Quilt block · Nine-patch · Intermediate
Air Castle quilt block
A nine-patch: half-square triangle units in the corners, a flying-geese unit and a strip on each side, and a light square on point in a dark frame at the center.
What to cut for one block
A 6″ finished block measures 6½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
The center square, 4 strips and 12 triangles
- B2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- D1 square 2¾″then cut with template D
- A4 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 rectangles 2½″ × 1½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 geese and 8 triangles
- A1 square 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- B2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- E2 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Air Castle’s templates at true size with Quilter.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 9″ finished block measures 9½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
The center square, 4 strips and 12 triangles
- B2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- D1 square 3¾″then cut with template D
- A4 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 rectangles 3½″ × 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 geese and 8 triangles
- A1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- B2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- E2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Air Castle’s templates at true size with Quilter.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 12″ finished block measures 12½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
The center square, 4 strips and 12 triangles
- B2 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- D1 square 4¾″then cut with template D
- A4 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 rectangles 4½″ × 2½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 geese and 8 triangles
- A1 square 5¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- B2 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- E2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Air Castle’s templates at true size with Quilter.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
How it’s sewn
For the 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Make 4 flying geese units
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 2½″ × 1½″ (2″ × 1″ finished).
- Make 1 square-in-a-square unit
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 2½″
Sew a flying geese unit and a Background C rectangle together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 3 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 3 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 4 flying geese units
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 3½″ × 2″ (3″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 1 square-in-a-square unit
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 3½″
Sew a flying geese unit and a Background C rectangle together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 3 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 3 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 9½″ (9″ finished).
For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Make 4 flying geese units
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 4½″ × 2½″ (4″ × 2″ finished).
- Make 1 square-in-a-square unit
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 4½″
Sew a flying geese unit and a Background C rectangle together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 3 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 3 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 12½″ (12″ finished).
Blocks like it
More like this: Nine-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
Its 6 × 6 grid lands on the ⅛″ marks at 6″, 9″ and 12″, so every piece measures with a ruler at all three. It also cuts cleanly at 15″ and 18″. In Quarter Inch you can make it any size, and it says when a cut falls between the lines.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 5 sections (A, B, C, D and E), each sewn on its own paper in order and then joined with straight seams. In Quarter Inch, the Foundations tab prints its papers at true size (with Quilter).
Is it a good block for a beginner?
It’s an intermediate block: 29 pieces in 5 different shapes and 8 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.