Quilt block · Nine-patch · Intermediate
Cat’s Cradle quilt block
Big plain squares with rows of small half-square triangle units stepping across them in two colors, like string between a cat’s paws.
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
3 squares and 12 triangles
- B3 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- A3 squares 2½″
- C3 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
12 triangles and 1 trapezoid
- C6 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- E1 square 1⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- D1 rectangle 1⅝″ × 1″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
6 triangles
- C3 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
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 Cat’s Cradle’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
3 squares and 12 triangles
- B3 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- A3 squares 3½″
- C3 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
12 triangles and 1 trapezoid
- C6 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- E1 square 1⅝″cut once on the diagonal
- D1 rectangle 2⅛″ × 1¼″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
6 triangles
- C3 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
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 Cat’s Cradle’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
3 squares and 12 triangles
- B3 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- A3 squares 4½″
- C3 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Dark · Navy in the picture
12 triangles and 1 trapezoid
- C6 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- E1 square 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- D1 rectangle 2⅝″ × 1½″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
6 triangles
- C3 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
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 Cat’s Cradle’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.
- Make 3 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background C triangle to a Dark C triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).
- Make 2 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background C triangle to a Medium C triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark E triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Medium C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 5 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 5 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 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 3 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 3 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background C triangle to a Dark C triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 2 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background C triangle to a Medium C triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark E triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Medium C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 5 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 5 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 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 3 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 3 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background C triangle to a Dark C triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Make 2 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background C triangle to a Medium C triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark E triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Medium C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 5 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 5 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 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 3 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: 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 12 × 12 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 6 sections (A, B, C, D, E and F), 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: 34 pieces in 5 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.