Quilt block · Four-patch · Intermediate
Chain and Bar quilt block
Big half-square triangle units in the corners and a bar of small triangles across the middle.
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 rectangles and 12 triangles
- B2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
- A2 squares 2¾″cut twice on the diagonals
- D1 square 2¾″cut twice on the diagonals
- C2 rectangles 2¾″ × 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
18 triangles
- B2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
- D1 square 2¾″cut twice on the diagonals
- A6 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
2 rectangles and 12 triangles
- B2 squares 4¼″cut once on the diagonal
- A2 squares 3½″cut twice on the diagonals
- D1 square 3½″cut twice on the diagonals
- C2 rectangles 3⅞″ × 2¾″
Dark · Navy in the picture
18 triangles
- B2 squares 4¼″cut once on the diagonal
- D1 square 3½″cut twice on the diagonals
- A6 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
2 rectangles and 12 triangles
- B2 squares 5⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- A2 squares 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- D1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- C2 rectangles 5″ × 3½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
18 triangles
- B2 squares 5⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- D1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- A6 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 Dark B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2¾″ (2¼″ finished).
- Make 6 flying geese units
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 1¼″ × 2″ (¾″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 1 quarter-square triangle unit
Sew the Dark D and Background D triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 2¾″ × 2″
Sew 3 flying geese units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 2¾″ × 2″ (2¼″ × 1½″ 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 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 3⅞″ (3⅜″ finished).
- Make 6 flying geese units
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 1⅝″ × 2¾″ (1⅛″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 1 quarter-square triangle unit
Sew the Dark D and Background D triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 2¾″ (2¼″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 3⅞″ × 2¾″
Sew 3 flying geese units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3⅞″ × 2¾″ (3⅜″ × 2¼″ 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 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Make 6 flying geese units
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 2″ × 3½″ (1½″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 1 quarter-square triangle unit
Sew the Dark D and Background D triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 5″ × 3½″
Sew 3 flying geese units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5″ × 3½″ (4½″ × 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 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?
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 4 sections (A, B, C and D), 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: 32 pieces in 4 different shapes and 19 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.