Before we dive headfirst into the gingham goodness, let's round up our materials like we're gathering ingredients for a crafty cocktail:

• Fabric: Think bold and bright! Choose two contrasting colors to make your gingham pop.

** If you want to skip all the fabric math, click the Yardage Size Chart below to get an easy cheat sheet!

• Rotary Cutter and Cutting Mat: These trusty tools will be your best buds for precise cuts.
• Quilting Ruler: Your secret weapon for keeping those lines straight and sassy.
• Sewing Machine: Time to rev up that sewing machine and get ready to rock!
• Thread: Pick a thread color that speaks to your inner rebel.
• Iron and Ironing Board: Because let's face it, crisp seams are the cherry on top of any quilting masterpiece.

For an effective Gingham pattern you will need 3 fabrics that coordinate and have a similar coloring.

You will need a light, medium, and dark fabric.

See the images on the right to see some examples of pairings.

The main thing to remember when choosing your fabrics is that when you lay it out in your 4 square, that there is enough contrast between each of the fabrics. 

Now that we have figured out how many blocks you will need for your whole quilt, let's break it down by fabric.

We are going to keep the sample of the Throw size quilt, with 10 blocks wide x 12 blocks long

First Row

Focusing on the first row, we can tell from the 4-square that our first row consists of medium and light pieces. Therefore 10 blocks across / 2 fabrics = 5 blocks of each fabric

5 blocks light fabric

5 blocks medium fabric

Second Row

Focusing on the second row now, we can tell again from the 4-square that our second row consists of dark and medium pieces. Therefore 10 blocks across / 2 fabrics = 5 blocks of each fabric

5 blocks medium fabric

5 blocks dark fabric

Summary

Once we add everything together, we need to figure out how much we will need for the whole quilt. Since the rows alternate every other, we know that we will have 6 rows of each ( first + second row)

5 blocks x 6 = 30 blocks light fabric

10 blocks x 6 = 60 blocks medium fabric

5 blocks x 6 = 30 blocks dark fabric

Sewing

Now that we have all our yardage cut we can begin sewing! Before we begin, I like to layout my 4-square with my stacks of fabrics. I put this right next to my sewing machine therefore I never make a mistake and have to pull out my seam ripper. 

I like to break this down by sewing my top row pieces pieces together and my second row pieces together.

Grabbing 1 medium and one light fabric, right sides together, and sew together at a 1/4" seam allowance on the right hand side. Go ahead and batch sew all of those pieces.

Now do the same thing with your second row blocks, the dark and medium.

Once you have all your sets of blocks are sewn together, you can iron them all at once!

Ironing

I like to iron my seams open, I feel like it makes it easier to line up my seams when sewing everything together. You are more then welcome to iron your seams to one side and nest them. 

4 Square Blocks 

Now you have all your Medium, Lights and Dark, Medium sets sewn, its time to assemble your 4 square blocks. 

You can batch sew these by sewing your first row blocks and second row blocks together.

You'll end up with 30 4-square blocks.

Since we already figured out how blocks are across and down, you just need to keep sewing your 4-squares until you have the right amount!

As a reminder for the throw you will have 10 blocks across and 12 blocks down.

After your quilt top is assembled, you can choose to quilt it however you desire! I like to keep it simple with topstiching lines, but the choice is up to you!