Quilt block · Pinwheels · Intermediate
Crab Claws quilt block
Four claws of squares and half-square triangle units, two medium and two dark, turned round a light center.
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
12 squares and 12 triangles
- A6 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B12 squares 1½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 squares and 10 triangles
- A5 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 squares 1½″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 squares and 10 triangles
- A5 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 squares 1½″
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
12 squares and 12 triangles
- A6 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B12 squares 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 squares and 10 triangles
- A5 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 squares 2″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 squares and 10 triangles
- A5 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 squares 2″
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
12 squares and 12 triangles
- A6 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B12 squares 2½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 squares and 10 triangles
- A5 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 squares 2½″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 squares and 10 triangles
- A5 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B4 squares 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
How it’s sewn
For the 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 6 half-square triangle units: Background and Medium
Sew a Background A triangle to a Medium A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).
- Make 6 half-square triangle units: Background and Dark
Sew a Background A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 6 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 6 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 6 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 6 half-square triangle units: Background and Medium
Sew a Background A triangle to a Medium A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 6 half-square triangle units: Background and Dark
Sew a Background A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 6 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 6 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 6 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 6 half-square triangle units: Background and Medium
Sew a Background A triangle to a Medium A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Make 6 half-square triangle units: Background and Dark
Sew a Background A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 6 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 6 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 6 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 6 × 6 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: 52 pieces in 2 different shapes and 12 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.