Busy Backyard

These animal families are cute and comfy in their new matching pajamas! Make a Large Quilt with monkey, koala, brown bear, panda, giraffe, and tiger families, or a Small Quilt with any one animal family.

ABOUT THE PATTERN

This is a patchwork-pieced pattern. The blocks are made entirely of rotary-cut squares and rectangles, and everything is sewn together using conventional patchwork techniques. No templates or paper piecing!

This pattern includes a large number of pieces, some of which are small, but the same basic patchwork piecing techniques are used throughout. The pattern includes detailed cutting directions, including charts that show all of the pieces included in each block. The instructions for making each block include both written directions and full-color diagrams for each step.

Among my patterns, Busy Backyard is rated Skill Level 5 (of 5). You can read more about skill levels here.

QUILT SIZES

38" x 44" Small Quilt

68" x 86" Large Quilt

Shown here with Bella 308 Pickle background. My cover sample has a Bella 60 Ivory background.

ABOUT THE FABRIC

Busy Backyard is a fat quarter-friendly project. You can make the Large Quilt using one fat quarter bundle each of my Popcorn collection for Moda, and Popcorn Bella Solids coordinates (shipping November 2026). The pattern includes a complete fabric guide for making Small and Large Quilts with Popcorn fabrics, plus an additional fabric guide for making quilts using all Bella Solids.

ABOUT THE QUILTING

My sample was quilted by Emily Hoppe of So Sunny Quilts using Julie Hirt's Petal Pushers edge-to-edge design.

THE SMALL PRINT

Busy Backyard pattern © 2026 by Elizabeth Hartman. This pattern may not be used to make items for sale in any quantity or venue. No part of this pattern may be reproduced or distributed without the express written consent of the author.