Traditional / Public Domain — a classic one-patch design popular with Amish and Mennonite quilters
Concentric rings of color radiate outward from a center square, creating a medallion effect that appears far more complex than its simple square-upon-square construction. When made with many colors grading from light to dark, the effect is breathtaking.
Trip Around the World has roots in early 19th-century quilting and is closely associated with Amish and Mennonite communities in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The pattern requires only simple squares but demands careful color planning. It was among the first patterns to demonstrate that fabric placement and color theory could elevate the simplest construction into art.
This pattern is one of the iconic Amish quilt designs. Amish quilters, working within the constraints of their plain dress codes, channeled their artistic expression into quilts. Trip Around the World showcased their mastery of color, using rich solid fabrics in carefully graduated hues. The concentric rings symbolized the journey of life radiating outward from the home. The pattern was also called Sunshine and Shadow by the Amish, though that name is now associated with a specific diagonal variation.
Also known as: Around the World, Postage Stamp (in miniature), Grandma's Dream
finished Block Size
Individual squares finish to 2" or 3" (whole-quilt design)
seam Allowance
1/4"
grid Basis
Odd-numbered grid of squares (e.g., 25x25 for a 2"-square version)
units Required
625 squares for a 25x25 layout (varies by quilt size)
All measurements include 1/4" seam allowance unless noted.
| Piece | Fabric | Cut Size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center Square | Color 1 (darkest or lightest) | 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" | 1 | Single center of the quilt |
| Ring 1 Squares | Color 2 | 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" | 8 | First ring around center (8 squares) |
| Ring 2 Squares | Color 3 | 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" | 16 | Second ring (16 squares) |
| Ring 3 Squares | Color 4 | 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" | 24 | Third ring (24 squares); continue pattern outward |
| Remaining Rings | Colors 5-12 | 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" | 0 | Each successive ring adds 8 more squares; continue to desired quilt size |
Select 8-12 fabrics and arrange them in a gradation from light to dark (or from one color family to another). Number them 1 through 12. The center will use Color 1, the first ring Color 2, and so on. Create a color map on graph paper or use quilt design software.
Tip: Step back and squint at your fabric arrangement — this reveals the value gradation. If two adjacent fabrics blend together, swap one out.
Cut 3 1/2" squares from each fabric. The number needed per color depends on your quilt size. For a 25x25 grid: 1 center + 8 for Ring 1 + 16 for Ring 2 + 24 for Ring 3, and so on. Each ring adds 8 more squares than the previous ring.
On a design wall or large flat surface, place the center square and build outward ring by ring. Each ring forms a diamond shape (squares set on point when viewed from the center). Verify that each ring is a consistent color.
Tip: Take a photo of your layout before sewing — this is your reference map and will save you if pieces get scrambled.
The most efficient construction method is to sew squares into diagonal rows. Pick up each diagonal row from your layout (top-right to bottom-left), keeping squares in order. Sew with 1/4" seams. Press seams in alternating directions between adjacent rows.
Starting from one corner, join diagonal rows together with 1/4" seams, nesting pressed seams. Work outward from the center. Press each joining seam as you go.
Trim the quilt edges straight, leaving 1/4" seam allowance beyond the last complete ring. Add borders as desired — wide borders in a single fabric are traditional for Amish-style Trip Around the World quilts.
See how this traditional pattern looks in different color combinations.
Classic concentric diamonds radiating from center
Rectangular variation — extend the pattern into a rectangle by repeating the center row
Add a wide solid border (6-8 inches) for a classic Amish frame