Quilt block · Four-patch · Advanced
Crown of Thorns quilt block
A light center ringed by medium and dark half-square triangle units, like a crown of thorns. Also called Georgetown Circle, Memory Wreath and Single Wedding Ring.
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
20 squares and 32 triangles
- B16 squares 1⅝″cut once on the diagonal
- A20 squares 1¼″
Dark · Navy in the picture
32 triangles
- B16 squares 1⅝″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 squares and 16 triangles
- B8 squares 1⅝″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 squares 1¼″
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
20 squares and 32 triangles
- B16 squares 2″cut once on the diagonal
- A20 squares 1⅝″
Dark · Navy in the picture
32 triangles
- B16 squares 2″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 squares and 16 triangles
- B8 squares 2″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 squares 1⅝″
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
20 squares and 32 triangles
- B16 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- A20 squares 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
32 triangles
- B16 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 squares and 16 triangles
- B8 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 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
How it’s sewn
For the 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 24 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1¼″ (¾″ finished).
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Medium and Dark
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1¼″ (¾″ finished).
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Medium and Background
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 1¼″ (¾″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 8 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 8 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 8 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 24 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1⅝″ (1⅛″ finished).
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Medium and Dark
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1⅝″ (1⅛″ finished).
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Medium and Background
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 1⅝″ (1⅛″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 8 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 8 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 8 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 24 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Medium and Dark
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 8 half-square triangle units: Medium and Background
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 8 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 8 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 8 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: Four-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
Is Crown of Thorns the same block as Georgetown Circle?
Usually, yes. Block names vary by region and by book, and the same block is often sold under several. Our library lists Georgetown Circle, Memory Wreath and Single Wedding Ring as other names for this one, so a search for any of them finds it.
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 8 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H), 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 advanced block: 104 pieces in 2 different shapes and 20 points to match. Practise the hard seams on scraps first. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.