Delft Sideboard Quilt: Stunning Layer Cake Project
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Time to read 6 min
If you’ve ever searched for a quilt pattern that stops you in your tracks, the Delft Sideboard quilt is one of those designs that grabs your attention immediately. It has that magnetic, “I want to make this right now” kind of charm — the sort of pattern that pulls you in before you even realize it. And the best part? It works beautifully with precut fabric like layer cakes and 10" x 10" tile packs, making it accessible for quilters at any skill level.
Creating this quilt is like arranging tiles in a beautiful mosaic: each piece clicks into place, revealing a pattern that feels both timeless and modern. In this guide, you’ll discover how to use precuts to simplify the process, how to choose your fabrics, and how to assemble each unit with confidence. You’ll also find out why this quilt performs so well across different collections — from Northcott Fabrics’ Delft Dynasty to Moda’s Cozy collection by Zen Chic, featured in the YouTube tutorial that inspired this post.
1. The Pattern That Steals the Spotlight
Some quilt designs whisper. The Delft Sideboard quilt practically sings. Whether you’re drawn to its symmetry, its contrast, or its elegantly repeating blocks, it has the kind of visual appeal that keeps you looking.
The original pattern was designed for Northcott Fabrics using the iconic blue-and-white Delft Dynasty collection, full of painterly florals and Dutch-inspired motifs. In the YouTube video that accompanies this guide, the quilt is recreated using Moda Fabrics’ Cozy collection by Zen Chic, showing just how flexible this pattern truly is.
Color contrast plays a huge role in what makes this quilt irresistible. Studies in Color Research & Application found that strong value contrast can boost visual interest by up to 40%. No wonder this pattern pops.
Tip: Lean into contrast — your lights, mediums, and darks should each stand out even from a distance.
Quilt designer Kaffe Fassett said it best: “Color is the tonic the world needs.”
2.The Layer Cake Precut Advantage
If there’s one secret weapon for this quilt, it’s 10" precut fabric squares — commonly sold as layer cakes (Moda), title packs, and 10" tile stacks across different brands. These bundles give you the entire fabric collection in one tidy pack, saving time and ensuring perfect coordination.
Layer cakes make the Delft Sideboard quilt incredibly beginner-friendly because you don’t have to guess whether prints match — they all come from the same designer, the same palette, and the same scale harmony.
That’s exactly why the pattern worked flawlessly in both collections shown so far:
Northcott’s Delft Dynasty (original quilt design shown here➡)
Moda’s Cozy collection by Zen Chic (YouTube tutorial version)
Moda reports that precuts can reduce preparation time by up to 50%—and because they’re already cut with precision, your quilt pieces start accurate before you ever pick up a rotary cutter.
Tip: Before cutting your layer cake squares into smaller units, check the grain. Even factory cuts can shift slightly during stacking and shrinkage.
As Zen Chic designer Brigitte Heitland says, “Good design begins with harmony — colors, prints, scale. That’s why curated collections matter.”
3. Sorting Your Fabrics Like a Pro
Sorting your fabrics into light, medium, and dark values is where the real artistry begins. In the accompanying YouTube video, the process starts with a simple but powerful technique: lay out all your precuts, shuffle them around, and create three piles based on value rather than color.
This matters because value — not hue — controls contrast. Research from the University of Rochester confirms that humans spot value differences faster than color differences, which means your quilt’s clarity depends on value placement.
Tip: Snap a black-and-white photo of your fabric piles. If the values are balanced in grayscale, they're balanced in your quilt.
Smart Cutting for Perfect Quilt Blocks
With traditional yardage, cutting can feel like a chore. With layer cakes, the process is a breeze. Because your 10" squares are already perfectly sized, all you're doing is cutting them down into the units needed for the Delft Sideboard layout.
This ensures each block lines up cleanly — something that matters more than most quilters realize. The Journal of Textile Engineering notes that even a 1/16" cutting error can distort an entire quilt top once blocks multiply.
Tip: Keep your newly cut pieces grouped with small sticky notes. Labeling makes chain piecing much faster.
4. Chain Piecing: Your New Superpower
Chain piecing is the unsung hero of patchwork. In the Delft Sideboard quilt, it keeps pieces organized, speeds up the sewing process, and creates a satisfying rhythm while you work.
Textile efficiency studies show that chain piecing can reduce thread waste by up to 30%. It also keeps your units in the right order — something especially valuable when your precuts all come from different prints.
Tip: Use a “leader-ender” scrap at the start and finish of every chain to prevent thread nests.
Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Co. sums it up nicely: “Chain piecing is like the assembly line of quilting — but fun.”
5. Perfect Pressing Makes a Perfect Pattern
Good pressing is like good punctuation — it keeps everything clear. Between each chain-pieced step in the video tutorial, every seam is carefully pressed to maintain crisp edges and accurate alignment.
Heat-setting seams stabilizes fibers and improves block accuracy, making it much easier for seams to nest perfectly later.
Tip: Press up and down, never side-to-side, to avoid stretching the fabric and warping your units.
As Lisa Bongean often reminds quilters, “If you want precision, pressing is part of the piecing.”
6. Watching the Delft Sideboard Pattern Reveal Itself
When the blocks start coming together, the Delft Sideboard quilt suddenly takes on its famous rhythm and flow. This part is always magical — the point where the quilt shifts from pieces to personality.
Symmetry plays a big role here. The American Quilter’s Society found that viewers spend more time looking at quilts with repeated block symmetry, which likely contributes to this pattern’s popularity.
Tip: Lay out blocks before sewing them together. Seeing them side-by-side lets you adjust value distribution for maximum impact.
7. A Quilt That Works With Any Collection — And a YouTube Tutorial to Follow
One of the greatest strengths of the Delft Sideboard quilt is its versatility. Whether you sew it with Northcott’s Delft Dynasty blues, Moda’s Cozy earth tones, or an entirely new palette of your choosing, it adapts beautifully.
And yes — there is a full YouTube video tutorial walking you through the entire process from fabric selection to final block assembly. This makes it even easier for quilters to follow along, pause, rewind, and stitch with confidence.
Tip: Bookmark the YouTube video so you can reference it during tricky units or pressing steps.
8. Final Thoughts: A Quilt Worth Every Stitch
The Delft Sideboard quilt is more than a project — it's a celebration of color, value, and creative expression. With precuts like layer cakes, the process becomes even more accessible, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned quilter looking for your next masterpiece.
From choosing fabrics to chain piecing to laying out your final blocks, every step is an invitation to slow down, enjoy the craft, and stitch something beautiful.
So grab that layer cake, cue up the YouTube tutorial, and let your creativity take the lead.
Happy stitching — and happy exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many 10-inch squares are in a layer cake or title pack?
Generally, there are (42)10-inch squares in a pack.
Is this an economical way to by quilt fabric?
Yes, it saves time in cutting for quilt block piecing and it saves on yardage cost when you are wanting to sample a whole fabric collection.
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The Author: TJ Wright
Get ready to be inspired by TJ Wright, a quilt artist and pattern designer from Cheshire, Oregon, whose passion for color and fabric shines through every stitch. TJ is the creative force behind TJ Wright Quilts, where she transforms bold prints and fabric panels into eye-catching strip-pieced and abstract art quilts.