Massachusetts quilt 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.

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.

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.

Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name

For the 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.

1. Make 56 half-square triangle units

   Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1″ (½″ finished).

2. Make 2 sections, 1″ × 4½″

   Sew 8 half-square triangle units together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1″ × 4½″ (½″ × 4″ finished).

3. Make 2 sections, 5½″ × 1″

   Sew 10 half-square triangle units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5½″ × 1″ (5″ × ½″ finished).

4. Make 2 sections, 1″ × 3½″

   Sew a Background A square, 4 half-square triangle units and a Dark A square together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 1″ × 3½″ (½″ × 3″ finished).

5. Make 2 sections, 2½″ × 1″

   Sew 4 half-square triangle units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 2½″ × 1″ (2″ × ½″ finished).

6. Make 1 section, 2½″ × 3½″

   Sew 2 sections and a Medium F square together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 2½″ × 3½″ (2″ × 3″ finished).

7. Make 1 section, 4½″ × 3½″

   Sew 2 Background E rectangles and 3 sections together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 4½″ × 3½″ (4″ × 3″ finished).

8. Make 1 section, 4½″

   Sew 2 Background D rectangles and a section together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).

9. Make 1 section, 5½″ × 4½″

   Sew 2 Dark D rectangles and a section together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 5½″ × 4½″ (5″ × 4″ finished).

10. Sew the units and pieces into 3 columns

    Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 columns. Press the seams in column 1 up, column 2 down, and so on, so they nest when the columns are joined.

11. Join the columns

    Join the 3 columns, 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.

1. Make 56 half-square triangle units

   Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1¼″ (¾″ finished).

2. Make 2 sections, 1¼″ × 6½″

   Sew 8 half-square triangle units together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1¼″ × 6½″ (¾″ × 6″ finished).

3. Make 2 sections, 8″ × 1¼″

   Sew 10 half-square triangle units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 8″ × 1¼″ (7½″ × ¾″ finished).

4. Make 2 sections, 1¼″ × 5″

   Sew a Background A square, 4 half-square triangle units and a Dark A square together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 1¼″ × 5″ (¾″ × 4½″ finished).

5. Make 2 sections, 3½″ × 1¼″

   Sew 4 half-square triangle units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ × 1¼″ (3″ × ¾″ finished).

6. Make 1 section, 3½″ × 5″

   Sew 2 sections and a Medium F square together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 3½″ × 5″ (3″ × 4½″ finished).

7. Make 1 section, 6½″ × 5″

   Sew 2 Background E rectangles and 3 sections together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 6½″ × 5″ (6″ × 4½″ finished).

8. Make 1 section, 6½″

   Sew 2 Background D rectangles and a section together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).

9. Make 1 section, 8″ × 6½″

   Sew 2 Dark D rectangles and a section together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 8″ × 6½″ (7½″ × 6″ finished).

10. Sew the units and pieces into 3 columns

    Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 columns. Press the seams in column 1 up, column 2 down, and so on, so they nest when the columns are joined.

11. Join the columns

    Join the 3 columns, 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.

1. Make 56 half-square triangle units

   Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).

2. Make 2 sections, 1½″ × 8½″

   Sew 8 half-square triangle units together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1½″ × 8½″ (1″ × 8″ finished).

3. Make 2 sections, 10½″ × 1½″

   Sew 10 half-square triangle units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 10½″ × 1½″ (10″ × 1″ finished).

4. Make 2 sections, 1½″ × 6½″

   Sew a Background A square, 4 half-square triangle units and a Dark A square together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 1½″ × 6½″ (1″ × 6″ finished).

5. Make 2 sections, 4½″ × 1½″

   Sew 4 half-square triangle units together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 4½″ × 1½″ (4″ × 1″ finished).

6. Make 1 section, 4½″ × 6½″

   Sew 2 sections and a Medium F square together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 4½″ × 6½″ (4″ × 6″ finished).

7. Make 1 section, 8½″ × 6½″

   Sew 2 Background E rectangles and 3 sections together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 8½″ × 6½″ (8″ × 6″ finished).

8. Make 1 section, 8½″

   Sew 2 Background D rectangles and a section together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 8½″ (8″ finished).

9. Make 1 section, 10½″ × 8½″

   Sew 2 Dark D rectangles and a section together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 10½″ × 8½″ (10″ × 8″ finished).

10. Sew the units and pieces into 3 columns

    Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 3 columns. Press the seams in column 1 up, column 2 down, and so on, so they nest when the columns are joined.

11. Join the columns

    Join the 3 columns, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 12½″ (12″ finished).