Quilt block · Nine-patch · Intermediate

Indian Mats quilt block

Four quarters, each a striped rectangle between two trapezoids with their corners cut off in a darker print, turned so the mats lie two across and two down.

FamilyNine-patch
Grid6 × 6
Shapes3
Pieces28

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

8 trapezoids

  • B8 rectangles 7¼″ × 2½″trim both ends at 45°, from the corners of one long side
¼ yd

Dark · Navy in the picture

16 corner triangles

  • A8 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
¼ yd

Medium · Denim in the picture

4 striped rectangles

  • C4 rectangles 6½″ × 2½″
¼ yd

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. Add 8 corner triangles

    Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

  2. Add 8 corner triangles

    Sew the Dark A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 6½″ × 2½″ (6″ × 2″ finished).

  3. Make 4 sections, 6½″

    Sew 2 sections and a Medium C rectangle together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).

  4. 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.

  5. 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: 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 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 an intermediate block: 28 pieces in 3 different shapes and 17 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.

Design with Indian Mats, free

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

Start designing free