Summer Haze: FREE Baby Quilt Pattern
This pattern has been revised and renamed since its original launch. Now named Summer Haze, you can purchase the PDF pattern that includes fabric requirements and instructions to make it in queen, twin, throw, and baby sizes. For the free baby quilt PDF pattern, scroll to the bottom of this blog post.
Summer Haze is great for new quilters and focuses on the simple half square triangle block. My favorite way to make half square triangles is the 8-at-a-time method. If you don't know what that is, check out this blog post about HSTs and the three different ways to make them.
I'm not one to be too persnickety about squares being perfectly square, but this ruler does help those unruly edges that start to look more like rhombuses than squares. It also allows you to slice off those pesky dog ears with one swipe of the rotary cutter. For more info on how to make perfect HSTs, check out 3 Tools to Make the Perfect HST.
Summer Haze is the perfect quilt to practice making half square triangles. HSTs are one of the most versatile quilt blocks, and when you're comfortable making your HSTs, you'll be able to make so many more beautiful Suzy Quilts patterns! Here are some other patterns to try out when your Summer Haze quilt is finished.
For extra help making your Summer Haze quilt, check out our three-part tips and tricks series! We cover all the basics of making HSTs, tips for better piecing accuracy, choosing fabrics, and more.
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This quilt pattern can be made using different colors and prints, but there is something really special about these specific colors together and the simple, unassuming look they achieve as solid fabrics. If you are interested in remaking this exact quilt, keep reading for the names of each fabric!
The solid fabrics used in this design are Birch Fabrics solid poplin in the following colors:
- Shell
- Peachy
- Timber
- Petal
- Mineral
- Periwinkle
- Shroom
- Slate
- Cream
To stay in line with the look of my quilt, use Pop Dots Stormy 100% organic cotton for the backing and Warm & Natural 100% Cotton batting.
And enjoy that hazy summer feeling all year long with your new quilt!
What a beautiful quilt, and thank you for the pattern! Did you have to bury a lot of threads with that quilting pattern?
I also have been worried that the use of the term “Indian Summer” is racist, so I asked a First Nations colleague of mine and she said no, it’s a lovely term.
I actually did not do the quilting on this one. Mary, from See Mary Quilt, did it on her longarm. I just love her work 🙂
Indian Summer is just an old fashion term relating to the weather. Brings back pleasant memories.
Love the pattern and the quilting done is very effective….great pattern “Indian Summer” I am a member of Victoria Quilts..where we make quilts for cancer patients so I will make is quilt larger as it needs to be 50″ x 70″
They are out of the quilt kits. I am interested in either the baby quilt or throw pattern. Can you tell me the name of the colors and backing? I want to buy them to match your quilt.
Are you kidding me ?? This is a QUILT not a political statement!!!
Politics and history are tied to lots of seemingly non-political subjects! Janelle, I appreciate your efforts.
Thank you so much for the pattern, it is very calming just like the feel of an Indian Summer, when one sweeps over you, you will remember the day, where you were and who you were with. It is such a wonderful and unforgettable experience. We were building a home on a hill and my husband, myself and his sister were standing on the flooring, which was all there was built at the time, we were looking over the piece of land we had bought and this very calm quiet came over us then a little warm breeze, my sister-in-law said oh, that was an Indian Summer Breeze, it is something I have not felt since then. I was 23 at that time and I am now 73. Again, thank you for the pattern. Phyllis
What a beautiful memory! Thank you so much for sharing. I can picture myself standing there with you enjoy that warm breeze 🙂
It’s a beautiful quilt. Thank you for the pattern. The quilting is beautiful, too.
Your pattern is wonderful. The precision is awesome.
Thank you!
Great quilt. Love the quilting. Am thinking I would like to make this using fall colors since it is an “Indian Summer”. However, I can’t for the life of me, get the pattern.
You can’t download the pattern? Try this direct link – http://birchfabrics.com/wp-content/uploads/IndianSummer-Pattern.pdf
Can this quilt indian summer be made into a double or queen size?
The best way to make this quilt larger is to continue repeating the pattern.
Beautiful pattern thank you for sharing.
