Quilt block · Nine-patch · Beginner
Hill and Valley quilt block
Two rows of big triangles, each holding an hourglass of smaller triangles, so hills and valleys alternate across the block.
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 triangles
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B1 square 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Dark · Navy in the picture
10 triangles
- B2 squares 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- C2 squares 2⅞″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 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 triangles
- A2 squares 5⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Dark · Navy in the picture
10 triangles
- B2 squares 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- C2 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
8 triangles
- A2 squares 6⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B1 square 5¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Dark · Navy in the picture
10 triangles
- B2 squares 5¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- C2 squares 4⅞″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
How it’s sewn
For the 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 2 quarter-square triangle units
Sew the Dark B and Background B triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Sew the units and pieces into 2 rows
Lay out the units and pieces 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 2 quarter-square triangle units
Sew the Dark B and Background B triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Sew the units and pieces into 2 rows
Lay out the units and pieces 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 2 quarter-square triangle units
Sew the Dark B and Background B triangles together in pairs along a short edge, then join the pairs, matching the seams at the center. Press the last seam open. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Sew the units and pieces into 2 rows
Lay out the units and pieces 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).
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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?
Its 6 × 6 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 15″ 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 6 sections (A, B, C, D, E and F), 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: 18 pieces in 3 different shapes and 9 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.