Quilt block · Nine-patch · Intermediate
Summer Winds quilt block
A centre square with light triangles on each side and dark triangles at the corners, framed by rectangles, half-square triangles and corner squares. Also called Chinese Block and Tea Party.
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.
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 corner squares and 4 large triangles
- C2 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- E4 squares 1½″
Medium · Denim in the picture
The center square, 4 rectangles and 8 triangles
- B1 square 2½″
- F4 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 rectangles 2½″ × 1½″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
12 triangles
- D1 square 3¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- F4 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
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.
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 corner squares and 4 large triangles
- C2 squares 3⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- E4 squares 2″
Medium · Denim in the picture
The center square, 4 rectangles and 8 triangles
- B1 square 3½″
- F4 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 rectangles 3½″ × 2″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
12 triangles
- D1 square 4¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- F4 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
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.
Dark · Navy in the picture
4 corner squares and 4 large triangles
- C2 squares 4⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- E4 squares 2½″
Medium · Denim in the picture
The center square, 4 rectangles and 8 triangles
- B1 square 4½″
- F4 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 rectangles 4½″ × 2½″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
12 triangles
- D1 square 5¼″cut twice on the diagonals
- F4 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
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 8 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium F triangle to a Light F triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 4 sections, 4½″ × 1½″
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium A rectangle together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 4½″ × 1½″ (4″ × 1″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- 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.
- 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 8 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium F triangle to a Light F triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 4 sections, 6½″ × 2″
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium A rectangle together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 6½″ × 2″ (6″ × 1½″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
- 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.
- 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 8 half-square triangle units
Sew a Medium F triangle to a Light F triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 4 sections, 8½″ × 2½″
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium A rectangle together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 8½″ × 2½″ (8″ × 2″ finished).
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Light D triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark C triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 8½″ (8″ finished).
- 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.
- 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).
Blocks like it
More like this: Nine-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
Is Summer Winds the same block as Chinese Block?
Usually, yes. Block names vary by region and by book, and the same block is often sold under several. Our library lists Chinese Block and Tea Party 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″. 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 5 sections (A, B, C, D and E), 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: 33 pieces in 6 different shapes and 12 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.