I really love this pattern. I’m just learning to quilt on my regular sewing machine, and I’m wondering what other type of quilting pattern could be used with this top – something where I wouldn’t have to start and stop too much? Thanks.
Straight lines either up and down or on the diagonal would look really nice and are good for beginners 🙂
This is a gorgeous pattern. Would you mind sharing – how long did this take you? I have a week free but the baby shower is in a week, and I’d like to make this as a baby blanket. Don’t want to be unrealistic if I can’t create this in time.
I’m not a great person to ask since I have some “unhealthy” OCD tendencies when it comes to making quilts. lol! But, I vividly remember not rushing through this or spastically obsessing and I still made the quilt top in 2 days and then finished the quilt a couple days after that. It’s a really simple and straightforward pattern. Good luck!
Hi Suzy,
I started putting this quilt together and noticed a possible problem with some of the math in the pattern. You have the short rectangles listed at 3.5×6.5, but in order to line up with two of the 3.5 squares, they actually need to be 7″ wide. To the same extent, the longer 3.5×12.5 pieces need to be 14″ wide in order to line up with 4 of the 3.5 squares.
Am I doing something wrong I will see later down the line as I piece this together, or, is the math wrong on the pattern? Thanks.
Jenna
Once you sew the 3 1/2″ squares together, you will lose a 1/2″ in the seam allowance making the double square unit 3 1/2″ x 6 1/2″. Let me know if you start sewing and run into any other questions.
It all ended up working out perfect. In fact, I was so in love with what I did that I am doing another one this month!
Thank you for the gift. I am First Nations and thought it was so respectful of you to think about whether the name of the guilt was PC. I also appreciated your efforts to research the history of the phrase. It is really the word ‘Indian’ that we have issues with because that was how we were mislabeled as for so long. The definition you found is so beautiful and just like your quilt.. Hopefully I will be able to make one such as nice.
Will fat quarters work for the 1/4 yard pieces of fabric? This is beautiful.
They sure will! 🙂
Hi Suzy! I bought the quilt kit from Fabric Worm as well as the square you recommended. As a newbie quilter, I assumed the square would be the guide for cutting the squares, but that’s not right, is it? Can you help me figure out what the 6.5 inch square is for when the cut squares are 7.75? Thanks so much!
Hey E,
Great question! When cutting fabric to be pieced, I recommend a long ruler, like this one. I made a quick video about cutting fabric that you can find here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ff9S7Tx3Sw (disclaimer, it’s terrible quality. lol!)
Even when cutting those initial 7 3/4″ squares, use your long ruler. The smaller square ruler I linked to above is used to trim and square up the Half Square Triangle blocks once they are pieced together. The 6 1/2″ square ruler is a great “first ruler” because it’s small enough to be helpful in trimming 6 1/2″ HSTs and smaller. It was my first square ruler purchase and I use it all the time.
If you don’t mind making lots of ruler purchases (pointing to myself), you could purchase a 3 1/2″ square ruler for trimming the HSTs since that is the exact unfinished size. Does that make sense? Shoot me an email if you’re still feel confused – suzy@suzyquilts.com. xo
Suzy,
Thank you SO MUCH for the reply! The video was so helpful! I went down a rabbit hole and watched all the videos you’ve made. They are so helpful and enjoyable! Thank you! You’re the best! I can’t wait to dive in!
Thanks again! xo
oh yay! I’m so glad we figured it out. Happy sewing! xo
Great pattern. I’m a new quilter and would like this pattern in a queen size.
Hi I would like to purchase this pattern in a queen size please. If you could please email thank you
This quilt is currently only available as a baby or throw. It is a repeating pattern, however, so you could pretty easily continue the pattern to make it larger. Here is a link to purchase the throw quilt – https://suzyquilts.com/shop/indian-summer-quilt-pattern-download/
Hi Suzy:
Just discovered your website. It’s well oraganized with loads of useful info. I would like to purchase the Indian summer pattern, but before I do, do you have any addition info on how to make it bigger than 48 x 54.? I would like to make it closer to a twin size. Love the triangle jitters quilt also which has a cheat sheet included with the pattern to make larger size. Thanks Marlyn
The best advice I can give is to continue the pattern to make the quilt as wide and as tall as you would like it.
