Quilt block · Nine-patch · Beginner
Beginner’s Choice quilt block
Two long dark rectangles with a corner folded off each, set round a four-patch.
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
2 corner triangles
- B1 square 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 long pieces
- A1 rectangle 6⅝″ × 2½″then cut with template A
- C1 rectangle 4⅝″ × 2½″then cut with template C
Medium · Denim in the picture
2 squares
- D2 squares 2½″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
2 squares
- D2 squares 2½″
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 Beginner’s Choice’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
2 corner triangles
- B1 square 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 long pieces
- A1 rectangle 9⅝″ × 3½″then cut with template A
- C1 rectangle 6⅝″ × 3½″then cut with template C
Medium · Denim in the picture
2 squares
- D2 squares 3½″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
2 squares
- D2 squares 3½″
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 Beginner’s Choice’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
2 corner triangles
- B1 square 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 long pieces
- A1 rectangle 12⅝″ × 4½″then cut with template A
- C1 rectangle 8⅝″ × 4½″then cut with template C
Medium · Denim in the picture
2 squares
- D2 squares 4½″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
2 squares
- D2 squares 4½″
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 Beginner’s Choice’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.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 4½″ × 2½″ (4″ × 2″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 4½″ × 2½″
Sew a Light D square and a Medium D square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 4½″ × 2½″ (4″ × 2″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 2 columns
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 2 columns. Press the seams in column 1 up, column 2 down, and so on, so they nest when the columns are joined.
- Join the columns
Join the 2 columns, 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 a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 6½″ × 3½″ (6″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 6½″ × 3½″
Sew a Light D square and a Medium D square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 6½″ × 3½″ (6″ × 3″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 2 columns
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 2 columns. Press the seams in column 1 up, column 2 down, and so on, so they nest when the columns are joined.
- Join the columns
Join the 2 columns, 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 a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 8½″ × 4½″ (8″ × 4″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 8½″ × 4½″
Sew a Light D square and a Medium D square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 8½″ × 4½″ (8″ × 4″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 2 columns
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 2 columns. Press the seams in column 1 up, column 2 down, and so on, so they nest when the columns are joined.
- Join the columns
Join the 2 columns, 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
Practical OrchardNine-patch
Contrary WifeNine-patch
Split Nine PatchNine-patch
Birds in the AirNine-patch
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 3 × 3 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 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: 8 pieces in 4 different shapes. Nothing in it curves or has to be set in. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.