Rocksteady Quilt Pattern
The Rocksteady quilt pattern is now available for instant PDF download! Click here to get it. This quilt comes in king, queen/full, twin, throw, and baby quilt sizes.
There's so much I want to share with you about this dynamic, beginner-friendly quilt pattern, I almost don't know where to start! Typically, I jump in and give you the backstory on how this design became a quilt. Rocksteady (originally named Mid Century Diamonds) actually was one of those patterns that I'd been holding on to for a few months, but only this January did I create the time to sew and explore its potential.
I have alluded to this on Instagram, that the first time I made a Rocksteady quilt it was very personal and emotional. I don't want to hash out why in this post, but if you are interested in reading more, click here.
Picking Fabric for the Rocksteady Quilt
Gentle & Calm
Below is an example of my favorite way to sew quilt blocks together – through chain piecing rows! You may be familiar with chain piecing blocks, but did you know that you can use that same method to sew entire rows together? It's fast, fun, and keeps you organized. It's very convenient if you happen to have little critters who like to sit on your half-finished projects...
Click here for a video tutorial on how to chain piece quilt rows.
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In this quilt the golden diamonds, Color 1, are the focus, with Colors 3 and 4 creating the appearance of streams running around around them. I have broken this look down by value, so you can achieve a similar appearance, but still use different colors and patterns.
To achieve a similar look:
- Color 1: Dark (Kona Grellow and Marigold Wishes)
- Color 2: Light Medium (Kona Mustard)
- Color 3: Medium (Kona Doeskin)
- Color 4: Medium (IKEA striped duvet cut into bits)
- Color 5: Light (Kona Bone)
- Backing: Pop Dots
- Binding: Chambray I had laying around. Possibly this.
- Batting: Hobbs 100% Cotton
For more info on choosing the right batting for your quilt, check out this post!
Contrasting & Colorful
There's that wonderful chain pieced rows technique again! This quilt pattern is primed for that zippidy do-da chain sewing.
This Rocksteady baby quilt is vibrating with color! Who ever said that red and purple clash? I don't buy it. This color combination not only plays on high contrast, high saturation shades, it also uses tons of texture. With a combination of Essex linen, light-weight cotton, and lawn, there's not an inch of this quilt you won't want to touch. Did I mention the backing is Liberty of London Tana Lawn?? Yummm...
To achieve a similar look:
- Color 1: Dark (Wonderland Bows)
- Color 2: Light Medium (Essex Yarn-Dyed Berry)
- Color 3: Dark Medium (Essex Yarn-Dyed Malibu)
- Color 4: Dark Medium (Moda Bella Boysenberry)
- Color 5: Light (Essex Yarn-Dyed Homespun Natural)
- Backing: Happy Bloom Liberty of London
- Binding: Moving On Lawn (it was really hard for me to find this, so you better move fast)
- Batting: Quilter's Dream Deluxe Poly
For more info on choosing the right batting for your quilt, check out this post!
Cool Blue Ombré
An inspiring reading corner or a play mat for cars – the Rocksteady quilt lends itself to whatever color combination or adventure you can imagine.
To achieve a similar look:
- Colors 1 - 4: I divided up a fat quarter bundle into Lights, Mediums, and Darks (Boundless Solids Easy Breezy FQ bundle). I used the darkest fabric as Color 1 and the medium green fabric as Color 2. The light/medium light blues left over I used as a mixture of both Colors 3 and 4. By placing Colors 3 and 4 fabric in order from dark to light, the quilt has an ombré effect. You could also scatter the shades randomly for a slightly different look.
- Color 5: Kona Bone
- Backing: Petit Fours Butterscotch
- Binding: Stitches Chartreuse
- Batting: Quilter's Dream Bamboo
For more info on choosing the right batting for your quilt, check out this post!
Bohemian Neutrals
I didn't have enough time to finish this quilt top before the pattern launch, but since it's Scrappy-approved, I thought I'd include it anyway. The throw version of the Rocksteady quilt is nice and large, coming in at 56" x 64".
To achieve a similar look:
- Color 1: Dark (Chambray Dot Burgundy and Botany fabric line, coming soon)
- Color 2: Medium (Botany fabric)
- Color 3: Light Medium (Botany fabric)
- Color 4: Light Medium (a lightweight chambray that I got at Fancy Tiger but can't seem to locate.)
- Color 5: Light (Kona Bone)
Saija's Green Gradient
My quilty friend, Saija, in Helsinki made this stunning white, black and green quilt, so unfortunately I can't link to the specific fabrics.
