This US Map Quilt is perfect to take along on a road trip! It’s covered with a fun map of the US – all appliqued in scrappy, colorful prints. You could even add a little line of embroidery to remember your trip by, or decorate the map with little hearts for places you’ve visited! I can’t wait to see your version of this US Map Quilt Tutorial!
We just love going on road trips – it’s so much fun – we feel like the drive is part of the adventure! My only drawback with them is that my husband likes to keep the air in the car on freezing. Like, we’re talking Arctic cold. So I’m always wrapped up in a throw of some sort – even if we’re traveling across the desert. He’s happy, I’m happy.
This US map quilt would be a fun gift for someone who loves to travel too!
US Map Quilt Tutorial
Here’s what you’ll need to sew your US State Map Quilt:
(This post contains affiliate links) ;)
Click here for the Pattern for the US MAP Quilt: Printable US Map
NEW: Lauren from Irish Acorn Quilts has generously donated her time and made a FREE Canada version of the map that connects to the US Map!! You will need to increase your background, batting, and backing fabrics if you do this.
Click here to download the Canada Map!
US Map Quilt Instructions:
Materials Needed:
- 1 Pink Calico Days Fat Eighths Panel – for states
- 1 Mint Calico Days Fat Eighths Panel – for states
- 1 Nutmeg Calico Days Fat Eighths Panel – for states
- 1 Yard Calico Days Plaid Mint – for states and binding
- 1/2 yard Calico Days Red Plaid – for states
- 1/4 yard Calico Days Main Floral Pink – for states
- 1/4 yard Calico Days Strawberry Mint – for states
- 2 yards Kona Cotton Ivory – for front
- 2 yards Calico Days Chicks Yellow – for back
- Batting
- 5 yards Lightweight Fusible Webbing
- White Thread
Begin by printing out your US map. You’ll be making a grid of paper that is 7 across and 4 down. The states will overlap just a bit, trim off the white portion along the edges and tape the map together.
Don’t let your dog and cat into the sewing room – you might just have to retape the bottom of the US. Especially if said dog and cat decide to play a game of tag , then think you’re playing too when you try to stop them, so they run around like crazies all over the entire US. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything.
Cut apart the states. I cut down the center of the thick black line, but you can do it any way you’d like. Begin cutting out your states. To do this, I recommend cutting a piece of fusible webbing a little larger than the state you’re cutting out. Cut out a fabric piece as well. Fuse the webbing to the back of the fabric.
Cut out your state, making sure that the wrong side of the pattern faces the right side of the fabric so that the state is the correct orientation.
Continue cutting out your states, varying your fabrics as you go, for a cute scrappy look. Leave Alaska and Hawaii as one piece on the paper until you have your fabric fused. That way you can keep track of your little islands more easily.
Because I have geological issues (I have no idea what state goes where) – I taped back my paper map as I cut out each state. This worked great as a pattern to reassembling the map.
Cut your top fabric to 60″ long. You’ll leave the width at 45″ – so your top piece will be 45″ x 60″. Lay out your re-taped paper map, then lay your top fabric over the paper map, centering the fabric over the map. Place Alaska and Hawaii in the bottom left corner.
Begin removing the paper backing from the fusible webbing on the states and laying them over the top fabric, lining up all your edges as close as you can. It’s ok if they overlap just a bit. Iron all the states in place. I did this on my kitchen island – it is granite and can take the heat.
Once your states are all fused down, you can start the applique! Using a medium zig zag stitch, sew between and around all the states.
This will take a bit but I promise it will be worth it! It’s so fun to see the states all sewed in place.
Make a sandwich by laying your backing fabric wrong side up, then your batting, then your top fabric, right side up. Smooth out all the wrinkles, then pin everything together.
Quilt everything together however you’d like. I outlined each state and the entire map with a straight stitch along the zig zag stitching, then filled in the rest of the area with a free motion quilting.
Now onto binding! Cut out 2 1/2″ strips of binding from the mint plaid fabric – you’ll need 5. Sew the strips together, then press them in half.
Bind your quilt in whatever method you normally use. I like to use this one.
Once your US map quilt is all done, you can pop it in the wash so it gets all soft and crinkly! That’s my favorite part. :)
I hope you make a US map quilt up – they are so fun! You can really personalize it by adding embroidery – cute little hearts for places you’ve lived or even little trip lines a la Indiana Jones to remember a favorite road trip!
