Quilt block · Five-patch · Intermediate
Pigeon Toes quilt block
A checkerboard cross of dark and light squares with pairs of long slim triangles, the pigeon’s toes, along every 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
13 squares and 16 triangles
- A13 squares 1¾″then cut with template A
- B16 rectangles 1¾″ × 1¼″then cut with template B
Dark · Navy in the picture
16 long triangles and 4 squares
- A4 squares 1¾″then cut with template A
- B16 rectangles 1¾″ × 1¼″then cut with template B
Between the lines. Pigeon Toes cuts cleanly at 5″ or 7½″. At 6″ its squares are 1¹⁄₅″, 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
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
13 squares and 16 triangles
- A13 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
- B16 rectangles 2⅜″ × 1½″then cut with template B
Dark · Navy in the picture
16 long triangles and 4 squares
- A4 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
- B16 rectangles 2⅜″ × 1½″then cut with template B
Between the lines. Pigeon Toes cuts cleanly at 7½″ or 10″. At 9″ its squares are 1⁴⁄₅″, 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
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
13 squares and 16 triangles
- A13 squares 3″then cut with template A
- B16 rectangles 3″ × 1¾″then cut with template B
Dark · Navy in the picture
16 long triangles and 4 squares
- A4 squares 3″then cut with template A
- B16 rectangles 3″ × 1¾″then cut with template B
Between the lines. Pigeon Toes cuts cleanly at 10″ or 12½″. At 12″ its squares 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 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Add 16 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 8 sections
Sew 2 sections 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.
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 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 5 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.
- Add 16 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 8 sections
Sew 2 sections 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.
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 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 5 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.
- Add 16 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 8 sections
Sew 2 sections 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.
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 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 5 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 10 × 10 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 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 an intermediate block: 49 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.