How to Make the Flowing Paths Quilt: A Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners

How to Make the Flowing Paths Quilt – A Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners

If you love quilts that seem to move with color and rhythm, the Passing Through Quilt is a perfect project for you! This pattern uses two alternating block designs to create a beautiful “push-and-pull” motion across the quilt. Don’t worry if you’re new to quilting—this step-by-step guide will walk you through every stage, from fabric cutting to sewing the borders.
Let’s get started and create a stunning quilt that looks advanced but is easy enough for beginners to make at home.

What You’ll Need

Before sewing, prepare all your materials. Choose fabrics in colors that contrast well so the design really stands out. Traditionally, this quilt uses a mix of light and dark batik prints for a glowing effect, but you can pick any palette you love.

Materials:

A light or cream-colored fabric (main background)
Three to four coordinating fabrics in different shades (for your blocks, borders, and binding)
Quilt batting and backing fabric
Rotary cutter and cutting mat
Quilter’s ruler
Sewing machine with a ¼" foot
Iron and ironing board
Thread to match your fabrics

Step 1: Cut Your Fabrics

Start by cutting all your pieces before you begin sewing. This helps keep your workflow smooth and organized.
You’ll need:

Large squares for the quilt’s center (these form the main blocks).
Medium squares that will be turned into triangle-squares.
Small squares and rectangles to make Flying Geese units—these add the movement and flow to the design.
Strips for inner and outer borders.

Tip: Keep each fabric labeled in a small plastic bag or tray so you don’t mix up similar colors.

Step 2: Make the Flying Geese Units

The Flying Geese are the heart of this quilt’s pattern. They look like little triangles flying in a line and are very simple to make once you’ve done a few.

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of your small light-colored squares.
Place one small square on one end of a rectangle (right sides together).
Sew along the drawn line.
Trim the excess corner ¼ inch away from your seam, then press it open.
Repeat on the opposite side of the rectangle to complete your first Flying Geese unit.

You’ll need several of these in two different color combinations. The first set will use a lighter rectangle (like gold or yellow tones), and the second will use a darker color (like purple or navy).

Step 3: Sew Triangle-Square Units

These small units are easy and very satisfying to make.

Take one light square and one colored square of the same size.
Draw a diagonal line on the back of the lighter one.
Sew ¼ inch on each side of that line.
Cut along the marked line and open both pieces—now you have two perfect triangle-squares!

Press all seams flat toward the darker fabric. These units will appear in several parts of your quilt blocks, adding nice contrast and structure.

Step 4: Assemble Block A

Now you’ll start building your first main block.

Arrange four triangle-squares, four Flying Geese units, and one large center square in three rows (use your design board or floor space to lay it out).
Sew each row together, pressing seams as you go.
Join the rows to form your finished block.

Block A will have a bright, radiant look that makes your quilt come alive. Repeat this step to create all your Block A pieces (you’ll need about half of your total blocks to be this type).

Step 5: Assemble Block B

Block B mirrors Block A but uses slightly different units for variation.

First, sew small light triangles to the sides of darker squares to make small corner units.
Combine those with triangle-squares to make a larger block corner.
Arrange four of these corner units, four Flying Geese units, and one large center square.
Sew in rows, then join the rows to complete Block B.

These blocks add motion and depth when alternated with Block A, giving the whole quilt its signature “passing through” movement.

Step 6: Join the Quilt Center

Lay out your quilt top on a flat surface. Alternate the blocks—A, B, A, B—in rows, then switch the order in the next row (B, A, B, A).
Sew the blocks together in horizontal rows first. Once all rows are complete, join them vertically. Press each seam flat to keep the quilt top smooth.
When finished, you’ll have a beautiful, dynamic quilt center ready for borders.

Step 7: Add Borders

Borders frame your quilt and make it look polished.

Start with the inner border: cut and sew narrow strips to the sides first, then top and bottom.
Next, attach the outer border using wider strips for a bold finish.
Press all seams toward the borders.

This simple two-border design adds structure and lets your main blocks shine.

Step 8: Layer, Quilt, and Bind

Now comes the fun part—bringing your quilt to life!

Layering: Lay the backing fabric right side down, add the batting on top, and then your quilt top (right side up). Smooth everything flat and baste with pins or temporary spray.
Quilting: You can quilt simple straight lines, a grid pattern, or gentle curves that follow the motion of the design.
Binding: Use your pre-cut strips to bind the edges neatly, folding them over and sewing by hand or machine.

Your Passing Through Quilt is now complete!

Final Tips for Success

Press often: A well-pressed quilt looks cleaner and is easier to piece.
Chain piece: Sew similar units one after another to save time.
Mix colors: Try a modern color palette—like teal, coral, and white—for a fresh look.
Start small: If you’re new, make a baby-size version first to practice before making a larger quilt.

Conclusion

The Passing Through Quilt is a fun and rewarding project that helps you master the basics of patchwork—Flying Geese, triangle-squares, and simple borders. Even if you’re a beginner, you’ll end up with a quilt that looks sophisticated and full of motion.
Take your time, enjoy the process, and celebrate each stage of progress. When you finish, you’ll have a handmade piece that showcases your creativity, patience, and new quilting skills.
Happy quilting!