Hi Suzy! First off, thank you so much for sharing this pattern. I started this as my second quilt ever and have been having so much fun with it. I have a question about how you’d recommend pressing the seams. One I’ve sewn all 12 blocks together in each row, should I press those seams open? Your note (“Iron seams in each row the opposite direction as the row next to it”) I was thinking applied to the seams after I’ve sewn the 17 rows together, right? Sorry if this is a silly question, I’m so excited about the quilt and don’t want to mess it up!
Love this Pattern! I’m in the middle of making one for my little guy that is due in July! I’m debating the chain-stitching technique, but have never done it before. How do you handle chain-stitching when you come across one of the longer rectangles that has already been attached on the previous column? Do you skip it? or stitch right thru? Thanks!!
If you’ve never chain pieced rows before, don’t do it for the first time with this pattern. It’s easiest when all of the blocks are the same size. I’ve actually never tried it with a pattern like this…it could probably work, just take more brain power.
Thanks for the quick reply 🙂 I was thinking it would be a bit of a brain teaser haha I’ll avoid the technique for this one…maybe will try it out on my next!
where is the pattern???
It’s in the text above. Here’s a direct link – http://birchfabrics.com/wp-content/uploads/IndianSummer-Pattern.pdf
What fabric collection/colors did you use for the other version of this quilt?
Is there another version you’ve seen, or are you wondering what fabrics would look good?
When you go into your shop and click on this quilt pattern, the fourth picture in features a brighter set of colors with corals, teals, and yellows.
oh yes! For that version I used various shades of chambray from Birch Fabrics. You can find it at fabricworm – https://www.fabricworm.com/search-results.html?catalog=yhst-10775676472182&query=chambray
Hello Suzy! I love this pattern so much. However, when I try and download it it says page not found. Is there anyway for you to reup the page for the baby quilt pattern?
The link broke, but it’s now back up and running. 🙂
Hi Suzy, Your story behind this quilt is very nostalgic for me. Growing up in New England, Indian Summer was very real. It was a short, beautiful season filled with vibrant foliage. Sort of the last hoorah before the deep freezes set in. Your quilt colors are perfect and does the name wonderful justice! So glad I didn’t miss it.
Thanks,
Lea
Hi Suzy, my granddaughter love this quilt pattern. So I’m making it for her. She asked to
have it quilted like it shows you quilted it. Is there a longarm pattern to use for quilting?
Thanks,
Carol
This specific baby quilt was custom longarm quilted by See Mary Quilt. There’s no actual pattern because she guided the longarm machine herself directionally based on the quilt pattern.
Hi Suzy. For the coloured sections of this quilt could you use patterned fabric or will it look stupid? Perhaps a very small ditsy print would work?! Thanks x
A pattern would definitely work, and I think you’re right to pick a print that’s small.
Hi Suzy, I’m so excited to make this quilt! Quick question, do you usually buy wide fabric for the back or do you piece together your back to get the correct width? Thank you!
Extra wide fabric is wonderfully convenient, but not very common, so I typically piece my backing. If I’m quilting it myself I’ll leave a couple inches of overhang around all sides. However, if I’m sending it to a longarm quilter, they like at least 4″ of backing overhang on all sides. https://suzyquilts.com/hiring-a-longarm-quilter-an-in-depth-guide/
Hi Suzy,
Do you still have the throw pattern for sale?
What a beautiful quilt! I would love to make it in a bigger size.
Hi Stephanie! This pattern has been re-written and re-named and is available in the Suzy Quilts shop here: https://suzyquilts.com/shop/summer-haze-quilt-pattern-download/
Happy quilting!
Hello! Can you tell me the what fabric you used for the background and binding in the (Ruby Star) Warp and Weft Summer Haze? I’m dying to get started! 🙂
Hi Monica! The background of that quilt is Art Gallery PURE Solids in Creme de la Creme, and the binding is the pink solid from the Warp and Weft line. Enjoy making your quilt!
Your patterns look so awesome, clean and modern. I’m a new quilter and wish to stay connected to your site. In deep gratitude for all you do.
Mary Rose