Five-patch quilt blocks

A five-patch block is drafted on a 5 × 5 grid. The odd number puts a square in the very center, which is why so many crosses and chains (Double Irish Chain, Goose Tracks, Grandmother’s Choice) are five-patch blocks.

Five doesn’t divide most of the sizes quilters use, so a five-patch block is happiest at 5″, 10″ or 15″, where every square is a whole inch. At 6″, 9″ or 12″ some pieces fall between the ⅛″ marks; each page below says so, and names the nearest sizes that cut cleanly.