Quilt block · Four-patch · Beginner
Southern Belle quilt block
Four quarters, each a flying-geese unit beside a strip, turned in turn: two light geese on medium, and two dark geese on light.
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
2 geese, 2 strips and 4 triangles
- A1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- A2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B2 rectangles 3½″ × 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 geese
- A1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Medium · Denim in the picture
2 strips and 4 triangles
- A2 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- B2 rectangles 3½″ × 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
2 geese, 2 strips and 4 triangles
- A1 square 5¾″cut twice on the diagonals
- A2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
- B2 rectangles 5″ × 2¾″
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 geese
- A1 square 5¾″cut twice on the diagonals
Medium · Denim in the picture
2 strips and 4 triangles
- A2 squares 3⅛″cut once on the diagonal
- B2 rectangles 5″ × 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
2 geese, 2 strips and 4 triangles
- A1 square 7¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B2 rectangles 6½″ × 3½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
2 geese
- A1 square 7¼″cut twice on the diagonals
Medium · Denim in the picture
2 strips and 4 triangles
- A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- B2 rectangles 6½″ × 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 2 flying geese units: Background and Medium
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 3½″ × 2″ (3″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 2 flying geese units: Dark and Background
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 2″ × 3½″ (1½″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 3½″
Sew a flying geese unit and a Medium B rectangle together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 3½″
Sew a Background B rectangle and a flying geese unit together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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 2 flying geese units: Background and Medium
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 5″ × 2¾″ (4½″ × 2¼″ finished).
- Make 2 flying geese units: Dark and Background
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 2¾″ × 5″ (2¼″ × 4½″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 5″
Sew a flying geese unit and a Medium B rectangle together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 5″
Sew a Background B rectangle and a flying geese unit together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 5″ (4½″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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 2 flying geese units: Background and Medium
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 6½″ × 3½″ (6″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 2 flying geese units: Dark and Background
Sew a sky triangle to one short side of the goose triangle and press toward the sky; then the other. The goose’s point sits ¼″ below the top edge. Each measures 3½″ × 6½″ (3″ × 6″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 6½″
Sew a flying geese unit and a Medium B rectangle together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- Make 2 sections, 6½″
Sew a Background B rectangle and a flying geese unit together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 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 2 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
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Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
Its 4 × 4 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 4 sections (A, B, C and D), 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: 16 pieces in 3 different shapes and 4 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.