Quilt block · Seven-patch · Intermediate
Gretchen quilt block
Four quarters turned round the center, each a big dark triangle, a long dark strip, a small half-square triangle unit in the corner and another at the center.
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, 4 long four-sided patches, 4 big triangles and 4 center triangles
- B4 squares 2¾″then cut with template B
- C4 squares 2¾″then cut with template C
- A8 squares 1½″then cut with template A
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 corner triangles, 4 big triangles, 4 strips and 4 center triangles
- B4 squares 2¾″then cut with template B
- C4 squares 2¾″then cut with template C
- A8 squares 1½″then cut with template A
Between the lines. Gretchen cuts cleanly at 3½″ or 7″. At 6″ its half-square triangles' short sides are ⁶⁄₇″, 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, 4 long four-sided patches, 4 big triangles and 4 center triangles
- B4 squares 3⅞″then cut with template B
- C4 squares 3⅞″then cut with template C
- A8 squares 1⅞″then cut with template A
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 corner triangles, 4 big triangles, 4 strips and 4 center triangles
- B4 squares 3⅞″then cut with template B
- C4 squares 3⅞″then cut with template C
- A8 squares 1⅞″then cut with template A
Between the lines. Gretchen cuts cleanly at 7″ or 10½″. At 9″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 1²⁄₇″, 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 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, 4 long four-sided patches, 4 big triangles and 4 center triangles
- B4 squares 4⅞″then cut with template B
- C4 squares 4⅞″then cut with template C
- A8 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 corner triangles, 4 big triangles, 4 strips and 4 center triangles
- B4 squares 4⅞″then cut with template B
- C4 squares 4⅞″then cut with template C
- A8 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
Between the lines. Gretchen cuts cleanly at 10½″ or 14″. At 12″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 1⁵⁄₇″, 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.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 4 sections, 3½″
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam 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.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 4 sections, 5″
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam 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.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 4 sections, 6½″
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam 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
More like this: Seven-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
On its 14 × 14 grid, 6″, 9″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 10½″ or 14″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 8 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H), 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: 32 pieces in 3 different shapes and 13 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.