You might also want to try:
Starry Skies Free Quilt Pattern
This is so cute!!!!! And it would truly be adorable for kids learning about the United States! I see my granddaughter all over this one! You could even do a pin the tail on the capitols for each state! Or a tag for where we go!
This is so great. Will be getting started. I have had friends request one too. Thanks so much for this.
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful quilt! It is gorgeous!
Hi,
Being married to a geologist that loves geography, I had to chuckle. Knowing where things are on a map is geography. Knowing about rocks is geology. ;-)
I love your pattern. We travel a lot and instead of buying a t-shirt, I buy fabric. This is going to make a wonderful quilt with many happy memories of our travels. Thanks!
Loving this! Such cuteness!
What a cute quilt!
Last fall I made 2 of my boys your states in the embroidery hoop and they loved them.
Thanks for all your inspiration!
Your quilt is beautiful! I spotted my state of Virginia immediately. Love the color of CA! You’ve done a fantastic job.
This is one of the coolest quilts I’ve seen lately. Thanks for sharing! I hope to make it soon.
This is so cool! Thank you for taking the time to create and share this pattern. I can’t wait to make one and highlight all the states I’ve lived in!
Sewwww, how difficult on a scale of one to “why do you even ask”, would this be for a non-quilter, non-sewer to make? Your directions look pretty detailed. Right? Or is this like the time I thought I could roller blade?
Hi Lisa!
I love that you want to try out the quilt! The steps are fairly basic, just straight sewing and zig zagging for the most part. The quilting might be a little tricker, but you could definitely do straight lines or something simpler. I’d be happy to help if you need it as well!
I feel the zigzag around the states might be the most challenging part. All those tiny curves and such. Just take it real slow.
Oh wow, how pretty! This was a lot of work for you! Thanks for sharing at the Family Joy Linkup!
Oh my goodness, this is so super cute!!! I think my family would love to have one of these. We travel with our young son quite a bit and I think it would be awesome to embroider the dates he first visited each state. Thanks for the tutorial. Your quilt is fabulous.
I like your idea of putting dates on each state visited.
Oh my goodness Bev this is gorgeous! I absolutely love the colours you used and it turned out perfectly. I am always amazed at how beautiful quilts are but my one attempt to make one ended with me being so frustrated I never finished it ;) Thank you so much for linking it up to our Bewitchin’ Projects Block Party this week! Hugs, Lisa
Wow! This is beautiful!
How talented! I am so inspired and because my kids love maps I think this would be a great and beautiful project to start learning! Thanks for sharing. – Carlen
This is beautiful! I love the idea of taking it on a road trip so you can track where you are with the kiddos.
You’re quilt is beautiful!!! I would love to find some time to make a quilt.
Sheena I also thought there would never be time. But I found I can take hand sewing anywhere. I have put together many blocks waiting in offices for appointments. During meetings. On the plane, train, car, in a chair watching tv. Just start with one. It is amazing how quickly you will get the whole top done!
This is one gorgeous quilt~ love it! Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
This is so cool! I love maps and all the neat collages of the U.S. Unfortunately, I am not a quilter, but maybe this should go on my bucket list for someday!! Beautiful!
This is very pretty. It’s been on my bucket list for awhile and would make a perfect gift for my parents.
This is absolutely gorgeous! I am in love. Definitely need to make one of these for my home, and soon. Sharing!
I love this quilt!!! My granddaughter was born on the fourth of July and she collects maps. She is one in a million. I try to get her a map if I see one. She would love this map. I was wondering if you make this to sell. If you do please let me know. Thank you so much.
Will be waiting your reply.
Shirley Lachance
I LOVE this! I think it would be cute to make each state out of fabric that represents that state- Sunflowers for Kansas, Peaches for Georgia, etc.
Gorgeous! Just love it and was thinking a wall hanging done like this would be great too. Thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling Sunday a whole month ago. I am back now after a month unplugged, and the party will be resuming this sunday as well, hope to see you there!
What size would you do for a wall hanging? I’ve been asked to make five of these but is it feasible to make it smaller? Also could these pieces be cut out on a die cutting machine?
How?
