Quilt block · Four-patch · Beginner

Cock’s Comb quilt block

A ring of big triangles round a center square that is a little checkerboard of squares on point.

FamilyFour-patch

Grid8 × 8

Shapes3

Pieces24

Design with Cock’s Comb Cutting at 6″, 9″, 12″

What to cut for one block

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

6 large triangles, 4 small triangles and 2 small squares on point

A2 squares 7¼″cut twice on the diagonals
B1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
C2 squares 3¾″then cut with template C

⅝ yd

Dark · Navy in the picture

6 large triangles, 4 small triangles and 2 small squares on point

A2 squares 7¼″cut twice on the diagonals
B1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
C2 squares 3¾″then cut with template C

⅝ yd

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 Cock’s Comb’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 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B 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.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Make 1 section, 3½″
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Join the halves
Sew the two halves together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam open. The block measures 6½″ (6″ finished).

For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.

Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B 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.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Make 1 section, 5″
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Join the halves
Sew the two halves together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam open. The block measures 9½″ (9″ finished).

For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.

Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B 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.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Make 1 section, 6½″
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
Join the halves
Sew the two halves together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam open. 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 a good block for a beginner: 24 pieces in 3 different shapes and 13 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.