Quilt block · Five-patch · Intermediate

Lady of the Lake quilt block

A big half-square triangle unit in the center, ringed by sixteen small ones.

FamilyFive-patch
Grid5 × 5
Units16 half-square triangles, 1 half-square triangle
Pieces34

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

16 triangles

  • A16 squares 3″then cut with template A
¼ yd

Dark · Navy in the picture

1 large triangle and 16 small ones

  • B1 square 7¾″then cut with template B
  • A16 squares 3″then cut with template A
⅝ yd

Medium · Denim in the picture

1 large triangle

  • B1 square 7¾″then cut with template B
½ yd

Between the lines. Lady of the Lake 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 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.

  1. Make 16 half-square triangle units

    Sew a Background A triangle to a Dark A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.

  2. Make 1 half-square triangle unit

    Sew a Medium B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.

  3. Make 4 sections

    Sew 3 half-square triangle units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.

  4. Sew the units into 3 rows

    Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 3 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 3 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 5 × 5 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 an intermediate block: 34 pieces in 2 different shapes and 12 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 Lady of the Lake, free

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

Start designing free