Pattern

Finished Size: 51" x64"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need at least (21) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 1 Patchwork Palettes of 21 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

5-3/4 yards (5.25m) for the background - shown in dark blue on the image

1/2 yard (50cm) for binding
5-1/4 yards (4.75m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Library Quilt please click here

Mini Petals Quilt Pattern

Mini Petals Quilt in Sweet Pumpkin Spice fabrics

Designed by Ariga Wilson for Robert Kaufman fabrics
Finished Size: 51" x64"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need (22) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 1 Patchwork Palettes of 22 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

1-1/3 yards (1.25cm) for the corner triangles and inner border - shown in black on the image
3/4 yard (70cm) for the outer border

1/2 yard (50cm) for binding
3-1/3 yards (3.25m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Mini Petals Quilt please click here

Silverstone Quilt Pattern

Silverstone Quilt in Botanical Garden fabrics

Finished Size: 51" x64"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need (42) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 21 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

2-1/8 yards (2cm) for the centre squares and sashing - shown in white on the image

1/2 yard (50cm) for binding
3-3/4 yards (3.5m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Silverstone Quilt please click here

Speckled Quilt Pattern

Speckled quilt in Winter Wonderland fabrics

Finished Size: 54" x 64-1/2"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need (30) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 15 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

1-1/4 yards (1.15cm) for the star points - shown in light blue on the image
3/4 yard (70cm) for the crosses - shown in grey on the image
7/8 yard (80cm) for the sashing and border - shown in navy on the image

1/2 yard (50cm) for binding
3-1/2 yards (3.25m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Speckled Quilt please click here

Stained Glass Quilt Pattern

Stained Glass Quilt in Phantasma fabrics

Finished Size: 53" x 64"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need (42) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 21 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

1-1/2 yards (1.4cm) for the sashing - shown in white on the image

1/2 yard (50cm) for binding
3-1/2 yards (3.25m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Stained Glass Quilt please click here

Ten Square Scramble Quilt Pattern

Ten Square Scramble Quilt in Camille fabrics

Designed by Elise Lea for Robert Kaufman fabrics
Finished Size: 48" x 56"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need (42) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 21 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required:

1/2 yard (50cm) for binding
3-1/8 yards (2.85m) for backing

To Download a pdf for the Ten Square Scramble Quilt please click here

Times Ten Quilt Pattern

Ten Times Quilt in Batik Christmastime fabrics

Designed by Ariga Wilson for Robert Kaufman fabrics
Finished Size: 48" x 56"
Skill Level: Beginner

You will need (42) 10" squares - 1 layer cake or 2 Patchwork Palettes of 21 or more pieces

Additional fabrics required: