Quilt block · Four-patch · Intermediate

Storm at Sea quilt block

A square in a square in a square, four small ones at the corners, and a long diamond in each side. Set side by side, the diamonds make waves.

FamilyFour-patch

Grid8 × 8

Units4 squares-in-a-square, 1 square

Pieces49

Design with Storm at Sea Cutting at 6″, 9″, 12″

What to cut for one block

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 triangles

A2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
D8 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
F16 rectangles 3⅝″ × 2⅛″then cut with template F

½ yd

Dark · Navy in the picture

The center and 4 corner squares

E4 squares 3¾″then cut with template E
C1 square 3½″

⅜ yd

Medium · Denim in the picture

4 triangles round the center

B1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals

¼ yd

Light · Powder Blue in the picture

4 long diamonds

G4 rectangles 6½″ × 3⅝″then cut with template G

¼ yd

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 Storm at Sea’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.

Make 4 square-in-a-square units
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 3½″ × 2″ (3″ × 1½″ finished).
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each 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 6½″ (6″ finished).

For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.

Make 4 square-in-a-square units
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 2¾″ (2¼″ finished).
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 5″ × 2¾″ (4½″ × 2¼″ finished).
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 5″ (4½″ 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.

Make 4 square-in-a-square units
Sew triangles to two opposite sides of the center square and press out; then to the other two sides, and press out. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 6½″ × 3½″ (6″ × 3″ finished).
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 6½″ (6″ 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

What size should I make it?

Its 8 × 8 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 9 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I), 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 7 different shapes and 16 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.