To achieve a similar look:
- Color 1: Dark - scrappy black fabrics
- Color 2: Medium - black and white print
- Colors 3 and 4: Light Medium - sage to light grass green solids I would guess they are similar to: Moda Bella Evergreen, Bella Leaf, Kona Celadon, Bella Pistachio, Bella Summer House Lime, Bella Key Lime, Kona Honey Dew
- Color 5: Light - white, similar to Kona Snow
Rocksteady Quilts in the Wild
Whimsical & Wonderful, Brooke
"I'm just a girl, sitting in front of a sewing machine, asking the fabric to become a pretty quilt. The end."
Pretty in Pink, Jessica Schunke
"I made the quilt for my son's teacher, who's expecting a little girl next month."
Plummy Pop, Shannon Fraser Designs
"The gray and white hexie print from Camelot Fabrics has been sitting in my stash for a long time, just waiting for the perfect project to come out and play. The Rocksteady quilt was THE project as I loved how the geometric print with a little curve paired nicely with the graphic nature of the quilt pattern. For a visual pop, I added the Cotton + Steel XOXO in Plummy so the diamond shape would really standout. I love how the solid gray, white and light blue balances everything out and adds a soft touch to the movement inherent in the Rocksteady pattern. Love this one! Plus, who doesn't love a quick finish?!"
Golden Afternoon, Village Bound Quilts
Red Confetti, EV Quilts
I love this pattern and all of the fabrics you picked out. Will the directions be easy to convert into an oversized king bed? I have only made simple quilts, mostly just squares before.
VERY easy. Just use the king pattern and calculate how much larger the quilt needs to be. Continue repeating the simple squares and half square triangles pattern until you get to that size.
Wow. Another great pattern. I love all the different looks
I printed out my Rocksteady pattern this afternoon! Thanks for the coloring page you included. I love all the samples you’ve shown here, but the original with the striped fabric holds my heart💕💕💕
It’s hard to beat that IKEA duvet! hahaha!
You have so many talented and lovely friends! I am obsessed with all of these colors and can’t wait to start this one! Thank you for sharing your story, and this beautiful pattern with us.
How did I get so lucky to have such talented friends?? To that question, I’ll never know. 😉 I hope you enjoy sewing this pattern!
Thank you, thank you for this! It’s hard to pick a favorite color scheme, but I have to go with the Green Gradient. I just love that mix of pattern and color!! This is DEFINITELY going in my TO MAKE queue.
Love that you show so many color way choices! It’s a great pattern!
Is it possible to make the quilt top with fat quarters?
It is! I made the blue ombre version using a fat quarter bundle.
So for Color 1 for the baby quilt (for example) would I need 1 fat quarter or 2? I’m from Canada so don’t usually measure in yards!
I am in love with this quilt. I have been sewing for years but have never ventured into quilting (it’s always seemed so intimidating) but I’ve been drawn to it and keep telling myself “someday…”. One of my oldest friends just asked me to make her a baby blanket and she bought some custom fabric in a woodworking print as a surprise for her husband. The only issue: she bought minky. I was really hoping to make her this quilt, but I’m wondering: is it possible to use minky as the backing fabric?
Definitely! I’ve seen a lot of quilts backed with minky. I will say that it’s not the easiest fabric to work with, but if you baste your layers well, you’ll be fine.
Question: if I cut 11 inch squares for the rocksteady quilt do i need to buy a little more fabric than listed or is this already considered using your math shortcut suggestion?
This pattern has you cutting 10″ squares and uses the 8-at-a-time HST method. (The except is the baby quilt which uses 5″ squares and a different HST method.)
Wondering if I can still get the Rocksteady quilt pattern?
Sure can! Click the link at the beginning of the blog post that says “The Rocksteady quilt pattern is now available for instant PDF download! Click here to get it.” Or head to our quilt pattern shop to see our full collection! Here’s the direct link to Rocksteady: https://suzyquilts.com/shop/rocksteady-quilt-pattern-download/
I cut 4 1/2″ squares as stated under cutting instruction. But now I’m told to use 5″ squares for the HST.
What now?
Hi Deb! The only size in this pattern that uses 5″ squares is the baby size. You’ll see in the pink note under “Block Assembly” at the top of Page 3 that the 2-at-a-time HST technique with 5″ squares is used only for making the baby quilt. If you’re making a larger size, which I’m guessing you are since you cut 4 1/2″ squares, you’ll use the 10″ squares that you cut to make the 8-at-a-time HSTs, as shown starting in Figure 5. Hope that helps, and feel free to email us at info@suzyquilts.com if you have any more questions!