Robert Kaufman Color Crossing - Downloadable PDF

Robert Kaufman Color Crossing Quilt Pattern by Elise Lea – Free Downloadable PDF

The Color Crossing pattern, designed by Elise Lea for Robert Kaufman, is a free downloadable PDF quilting pattern that produces a stunning finished quilt measuring 56" x 68" — a generous lap or throw size perfect for everyday use or gifting. Rated as a beginner difficulty project, this design is an accessible and rewarding introduction to quilt construction, making it ideal for newer quilters who want to achieve a bold, colorful result without complex techniques.

About the Design

The quilt is titled Just Kisses Color Crossing and showcases a dynamic interplay of color through a structured, grid-inspired layout. The "color crossing" concept refers to the way different fabric hues and prints intersect and overlap visually across the quilt top, creating the illusion of movement and depth. This effect is achieved through careful fabric placement rather than complicated piecing, making it approachable for beginners while still delivering a visually sophisticated finished piece.

The design is built around a roll-up (jelly roll) format, specifically the RU-813-40 Totally Tropical Roll-Up by Robert Kaufman. This pre-cut bundle includes fabrics labeled A through V, encompassing a vibrant tropical color palette drawn from the AMD-17800, AMD-17801, AMD-17802, AMD-17803, and AMD-17804 fabric lines. The colorway features a rich range of tropical shades, including:

• Sunburst (AMD-17802-209)
• Sunshine (AMD-17800-130)
• Rainbow (AMD-17800-263, AMD-17803-263, AMD-17804-263, AMD-17802-263)
• Island Green (AMD-17801-211, AMD-17800-211)
• Ocean (AMD-17801-59, AMD-17803-59, AMD-17804-59)
• Riviera (AMD-17803-299, AMD-17801-299)

This broad spectrum of coordinating prints and solids within the Totally Tropical collection ensures that the color crossing effect reads clearly and vibrantly across the finished quilt.

Techniques Used

As a beginner-friendly quilt pattern, Color Crossing relies on foundational quilting techniques that are well within reach for those newer to the craft. The use of a pre-cut roll-up (jelly roll) as the primary fabric source is itself a technique-friendly choice — the strips are already cut to a uniform width, eliminating one of the more time-consuming and precision-demanding steps in quilt construction.

• Strip piecing: Working with pre-cut strips from the roll-up, quilters sew strips together to build the quilt top efficiently and with consistent sizing.
• Straight-line sewing: The construction relies on straightforward seam work, keeping the piecing process manageable for beginners.
• Color placement planning: A key technique in this pattern is the intentional arrangement of the labeled fabrics (A through V) to achieve the crossing color effect — this is a design-thinking skill that helps beginners develop an eye for quilt composition.
• Pressing seams: Proper pressing is essential to achieving flat, accurate blocks and a smooth quilt top, a fundamental skill reinforced throughout this type of project.
• Quilt sandwiching and finishing: Like all quilts, the finished top is layered with batting and backing, then quilted and bound to complete the throw.

Materials and Supplies

The pattern is designed to work primarily with the RU-813-40 Totally Tropical Roll-Up by Robert Kaufman, which includes all the fabric yardage needed for the quilt top (fabrics A through V). Fabric amounts are based on 42"-wide yardage. Additional standard quilting supplies required include:

• Batting sized to accommodate the finished 56" x 68" quilt
• Backing fabric in a coordinating color or print
• Binding fabric for finishing the quilt edges