Hi Trish,
You could definitely do it smaller – you’d just need a smaller map. I am not sure what size you’re looking at but if you want to take a look at this project, it might be close to the size you’d like. https://flamingotoes.com/huge-fabric-us-map-hoop-art/. As for the die cutting machine – you probably could. I think you’d need to see if there is a map image there, or upload one yourself. Then you could cut out the individual states from there. Hope that helps!
How funny, I got an email from fabric.com and it inspired me to create a quilting board on pinterest, of which your quilt is the only one. I love this quilt and hope to have time to make one in the future.
WOW, that is absolutely gorgeous! I’m in awe!
So neat! If anyone has a Cricut cutting machine..there is a 50 States cartirdge that will cut each state for you…might make it a bit easier!
LOVE IT!!! I’ve been wanting to make a “states” quilt for my grandson but wasn’t happy with the small panels I see for sale in the fabric stores or online. This is it!
I can’t wait to print this out and begin using up my scraps.
Thanks!!!
Wow!! You are so talented. Thank you so very much for sharing. I truly am inspired by your pictures and instructions. Great tutorial.
Kay
With 5 of us in the family, I did the quilt by selecting fabric for who had been to that state. There were 23 states that all of us have visited so they are all the same fabric, 3 that none of us have visited, so they are the same fabric, etc. I don’t get as much contrast as your example since same fabric states are often next to each other but I am hoping the contrast of the outline stitching will give me the desired result.
Any ideas for a key to what the different fabrics stand for?
Great fun project, thanks for the inspiration.
This quilt was originally posted on Craftsy by QuiltsbyElena. I hope she gave you permission to use this as your own design.
Hi Terese,
I have never seen her quilt so I didn’t take her design. But it doesn’t surprise me that someone else has done a map quilt – it’s such a fun design! But I created my own pattern and quilt and that’s what I’m sharing here. Thanks!
Sewwww, a better way to handle a comment like this would be to PM Beverly about your concern. We teach kids to think before they post…..I am sure that Fabric.com checks these things before they post..and a quick internet search showed that there are others who are making this quilt and posting on their sites as well. I am sure there is not a copyright on making a United States map out of any materials you see fit. It is always best to praise rather than bite…..just sayin!
Oh..forgot to mention..the Craftsy pattern is incorrect..Colorado is square and does not have a cut out n it. Seewwww, Beverly’s pattern is accurate and free!
This is on Craftsy and I see no designer credit…..Love the quilt
Love your Quilt,it’s beautiful,l would love to make it myself,only being a Proud Canadian,I would like to find a map of Canada that I could add to the top of the United State’s. This will be my first year,I will not be in Arizona for the winter,the difference in the dollar,with the cost of getting health insurance ,is making a lot more snowbirds,stay home. So loving both Countries I would love to make your Quilt with my Province / and Country added.
I can help you with that – Beverly would that be okay? I have the cricut cartridge that has the Canadian provinces..I can send them to Beverly and she can post them. Let me know – I can work on it tomorrow!
That would be great Lauren, as long as it’s not a copywrite thing to post the cricut version. Do you know if they mind that sort of thing?
Thanks!
Thanks,Lauren,it would be a great help for me.Beverly ,if Lauren can ,could you please email me or send Lauren my email address so I can get the Canadian provinces,then they should match up with yours. Just a little information next year Canada will turn 150 years old ,and it would be wonderful to have it done before July 1 st. Thanks to all of you,CarolCarol
I am working on this all day tomorrow…sorry!…I got a little hung up at work this week…I was able to get the paper US map together..so I am ready to create the Canadian Provinces. I will include the territories also!
So excited to do this! Happy birthday, Canada!
I might be wrong but I’m having a hard time with Alaska and Hawaii. The maps I’ve been looking at have Alaska on the right, closer to Texas and Hawaii is to the left, just below California & Arizona. Am I right or do you have it the correct way? I’m just trying to put them where they belong and all maps I look at are reversed from what you have it. I feel so confused. I was never good at this.
Thank you.
Hi Shellia,
I didn’t look at a map for layout, I just put them where I wanted them. So feel free to move Alaska and Hawaii to whereever you think they should go! I have seen people do versions with Alaska above the US as well, so it’s really open to whatever you’d like to do. :) Thanks!
Definitely going to save this page so I can make this quilt after the holidays! Love it.
