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.

FamilyNine-patch
Grid9 × 9
Units4 half-square triangles, 4 rails, 1 square
Pieces21

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 triangles and 1 center square

  • A2 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
  • C1 square 4½″
½ yd

Dark · Navy in the picture

4 outer strips

  • B4 rectangles 4½″ × 1⅞″then cut with template B
¼ yd

Medium · Denim in the picture

4 inner strips

  • B4 rectangles 4½″ × 1⅞″then cut with template B
¼ yd

Light · Powder Blue in the picture

4 middle strips

  • B4 rectangles 4½″ × 1⅞″then cut with template B
¼ yd

Accent · Apricot in the picture

4 corner triangles

  • A2 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
⅜ yd

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 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.

  1. 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).

  2. 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).

  3. 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.

  4. 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: 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.

Design with Golden Gate, free

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

Start designing free