Michael Miller Fabrics Way to Go Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Way to Go Quilt by Wendy Sheppard for Michael Miller Fabrics – Free Downloadable PDF Pattern

The Way to Go Quilt is a free downloadable PDF quilt pattern designed by Wendy Sheppard for Michael Miller Fabrics. The finished quilt measures a generous 81 inches wide by 90 inches tall, making it a full-size bed quilt suitable for everyday use or as a striking decorative piece. Rated Advanced Beginner in difficulty, this pattern is an excellent next step for quilters who have mastered the basics and are ready to work with a more complex, multi-fabric layout without being overwhelmed by intricate techniques.

About the Design

The Way to Go Quilt features a bold, graphic, and colorful composition built from a carefully curated palette of sixteen distinct Michael Miller Fabrics. The design makes use of a wide variety of coordinating prints and solids, creating a visually dynamic quilt top that balances pattern and color with precision. The use of so many fabrics — ranging from whites and neutrals to vivid reds, aquas, navies, yellows, limes, and pinks — gives the finished quilt a lively, celebratory feel that suits its spirited name.

The quilt top is constructed from precisely cut fabric pieces assembled into a structured block-based layout, a hallmark of traditional American patchwork quilting. The multi-fabric approach encourages quilters to develop their fabric selection and color placement skills, both of which are essential competencies for advancing beyond beginner-level projects.

Techniques Used

• Patchwork piecing: The core construction method involves cutting fabric into precise geometric shapes and sewing them together to form quilt blocks. This is the foundational technique of traditional quilting.
• Block assembly: Individual pieced units are assembled into larger blocks, which are then arranged and joined to form the complete quilt top.
• Accurate cutting and seam allowances: Working with sixteen fabrics demands careful cutting and consistent seam allowances — typically a quarter-inch in quilting — to ensure that all pieces align correctly across the finished top.
• Quilt top construction: Rows or sections of blocks are joined together to complete the full 81" x 90" quilt top, requiring attention to pressing and alignment throughout.
• Quilting and finishing: Once the top is complete, it is layered with batting and backing, then quilted and bound — standard finishing steps for any patchwork quilt.

Stitches Used

• Straight stitch: The primary stitch used throughout, sewn by sewing machine, to join all fabric pieces, blocks, and rows together with clean, durable seams.
• Quilting stitch: Applied through all three layers — quilt top, batting, and backing — either by machine or by hand, to secure the layers and add texture and dimension to the finished piece.

Materials – Fabrics

The pattern calls for sixteen Michael Miller Fabrics in specific colorways and yardages. Each fabric is identified by its Michael Miller product code and color name:

• Fabric A – CM0376-GLIMMER: 5-1/2 yards — the largest yardage, likely used for background, sashing, or borders.
• Fabric B – CX9210-WHITE: 3/8 yard
• Fabric C – CX9211-WHITE: 1/4 yard
• Fabric D – CX9212-RED: 1/4 yard
• Fabric E – CX9213-AQUA: 3/8 yard
• Fabric F – CX9213-NAVY: 1 yard
• Fabric G – CX9213-RED: 1/4 yard
• Fabric H – CX9213-YELLOW: 5/8 yard
• Fabric I – CX9215-BLUE: 1/4 yard
• Fabric J – CX9215-WHITE: 5/