I am in the process of working on this quilt!! However – asked my Friends on FB to please send me a FQ from their state so when I sew that state – I will have a story about that person. I have 10 states so far – only 40 to go!! I had one friend from Michigan send me a FQ that shows elk (or maybe they are deer??) in the woods. But she also sent me a FQ for the Great Lakes! I cannot wait to get started on it.
LOVE that idea! I’m going to be making 3 of these. A girly version for my daughter and a boy-ish version for my son….both to be used while we road-trip across the country in our camper. The third is going to be a gift for our 3rd grade teacher which both of my children have had. He and his wife are avid travelers and I would love to do each state in fabric from the same state. Awesome idea!
Hey Bev..I sent the pattern of Canada to you…let me know if you did not get it. I found a little line I forgot to draw so if you did not get it..let me know and I will send the corrected version!
Is there anyway to print this on one large sheet from the correct size printer? I have access to a large enough printer? Any thoughts would be apprecaited. Thanks in advacne.
This is a wonderful tutorial. I was about to start on this quilt but I wasn’t sure about some things. You’ve answered so many questions.
Thanks,
Rita
Do you have a link for the map you used? The ones I am finding are too small!! Thanks!
Hi Jeffrey! The link to the free Map Pattern I created is the last item in the Materials list. If you click that, it should open the map in PDF window. Let me know if you need any help with that!
Hi Bev,I’m still trying to find a pattern of Canada,that I can quilt,with no luck.So I would be very greatful if Lauren sends you a pattern of Canada that you’d pass on for everyone.Thanks Carol ,I’d be so greatful too both you
Hi Bev,Finally got a map of Canada,only it’s about half the size of your American map,so there’s no way I can put them together. I’m still hopeful I can find one that will fit with yours,I prefer the size yours is.So in the meantime I’ll give this one a go.Thanks Carol
Hi Carol, Just a suggestion : Take your Canadian map to a photo store or a copy store. In the US it would be like KINKO’s . They could possibly enlarge your map to whatever size you would like.
Hi Carol,
We have a new Canada Map that connects to the US Map in the post. If you go to the blog post, just before the materials list, you can download the PDF Canada Map pattern!
Hi Beverly…I love, love, love this quilt…but I want to make it smaller…as a wall Quilt! The pattern downloads as the larger size. How would I shrink it?
Hi Cindy!
Email me directly at [email protected] and I’d be happy to help you out. ;)
Just printed out the quilt map of Canada,that Lauren sent to you.A Big Thanks to both of you.I’ll be taping both maps together in a few minutes. Once I have that done,I’ll checkout how much fabric I’ll require.Once I have it done I’ll send you both a photo of it when it’s done.Thanks once more, and bless you. Carol
I’m having trouble finding the link to download the USA pattern. I easily found the Canadian pattern. Please help.
I’ve been looking for a project I can do during our first big road trip this fall. I can’t take my machine in the motorhome, but I have a work table and small iron! This quilt is perfect for a non sewing project til I get home!
Would it be possible to make a quilt, with Just Orange, Black and White fabric? Also, would it be possible to add the major interstates across the United States, with black fabric? My friend rides his motorcycle all over the Untied States and collects Harley Davidson pins as he visits HD Stores. Thank you
there is an iron on bias tape in black that is narrow that would make great interstate lines and curves nicely, I then stitched over it, got it at walmart.com, free shipping
This is a great quilt. Thank you for posting the pattern and the directions. I’m going to making at least one.
Thanks for sharing your pattern! I used it to make a king size throw for the bed in my pop up camper. Your instructions gave me a good guideline to follow and I finished it up in about a week. It’s one of my favorite things I’ve sewn. Thanks again!
Hi!
I’m about to start this quilt as a gift for an exchange student we’re hosting this year. I’ve never worked with fusible webbing before, and was wondering why it’s necessary to lay out the retaped paper map underneath the top fabric? Thanks so much!
I just reprinted the map in borderless mode and it worked out much better! No trimming of edges to try and get the states to fit together correctly.
Love this idea. I want to make a world quilt but I want a USA one first. I’m working on buying fabric. Can you tell me if each state is smaller than a 10 inch square? I’m a little concerned about Texas.
Thanks!
Hi! When you quilted this did you quilt the map part too? Or go around it? I am done with the iron part and I am about to sew around each state. When I send in the packing and front to get quilted do I have them quilt over the entire thing or not touch the map part?
