Quilt block · Checks and chains · Intermediate
Kentucky Chain quilt block
Bands of trapezoids and pentagons crossing on the diagonal, with squares and triangles between them.
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 squares and 8 triangles
- C2 squares 2¾″cut twice on the diagonals
- F4 squares 2¼″then cut with template F
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 rectangles and 4 trapezoids
- B2 squares 3¾″then cut with template B
- D4 rectangles 3″ × 2⅛″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
3 squares and 4 pieces
- E2 squares 3⅝″then cut with template E
- F3 squares 2¼″then cut with template F
- A2 squares 2⅛″then cut with template A
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Kentucky Chain’s templates at true size with Quilter.
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 squares and 8 triangles
- C2 squares 3½″cut twice on the diagonals
- F4 squares 3″then cut with template F
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 rectangles and 4 trapezoids
- B2 squares 5¼″then cut with template B
- D4 rectangles 4⅛″ × 2⅞″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
3 squares and 4 pieces
- E2 squares 5⅛″then cut with template E
- F3 squares 3″then cut with template F
- A2 squares 2⅞″then cut with template A
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Kentucky Chain’s templates at true size with Quilter.
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 squares and 8 triangles
- C2 squares 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- F4 squares 3¾″then cut with template F
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 rectangles and 4 trapezoids
- B2 squares 6¾″then cut with template B
- D4 rectangles 5¼″ × 3⅝″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
3 squares and 4 pieces
- E2 squares 6⅝″then cut with template E
- F3 squares 3¾″then cut with template F
- A2 squares 3⅝″then cut with template A
Templates. Pieces marked “cut with template” aren’t a shape a straight ruler cuts: cut the size given, then trim it to the template’s shape. Quarter Inch prints Kentucky Chain’s templates at true size with Quilter.
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 C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam: Medium F piece to Background F piece. Press the seam to one side.
- Add 3 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam: Medium E piece to Medium F piece. Press the seam to one side.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Join the halves
Sew the two halves together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam open. 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 C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam: Medium F piece to Background F piece. Press the seam to one side.
- Add 3 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam: Medium E piece to Medium F piece. Press the seam to one side.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Join the halves
Sew the two halves together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam open. 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 C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam: Medium F piece to Background F piece. Press the seam to one side.
- Add 3 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam: Medium E piece to Medium F piece. Press the seam to one side.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 2 sections
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Join the halves
Sew the two halves together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam open. The block measures 12½″ (12″ finished).
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Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
Its 8 × 8 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 4″, 7″, 8″, 10″, 14″, 15″, 16″ 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 5 sections (A, B, C, D and E), 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: 25 pieces in 6 different shapes and 24 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.