Quilt block · Four-patch · Intermediate
Four Squares Two quilt block
Four quarters of squares and rectangles: two with light squares on the diagonal between big medium squares, two with a big dark square framed by rectangles.
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
8 squares
- A8 squares 1¼″
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 big squares
- B2 squares 2″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 big squares
- B4 squares 2″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
8 rectangles
- C8 rectangles 2″ × 1¼″
Accent · Apricot in the picture
16 small squares
- A16 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
8 squares
- A8 squares 1⅝″
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 big squares
- B2 squares 2¾″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 big squares
- B4 squares 2¾″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
8 rectangles
- C8 rectangles 2¾″ × 1⅝″
Accent · Apricot in the picture
16 small squares
- A16 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
8 squares
- A8 squares 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 big squares
- B2 squares 3½″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 big squares
- B4 squares 3½″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
8 rectangles
- C8 rectangles 3½″ × 2″
Accent · Apricot in the picture
16 small squares
- A16 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 4 four-patch units
Sew the squares in pairs and press each pair’s seam toward the darker square. Join the pairs, turning one so the seams nest, and press the long seam open. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 3½″ × 1¼″
Sew 2 Accent A squares and a Light C rectangle together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ × 1¼″ (3″ × ¾″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 3½″ × 2″
Sew 2 Light C rectangles and a Dark B square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ × 2″ (3″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 3½″ × 2″
Sew a four-patch unit and a Medium B square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 3½″ × 2″ (3″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 3½″
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 3½″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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 4 four-patch units
Sew the squares in pairs and press each pair’s seam toward the darker square. Join the pairs, turning one so the seams nest, and press the long seam open. Each measures 2¾″ (2¼″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 5″ × 1⅝″
Sew 2 Accent A squares and a Light C rectangle together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5″ × 1⅝″ (4½″ × 1⅛″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 5″ × 2¾″
Sew 2 Light C rectangles and a Dark B square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5″ × 2¾″ (4½″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 5″ × 2¾″
Sew a four-patch unit and a Medium B square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 5″ × 2¾″ (4½″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 5″
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 5″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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 4 four-patch units
Sew the squares in pairs and press each pair’s seam toward the darker square. Join the pairs, turning one so the seams nest, and press the long seam open. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 6½″ × 2″
Sew 2 Accent A squares and a Light C rectangle together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 6½″ × 2″ (6″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 6½″ × 3½″
Sew 2 Light C rectangles and a Dark B square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 6½″ × 3½″ (6″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 6½″ × 3½″
Sew a four-patch unit and a Medium B square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 6½″ × 3½″ (6″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 6½″
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 6½″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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
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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 12 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L), 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: 38 pieces in 3 different shapes. Take it slowly and check each piece against the list. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.