Santa Fe Trail quilt 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.

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.

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.

Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name

For the 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.

1. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

2. Make 2 sections

   Sew 2 Medium E pieces and a Background E 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.

3. Make 1 section

   Sew 2 Background E pieces and a Medium E 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.

4. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

5. Make 1 section, 2½″

   Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).

6. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

7. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

8. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

9. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

10. Add 4 corner triangles

    Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

11. Add 4 corner triangles

    Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).

12. 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.

13. 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.

1. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

2. Make 2 sections, 3½″ × 1½″

   Sew 2 Medium E squares and a Background E square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ × 1½″ (3″ × 1″ finished).

3. Make 1 section, 3½″ × 1½″

   Sew 2 Background E squares and a Medium E square together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ × 1½″ (3″ × 1″ finished).

4. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

5. Make 1 section, 3½″

   Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).

6. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

7. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

8. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

9. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

10. Add 4 corner triangles

    Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

11. Add 4 corner triangles

    Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).

12. 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.

13. 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.

1. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

2. Make 2 sections

   Sew 2 Medium E pieces and a Background E 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.

3. Make 1 section

   Sew 2 Background E pieces and a Medium E 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.

4. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

5. Make 1 section, 4½″

   Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).

6. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

7. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

8. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

9. Add 4 corner triangles

   Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

10. Add 4 corner triangles

    Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.

11. Add 4 corner triangles

    Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).

12. 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.

13. 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).