Quilt block · Four-patch · Intermediate
Barrister’s Block quilt block
Four big half-square triangles, each edged on two sides by a row of three small half-square triangles and finished with a plain square. Also called Lawyer’s Puzzle.
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 large triangles, 24 small triangles and 4 squares
- A2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
- B12 squares 1⅝″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 squares 1¼″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 large triangles and 24 small triangles
- A2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
- B12 squares 1⅝″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
4 large triangles, 24 small triangles and 4 squares
- A2 squares 4¼″cut once on the diagonal
- B12 squares 2″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 squares 1⅝″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 large triangles and 24 small triangles
- A2 squares 4¼″cut once on the diagonal
- B12 squares 2″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
4 large triangles, 24 small triangles and 4 squares
- A2 squares 5⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B12 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 squares 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 large triangles and 24 small triangles
- A2 squares 5⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B12 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
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 A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2¾″ (2¼″ finished).
- Make 24 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1¼″ (¾″ finished).
- Make 8 sections, 1¼″ × 2¾″
Sew 3 half-square triangle units together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1¼″ × 2¾″ (¾″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 3½″ × 2¾″
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a section together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ × 2¾″ (3″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 3½″ × 1¼″
Sew a section and a Background C square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 3½″ × 1¼″ (3″ × ¾″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 3½″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. 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 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 3⅞″ (3⅜″ finished).
- Make 24 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1⅝″ (1⅛″ finished).
- Make 8 sections, 1⅝″ × 3⅞″
Sew 3 half-square triangle units together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1⅝″ × 3⅞″ (1⅛″ × 3⅜″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 5″ × 3⅞″
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a section together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5″ × 3⅞″ (4½″ × 3⅜″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 5″ × 1⅝″
Sew a section and a Background C square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 5″ × 1⅝″ (4½″ × 1⅛″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 5″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. 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 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Make 24 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 8 sections, 2″ × 5″
Sew 3 half-square triangle units together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 2″ × 5″ (1½″ × 4½″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 6½″ × 5″
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a section together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 6½″ × 5″ (6″ × 4½″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 6½″ × 2″
Sew a section and a Background C square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 6½″ × 2″ (6″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 6½″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. 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
Is Barrister’s Block the same block as Lawyer’s Puzzle?
Usually, yes. Block names vary by region and by book, and the same block is often sold under several. Our library lists Lawyer’s Puzzle as other name for this one, so a search for any of them finds it.
What size should I make it?
Its 8 × 8 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 8 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H), 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: 60 pieces in 3 different shapes and 28 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.