Quilt block · Stars · Intermediate

Dove at the Window quilt block

Four long star points reach out from a center unit of an hourglass framed by strips, with plain squares in the corners.

FamilyNine-patch
Grid36 × 36
Units1 hourglass, 8 squares
Pieces24

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

4 corner squares, 4 long triangles and 2 small triangles

  • B4 rectangles 4⅝″ × 4½″then cut with template B
  • A4 squares 4½″
  • F1 square 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
⅜ yd

Dark · Navy in the picture

8 star-point triangles, 4 strips and 2 small triangles

  • F1 square 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
  • C8 rectangles 4⅝″ × 2⅝″then cut with template C
  • D2 rectangles 4½″ × 1½″
  • E2 rectangles 2½″ × 1½″
⅜ 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 Dove at the Window’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 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.

  1. Add 4 corner triangles

    Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

  2. Make 1 quarter-square triangle unit

    Sew the Background F and Dark F 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 2½″ (2″ finished).

  3. Add 4 corner triangles

    Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).

  4. Make 1 section, 2½″ × 4½″

    Sew 2 Dark E rectangles and a quarter-square triangle unit together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 2½″ × 4½″ (2″ × 4″ finished).

  5. Make 1 section, 4½″

    Sew 2 Dark D rectangles and a section together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).

  6. 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.

  7. 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: Star quilt blocks · 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 36 × 36 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 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: 24 pieces in 6 different shapes and 9 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.

Design with Dove at the Window, free

Open it in Quarter Inch at any size, in a layout of your own and in your own colors.

Start designing free