Quilt block · Stars · Intermediate
Alaska quilt block
A five-by-five of squares: squares on point at the sides, half-square triangles round an hourglass center, and folded dark corners stepping out to the edges.
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
8 squares, 8 pentagons and 8 triangles
- A8 squares 1¾″then cut with template A
- B8 squares 1¾″then cut with template B
- C8 squares 1¼″then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
20 triangles and 2 hourglass triangles
- E4 squares 1¾″then cut with template E
- F2 rectangles 1⅞″ × 1¼″then cut with template F
- C16 squares 1¼″then cut with template C
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 squares on point, 4 triangles and 2 hourglass triangles
- D4 squares 2″then cut with template D
- E4 squares 1¾″then cut with template E
- F2 rectangles 1⅞″ × 1¼″then cut with template F
Between the lines. Alaska cuts cleanly at 5″ or 7½″. At 6″ its half-square triangles' short sides are ³⁄₅″, so they need templates.
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
8 squares, 8 pentagons and 8 triangles
- A8 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
- B8 squares 2⅜″then cut with template B
- C8 squares 1½″then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
20 triangles and 2 hourglass triangles
- E4 squares 2⅜″then cut with template E
- F2 rectangles 2½″ × 1⅝″then cut with template F
- C16 squares 1½″then cut with template C
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 squares on point, 4 triangles and 2 hourglass triangles
- D4 squares 2⅝″then cut with template D
- E4 squares 2⅜″then cut with template E
- F2 rectangles 2½″ × 1⅝″then cut with template F
Between the lines. Alaska cuts cleanly at 7½″ or 10″. At 9″ its half-square triangles' short sides are ⁹⁄₁₀″, so they need templates.
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
8 squares, 8 pentagons and 8 triangles
- A8 squares 3″then cut with template A
- B8 squares 3″then cut with template B
- C8 squares 1¾″then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
20 triangles and 2 hourglass triangles
- E4 squares 3″then cut with template E
- F2 rectangles 3″ × 1⅞″then cut with template F
- C16 squares 1¾″then cut with template C
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 squares on point, 4 triangles and 2 hourglass triangles
- D4 squares 3⅛″then cut with template D
- E4 squares 3″then cut with template E
- F2 rectangles 3″ × 1⅞″then cut with template F
Between the lines. Alaska cuts cleanly at 10″ or 12½″. At 12″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 1¹⁄₅″, so they need templates.
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.
- Add 8 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 4 square-in-a-square units
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Light E triangle to a Dark E triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 quarter-square triangle unit
Sew the Dark F and Light F triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 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 5 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.
- Add 8 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 4 square-in-a-square units
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Light E triangle to a Dark E triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 quarter-square triangle unit
Sew the Dark F and Light F triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 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 5 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.
- Add 8 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 4 square-in-a-square units
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Light E triangle to a Dark E triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 quarter-square triangle unit
Sew the Dark F and Light F triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 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 5 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 12½″ (12″ finished).
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Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
On its 10 × 10 grid, 6″, 9″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 10″ or 12½″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 10 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J), 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: 56 pieces in 6 different shapes and 21 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.