Quilt block · Four-patch · Beginner
Monastery Windows quilt block
Two square-in-a-square units on one diagonal, and on the other two quarters of light squares and half-square triangle units.
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 4 triangles
- B2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 squares 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 triangles
- B4 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
2 squares on point and 4 triangles
- A2 squares 3¾″then cut with template A
- B2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
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 Monastery Windows’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 4 triangles
- B2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 squares 2¾″
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 triangles
- B4 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
2 squares on point and 4 triangles
- A2 squares 5¼″then cut with template A
- B2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
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 Monastery Windows’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 4 triangles
- B2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- C4 squares 3½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
8 triangles
- B4 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
Medium · Denim in the picture
2 squares on point and 4 triangles
- A2 squares 6¾″then cut with template A
- B2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
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 Monastery Windows’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.
- Make 2 square-in-a-square units
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 3½″ × 2″
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a Background C square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 3½″ × 2″ (3″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 3½″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- 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.
- 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 square-in-a-square units
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 2¾″ (2¼″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 5″ × 2¾″
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a Background C square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 5″ × 2¾″ (4½″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 5″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- 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.
- 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 square-in-a-square units
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium B triangle to a Background B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 6½″ × 3½″
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a Background C square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 6½″ × 3½″ (6″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 6½″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- 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.
- 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: Four-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 4 × 4 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 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: 22 pieces in 3 different shapes and 4 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.