Quilt block · Curves · Intermediate
Rob Peter to Pay Paul quilt block
Nine squares with their sides curved in, the half petals cut from the four between the corners dark and the rest background, so the petals join into circles across a quilt. Also called Robbing Peter to Pay Paul and Rob Peter and Pay Paul.
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
20 half petals
- B20 rectangles 2⅝″ × 1″then cut with template B
Dark · Navy in the picture
16 half petals
- B16 rectangles 2⅝″ × 1″then cut with template B
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
9 curved squares
- A9 squares 2⅜″then cut with template A
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 Rob Peter to Pay Paul’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
20 half petals
- B20 rectangles 3⅝″ × 1⅛″then cut with template B
Dark · Navy in the picture
16 half petals
- B16 rectangles 3⅝″ × 1⅛″then cut with template B
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
9 curved squares
- A9 squares 3⅜″then cut with template A
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 Rob Peter to Pay Paul’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
20 half petals
- B20 rectangles 4⅝″ × 1⅜″then cut with template B
Dark · Navy in the picture
16 half petals
- B16 rectangles 4⅝″ × 1⅜″then cut with template B
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
9 curved squares
- A9 squares 4⅜″then cut with template A
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 Rob Peter to Pay Paul’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.
- Match the notches
Lay a Background B and a Light A side by side, curves facing. Match the notches at the middle of each curve.
- Pin, the inward curve on top
Put A, the inward curve, on top, right sides together. Pin at the middle notch, then the ends, then between. Its edge will look too short: it isn’t.
- Sew slowly, a few stitches at a time
Sew a ¼″ seam with A on top. Every inch or so, stop with the needle down, lift the foot and ease the top edge to meet the bottom one. Don’t stretch it.
- Press toward the Background
From the front, press the seam toward B, the outward curve, so it lies flat. The part measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Match the notches
Lay a Dark B and a Light A side by side, curves facing. Match the notches at the middle of each curve.
- Pin, the inward curve on top
Put A, the inward curve, on top, right sides together. Pin at the middle notch, then the ends, then between. Its edge will look too short: it isn’t.
- Sew slowly, a few stitches at a time
Sew a ¼″ seam with A on top. Every inch or so, stop with the needle down, lift the foot and ease the top edge to meet the bottom one. Don’t stretch it.
- Press toward the Dark
From the front, press the seam toward B, the outward curve, so it lies flat. The part measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units 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.
- Match the notches
Lay a Background B and a Light A side by side, curves facing. Match the notches at the middle of each curve.
- Pin, the inward curve on top
Put A, the inward curve, on top, right sides together. Pin at the middle notch, then the ends, then between. Its edge will look too short: it isn’t.
- Sew slowly, a few stitches at a time
Sew a ¼″ seam with A on top. Every inch or so, stop with the needle down, lift the foot and ease the top edge to meet the bottom one. Don’t stretch it.
- Press toward the Background
From the front, press the seam toward B, the outward curve, so it lies flat. The part measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Match the notches
Lay a Dark B and a Light A side by side, curves facing. Match the notches at the middle of each curve.
- Pin, the inward curve on top
Put A, the inward curve, on top, right sides together. Pin at the middle notch, then the ends, then between. Its edge will look too short: it isn’t.
- Sew slowly, a few stitches at a time
Sew a ¼″ seam with A on top. Every inch or so, stop with the needle down, lift the foot and ease the top edge to meet the bottom one. Don’t stretch it.
- Press toward the Dark
From the front, press the seam toward B, the outward curve, so it lies flat. The part measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units 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.
- Match the notches
Lay a Background B and a Light A side by side, curves facing. Notch 1 goes to notch 1, 2 to 2, 3 to 3.
- Pin, the inward curve on top
Put A, the inward curve, on top, right sides together. Pin at notch 2, then the ends, then notches 1 and 3. Its edge will look too short: it isn’t.
- Sew slowly, a few stitches at a time
Sew a ¼″ seam with A on top. Every inch or so, stop with the needle down, lift the foot and ease the top edge to meet the bottom one. Don’t stretch it.
- Press toward the Background
From the front, press the seam toward B, the outward curve, so it lies flat. The part measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Match the notches
Lay a Dark B and a Light A side by side, curves facing. Notch 1 goes to notch 1, 2 to 2, 3 to 3.
- Pin, the inward curve on top
Put A, the inward curve, on top, right sides together. Pin at notch 2, then the ends, then notches 1 and 3. Its edge will look too short: it isn’t.
- Sew slowly, a few stitches at a time
Sew a ¼″ seam with A on top. Every inch or so, stop with the needle down, lift the foot and ease the top edge to meet the bottom one. Don’t stretch it.
- Press toward the Dark
From the front, press the seam toward B, the outward curve, so it lies flat. The part measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Sew the units into 3 rows
Lay out the units 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).
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Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
Is Rob Peter to Pay Paul the same block as Robbing Peter to Pay Paul?
Usually, yes. Block names vary by region and by book, and the same block is often sold under several. Our library lists Robbing Peter to Pay Paul and Rob Peter and Pay Paul as other names for this one, so a search for any of them finds it.
What size should I make it?
Its 6 × 6 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 15″ and 18″. Its curved pieces are cut from templates at any size; these are the sizes where its straight seams land on the ruler. In Quarter Inch you can make it any size, and it says when a cut falls between the lines.
Can I paper piece it?
Not as drawn: its seams curve, and foundation piecing sews straight seams. Piece it with a rotary cutter and templates instead, as the cutting list above does.
Is it a good block for a beginner?
It’s an intermediate block: 45 pieces in 2 different shapes, curved seams and 4 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.