Quilt block · Checks and chains · Advanced
Queen’s Crown quilt block
Nine nine-patches and four three-bar units make a chain in the middle and corners, with large half-square triangles and squares between them.
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
36 small squares, 8 bars and 8 large triangles
- A8 squares 1¾″then cut with template A
- C8 rectangles 1¾″ × 1″then cut with template C
- D36 squares 1″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
45 small squares and 4 bars
- C4 rectangles 1¾″ × 1″then cut with template C
- D45 squares 1″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
8 large triangles and 4 squares
- A8 squares 1¾″then cut with template A
- B4 squares 1¾″then cut with template B
Between the lines. Queen’s Crown cuts cleanly at 7½″. At 6″ its squares are ²⁄₅″, 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
36 small squares, 8 bars and 8 large triangles
- A8 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
- C8 rectangles 2⅜″ × 1⅛″then cut with template C
- D36 squares 1⅛″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
45 small squares and 4 bars
- C4 rectangles 2⅜″ × 1⅛″then cut with template C
- D45 squares 1⅛″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
8 large triangles and 4 squares
- A8 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
- B4 squares 2⅜″then cut with template B
Between the lines. Queen’s Crown cuts cleanly at 7½″ or 15″. At 9″ its squares are ³⁄₅″, 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
36 small squares, 8 bars and 8 large triangles
- A8 squares 3″then cut with template A
- C8 rectangles 3″ × 1⅜″then cut with template C
- D36 squares 1⅜″then cut with template D
Dark · Navy in the picture
45 small squares and 4 bars
- C4 rectangles 3″ × 1⅜″then cut with template C
- D45 squares 1⅜″then cut with template D
Medium · Denim in the picture
8 large triangles and 4 squares
- A8 squares 3″then cut with template A
- B4 squares 3″then cut with template B
Between the lines. Queen’s Crown cuts cleanly at 7½″ or 15″. At 12″ its squares are ⁴⁄₅″, 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.
- Make 18 sections
Sew 2 Dark D pieces and a Background D 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 D pieces and a Dark D 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 8 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 4 rail units
Sew the Background C and Dark C 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 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.
- Make 18 sections
Sew 2 Dark D pieces and a Background D 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 D pieces and a Dark D 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 8 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 4 rail units
Sew the Background C and Dark C 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 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.
- Make 18 sections
Sew 2 Dark D pieces and a Background D 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 D pieces and a Dark D 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 8 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium A triangle to a Background A triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 4 rail units
Sew the Background C and Dark C 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 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).
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Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
On its 15 × 15 grid, 6″, 9″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 7½″ or 15″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 30 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 and AD), 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: 113 pieces in 4 different shapes and 4 points to match. Practise the hard seams on scraps first. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.