Quilt block · Checks and chains · Advanced
Nebraska quilt block
Nine-patches and three-strip squares make a lattice round a small center nine-patch, framed by a border of half-square triangles with a plain square in the middle of each side.
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
40 squares, 24 strips and 20 triangles
- A20 squares 1½″then cut with template A
- B4 squares 1⅜″then cut with template B
- D24 rectangles 1⅜″ × ⅞″then cut with template D
- C36 squares ⅞″then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
49 squares, 12 strips and 20 triangles
- A20 squares 1½″then cut with template A
- B4 squares 1⅜″then cut with template B
- D12 rectangles 1⅜″ × ⅞″then cut with template D
- C45 squares ⅞″then cut with template C
Between the lines. Nebraska cuts cleanly at 10½″. At 6″ its squares are ²⁄₇″, 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
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
40 squares, 24 strips and 20 triangles
- A20 squares 1⅞″then cut with template A
- B4 squares 1⅞″then cut with template B
- D24 rectangles 1⅞″ × 1″then cut with template D
- C36 squares 1″then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
49 squares, 12 strips and 20 triangles
- A20 squares 1⅞″then cut with template A
- B4 squares 1⅞″then cut with template B
- D12 rectangles 1⅞″ × 1″then cut with template D
- C45 squares 1″then cut with template C
Between the lines. Nebraska cuts cleanly at 10½″. At 9″ its squares are ³⁄₇″, 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
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
40 squares, 24 strips and 20 triangles
- A20 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
- B4 squares 2¼″then cut with template B
- D24 rectangles 2¼″ × 1⅛″then cut with template D
- C36 squares 1⅛″then cut with template C
Dark · Navy in the picture
49 squares, 12 strips and 20 triangles
- A20 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
- B4 squares 2¼″then cut with template B
- D12 rectangles 2¼″ × 1⅛″then cut with template D
- C45 squares 1⅛″then cut with template C
Between the lines. Nebraska cuts cleanly at 10½″ or 21″. At 12″ its squares are ⁴⁄₇″, 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 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 20 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background 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.
- Make 18 sections
Sew 2 Dark C pieces and a Background C piece 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.
- Make 9 sections
Sew 2 Background C pieces and a Dark C piece 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.
- Make 12 rail units
Sew the Background D and Dark D rectangles together 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.
- Make 9 sections
Sew 3 sections together in a column. 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.
- Sew the units and pieces into 7 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 7 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 7 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 20 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background 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.
- Make 18 sections
Sew 2 Dark C pieces and a Background C piece 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.
- Make 9 sections
Sew 2 Background C pieces and a Dark C piece 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.
- Make 12 rail units
Sew the Background D and Dark D rectangles together 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.
- Make 9 sections
Sew 3 sections together in a column. 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.
- Sew the units and pieces into 7 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 7 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 7 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 20 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark A triangle to a Background 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.
- Make 18 sections
Sew 2 Dark C pieces and a Background C piece 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.
- Make 9 sections
Sew 2 Background C pieces and a Dark C piece 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.
- Make 12 rail units
Sew the Background D and Dark D rectangles together 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.
- Make 9 sections
Sew 3 sections together in a column. 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.
- Sew the units and pieces into 7 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 7 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 7 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
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More like this: Checks and chains quilt blocks · Seven-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 21 × 21 grid, 6″, 9″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 10½″ or 21″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 33 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AF and AG), 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 advanced block: 165 pieces in 4 different shapes and 12 points to match. Practise the hard seams on scraps first. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.