Quilt block · Checks and chains · Intermediate
Tick Tack Toe quilt block
Strips crossing in a tick-tack-toe grid with light squares where they meet, round plain squares and rectangles. Also called Tic Tac Toe.
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
5 squares and 4 rectangles
- A4 squares 2½″
- E4 rectangles 2″ × 1½″
- F1 square 1½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
16 rectangles
- D8 rectangles 2″ × 1″
- C8 rectangles 1½″ × 1″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
12 squares
- B12 squares 1″
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
5 squares and 4 rectangles
- A4 squares 3½″
- E4 rectangles 2¾″ × 2″
- F1 square 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
16 rectangles
- D8 rectangles 2¾″ × 1¼″
- C8 rectangles 2″ × 1¼″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
12 squares
- B12 squares 1¼″
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
5 squares and 4 rectangles
- A4 squares 4½″
- E4 rectangles 3½″ × 2½″
- F1 square 2½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
16 rectangles
- D8 rectangles 3½″ × 1½″
- C8 rectangles 2½″ × 1½″
Light · Powder Blue in the picture
12 squares
- B12 squares 1½″
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 sections, 1″ × 2½″
Sew a Light B square and a Dark D rectangle together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1″ × 2½″ (½″ × 2″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 1½″ × 2½″
Sew a Dark C rectangle and a Background E rectangle together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1½″ × 2½″ (1″ × 2″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 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 5 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 sections, 1¼″ × 3½″
Sew a Light B square and a Dark D rectangle together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1¼″ × 3½″ (¾″ × 3″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 2″ × 3½″
Sew a Dark C rectangle and a Background E rectangle together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 2″ × 3½″ (1½″ × 3″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 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 5 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 sections, 1½″ × 4½″
Sew a Light B square and a Dark D rectangle together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 1½″ × 4½″ (1″ × 4″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 2½″ × 4½″
Sew a Dark C rectangle and a Background E rectangle together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 2½″ × 4½″ (2″ × 4″ finished).
- Sew the units and pieces into 5 rows
Lay out the units and pieces as in the picture and sew them into 5 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 5 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 Tick Tack Toe the same block as Tic Tac Toe?
Usually, yes. Block names vary by region and by book, and the same block is often sold under several. Our library lists Tic Tac Toe as other name for this one, so a search for any of them finds it.
What size should I make it?
Its 12 × 12 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 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: 37 pieces in 6 different shapes. Take it slowly and check each piece against the list. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.