Quilt block · Five-patch · Beginner
Hard Times quilt block
Four quarters, each a five-sided dark patch cut from a template with three background triangles round it, so the darks join in a big cross of squares on point.
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
12 triangles
- B4 squares 2⅜″then cut with template B
- C8 squares 1¾″then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 five-sided patches
- A4 squares 3⅝″then cut with template A
Between the lines. Hard Times cuts cleanly at 5″ or 7½″. At 6″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 1¹⁄₅″, 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
12 triangles
- B4 squares 3¼″then cut with template B
- C8 squares 2⅜″then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 five-sided patches
- A4 squares 5⅛″then cut with template A
Between the lines. Hard Times cuts cleanly at 7½″ or 10″. At 9″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 1⁴⁄₅″, 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
12 triangles
- B4 squares 4¼″then cut with template B
- C8 squares 3″then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 five-sided patches
- A4 squares 6⅝″then cut with template A
Between the lines. Hard Times cuts cleanly at 10″ or 12½″. At 12″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 2²⁄₅″, 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 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 3 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. 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 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 3 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. 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 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 3 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. 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: Five-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 10 × 10 grid, 6″, 9″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 10″ or 12½″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 4 sections (A, B, C and D), 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: 16 pieces in 3 different shapes and 4 points to match. Nothing in it curves or has to be set in. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.