Quilt block · Checks and chains · Advanced
Ball and Chain quilt block
A nine-patch: a small nine-patch in the center, a ring of dark squares and triangles on each side, and plain light corners.
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
4 corners, 8 small squares and 16 triangles
- A4 squares 2½″
- B16 squares 1¼″then cut with template B
- C8 squares 1¼″then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
21 squares and 16 triangles
- B16 squares 1¼″then cut with template B
- C21 squares 1¼″then cut with template C
Between the lines. Ball and Chain cuts cleanly at 4½″ or 9″. At 6″ its half-square triangles' short sides are ⅔″, 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
4 corners, 8 small squares and 16 triangles
- A4 squares 3½″
- B8 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C8 squares 1½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
21 squares and 16 triangles
- B8 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C21 squares 1½″
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
4 corners, 8 small squares and 16 triangles
- A4 squares 4½″
- B16 squares 2″then cut with template B
- C8 squares 1⅞″then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
21 squares and 16 triangles
- B16 squares 2″then cut with template B
- C21 squares 1⅞″then cut with template C
Between the lines. Ball and Chain cuts cleanly at 9″ or 13½″. At 12″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 1⅓″, 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.
- Make 16 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B 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 4 sections
Sew 2 Dark C pieces and a Background C piece together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 8 sections
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Dark C piece together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. 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.
- Make 16 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 1½″ × 3½″
Sew 2 Dark C squares and a Background C square together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1½″ × 3½″ (1″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 8 sections, 1½″ × 3½″
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Dark C square together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 1½″ × 3½″ (1″ × 3″ finished).
- 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.
- Make 16 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B 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 4 sections
Sew 2 Dark C pieces and a Background C piece together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 8 sections
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Dark C piece together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. 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?
At 9″ every piece measures with a ruler. On its 9 × 9 grid, 6″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 9″ or 13½″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 9 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I), 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 advanced block: 65 pieces in 3 different shapes and 24 points to match. Practise the hard seams on scraps first. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.