Hope to hear back soon I am sending it ok next week! Thanks :)
Hi Amanda! I’ve seen lots of quilts made from this pattern and they are all different! :) I did regular quilting in all the white space and just stitched in the ditch around each state. I’ve seen it with the map quilted all over and it looked great too. It would look good and hold up great either way!
What a great idea. However, I cannot find a link anywhere to the map you used. Is it still available somewhere? In an earlier post you said it was the last item on the materials list. It doesn’t show up on the list I”m seeing anywhere. The last two items are batting, then white thread. Thanks in advance for your help. I love your quilt.
Hi Nadine! I moved the link to try and make it more visible – sorry for the confusion. It’s right above the info about the Canada Map, which is just above the materials list. Look for the phrase: Click here for the pattern for the US Map: Printable US Map. If you have any more trouble let me know!
Thank you. I got it this time!
I appreciate your quick help. Have a great weekend. :-D
Love this! And love that you added Canada! This would be great in the rv … and love your idea to add an embroidery to each state/province that you visit!
What size will the quilt be if you add Canada to the US map?
This quilt is truly cool! Inspiring.
I made my lap quilt using your pattern. Wanted to share a photo with you not sure how to do that . Any ideas ?
Thank you for sharing! This is so detailed, how long from printing to binding? Perhaps a two week project?
Made this for my great grandson, it is his nap quilt at pre school. My grand daughter, his mother, says all the mommies want one too!
O well, learn to quilt, this is fairly easy IF you follow the instructions.
THANK YOU for this happy little quilt, it was a labor of love. I used stars to show where he was born and other personalization for him.
It is soft and crinkly and much loved
I love how you personalized it!
Hi
I’m in a fabric swap and want to make this, how big is the biggest piece of fabric for the states, I’m assuming Texas would be the biggest square and California the longest maybe?
Your map quilt is just totally awesome!
I love your map quilt, so many possibilities.
I purchased a layercake that contains each states flower. So this will be so much fun to make!!!
Wow! I have been wanting to make a quilt just like this but did not know where to get a pattern.Thank you so much.
wow…I can’t wait to try this……what a great scrap buster….I hope I can find this page again when I need more instruction….thanks.
Hello;
This is a great tutorial! Thank you. I wanted to know how I can make large maps for other countries? Would you happen to have a suggestion, or know of a person that might do that?
Thank you,
Sima C.
This is such a beautiful quilt! Thank you for sharing! I was wondering about a pattern for one that is a world map. Do you have one or know of a place I can look for one?
Hi, love the pattern! I’m not familiar with the fabrics you suggested. If I were to pick other prints, how many do you recommend I chose? Thanks.
I made this fro my dad, and he loves it!!! Mom and dad travel uite a bit in their RV and my dad LOVES maps!! It was so easy. The most difficult part was actually cutting out the pattern, so when I was cutting the states out for DAD’s quilt, I cut out an additional set for a later quilt (which is now stored away for a later date)
Thank you for the inspiration!
Putting Alaska and Hawaii anywhere you want is crazy. You wouldn’t put other states anywhere you wanted to. You put them where they belong. Same with Alaska and Hawaii.
Hi there – what lightweight fusible webbing do you recommend? The link to Fabric.com is broken. Thanks :)
Hi! Sorry about that. I would use something like HeatnBond Soft Stretch Lite. It’s a great fusible for holding your fabric in place for stitching, but it won’t gum up your needle. Here’s a link! https://amzn.to/3c1aYUK
I just finished making the USA quilt top and will be putting the sandwich together soon. I was trying to upload a picture but can’t find where to do that.
I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it and can’t wait to get started. I’m not much of a quilter but I’m going to tackle it.
My question is, what are all the little link looking lines and what do you do with them? There are 3 at the top of Minnesota and a few around Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina and a few others.
I’m at the cutting out part and don’t want to start cutting until I know if I need to do something when I get to these sections. Thanks for the help and thanks for this beautiful pattern.
Thank you for this! I believe I will give it a go this coming winter.
My daughter made this quilt from your pattern and gave it to us for our camper. It’s absolutely stunning!
This is a great idea! I also love the idea of making each state out of it’s state flower! I’m putting this on my bucket list – thank you for the tutorial!