Quilt block · Four-patch · Beginner
Philadelphia Pavements quilt block
A nine-patch of squares and large half-square triangles, framed by four long strips with a square at each corner.
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 strips and 4 large triangles
- C2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 rectangles 5″ × 1¼″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 corner squares, 4 large triangles and 1 center square
- C2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B1 square 2″
- D4 squares 1¼″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 squares
- B4 squares 2″
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 strips and 4 large triangles
- C2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 rectangles 7¼″ × 1⅝″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 corner squares, 4 large triangles and 1 center square
- C2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
- B1 square 2¾″
- D4 squares 1⅝″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 squares
- B4 squares 2¾″
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 strips and 4 large triangles
- C2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 rectangles 9½″ × 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 corner squares, 4 large triangles and 1 center square
- C2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B1 square 3½″
- D4 squares 2″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 squares
- B4 squares 3½″
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 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark C triangle to a Background C triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 5″ × 2″
Sew 2 Medium B squares and a Dark B square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5″ × 2″ (4½″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 5″ × 2″
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium B square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 5″ × 2″ (4½″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 5″
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 rows
Lay out the units and pieces 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.
- 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 6½″ (6″ finished).
For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark C triangle to a Background C triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2¾″ (2¼″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 7¼″ × 2¾″
Sew 2 Medium B squares and a Dark B square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 7¼″ × 2¾″ (6¾″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 7¼″ × 2¾″
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium B square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 7¼″ × 2¾″ (6¾″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 7¼″
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 7¼″ (6¾″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 rows
Lay out the units and pieces 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.
- 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 9½″ (9″ finished).
For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 4 half-square triangle units
Sew a Dark C triangle to a Background C triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 9½″ × 3½″
Sew 2 Medium B squares and a Dark B square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 9½″ × 3½″ (9″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 9½″ × 3½″
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium B square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 9½″ × 3½″ (9″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 1 section, 9½″
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 9½″ (9″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 3 rows
Lay out the units and pieces 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.
- 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: 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 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 a good block for a beginner: 21 pieces in 4 different shapes and 8 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.