Quilt block · Four-patch · Beginner
Aircraft quilt block
Four large half-square triangles all slanting the same way, three of them with a small half-square triangle and two small triangles along the diagonal.
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
1 large triangle and 9 small triangles
- A1 square 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B5 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 large triangles and 3 small triangles
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
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
1 large triangle and 9 small triangles
- A1 square 5⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B5 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 large triangles and 3 small triangles
- A2 squares 5⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
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
1 large triangle and 9 small triangles
- A1 square 6⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B5 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 large triangles and 3 small triangles
- A2 squares 6⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
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 3 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 1 half-square triangle unit
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Add 6 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across each corner in turn, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 3 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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 3 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2¾″ (2¼″ finished).
- Make 1 half-square triangle unit
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Add 6 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across each corner in turn, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 3 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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 3 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 1 half-square triangle unit
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- Add 6 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across each corner in turn, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 3 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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: Four-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 4 × 4 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 4″, 7″, 8″, 10″, 14″, 15″, 16″ 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 3 sections (A, B and C), 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 a good block for a beginner: 17 pieces in 2 different shapes and 6 points to match. Nothing in it curves or has to be set in. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.