Quilt block · Nine-patch · Beginner
Golden Gate quilt block
A nine-patch: three-strip units on the sides round a plain center, and big half-square triangle units in the corners.
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
4 corner triangles and 1 center square
- A2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 square 2½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 outer strips
- B4 rectangles 2½″ × 1¼″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 inner strips
- B4 rectangles 2½″ × 1¼″then cut with template B
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 middle strips
- B4 rectangles 2½″ × 1¼″then cut with template B
Accent · Apricot in the picture
4 corner triangles
- A2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Between the lines. Golden Gate cuts cleanly at 4½″ or 9″. At 6″ its rectangles are ⅔″ wide, so they need templates.
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
4 corner triangles and 1 center square
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 square 3½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 outer strips
- B4 rectangles 3½″ × 1½″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 inner strips
- B4 rectangles 3½″ × 1½″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 middle strips
- B4 rectangles 3½″ × 1½″
Accent · Apricot in the picture
4 corner triangles
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
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
4 corner triangles and 1 center square
- A2 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C1 square 4½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 outer strips
- B4 rectangles 4½″ × 1⅞″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 inner strips
- B4 rectangles 4½″ × 1⅞″then cut with template B
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
4 middle strips
- B4 rectangles 4½″ × 1⅞″then cut with template B
Accent · Apricot in the picture
4 corner triangles
- A2 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Between the lines. Golden Gate cuts cleanly at 9″ or 13½″. At 12″ its rectangles are 1⅓″ wide, so they need templates.
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 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background A triangle to an Accent A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Accent. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Make 4 rail units
Sew the Dark B and Light B and Medium B rectangles together along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- 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.
- 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 6½″ (6″ finished).
For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background A triangle to an Accent A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Accent. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 4 rail units
Sew the Dark B and Light B and Medium B rectangles together along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- 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.
- 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 9½″ (9″ finished).
For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background A triangle to an Accent A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Accent. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Make 4 rail units
Sew the Dark B and Light B and Medium B rectangles together along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- 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.
- 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
Shortcut to SchoolNine-patch
Beggar’s BlockNine-patch
Path and StilesNine-patch
Crowning GloryNine-patch
More like this: 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?
At 9″ every piece measures with a ruler. On its 9 × 9 grid, 6″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 9″ or 13½″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 3 sections (A, B and C), 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 a good block for a beginner: 21 pieces in 3 different shapes. Nothing in it curves or has to be set in. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.