Quilt block · Nine-patch · First quilt
Calico Spools quilt block
A spool on its side: a center bar with half-square triangles at each end and plain trapezoids above and below.
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 trapezoids
- B2 rectangles 7¼″ × 2½″trim both ends at 45°, from the corners of one long side
Dark · Navy in the picture
1 rectangle and 4 triangles
- A2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 rectangle 6½″ × 2½″
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 trapezoids
- B2 rectangles 10¼″ × 3½″trim both ends at 45°, from the corners of one long side
Dark · Navy in the picture
1 rectangle and 4 triangles
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 rectangle 9½″ × 3½″
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 trapezoids
- B2 rectangles 13¼″ × 4½″trim both ends at 45°, from the corners of one long side
Dark · Navy in the picture
1 rectangle and 4 triangles
- A2 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 rectangle 12½″ × 4½″
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 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 columns
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 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 3 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 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 columns
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 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 3 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 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 columns
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 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 3 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
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 2 sections (A and B), 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 first-quilt block: 7 pieces in 3 different shapes and 4 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.