Quilt block · Stars · Intermediate
Weathervane quilt block
A nine-patch: a corner unit of four patches in each corner, a medium vane with two folded corners on each side, and a dark center square. Also called Weather Vane.
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
4 squares and 16 triangles
- B8 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 squares 1½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
The center square, 4 squares and 8 triangles
- D1 square 2½″
- B4 squares 1⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 squares 1½″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 vanes
- C4 rectangles 2⅝″ × 2½″then cut with template C
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 Weathervane’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
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
4 squares and 16 triangles
- B8 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 squares 2″
Dark · Navy in the picture
The center square, 4 squares and 8 triangles
- D1 square 3½″
- B4 squares 2⅜″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 squares 2″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 vanes
- C4 rectangles 3⅝″ × 3½″then cut with template C
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 Weathervane’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
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
4 squares and 16 triangles
- B8 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 squares 2½″
Dark · Navy in the picture
The center square, 4 squares and 8 triangles
- D1 square 4½″
- B4 squares 2⅞″cut once on the diagonal
- A4 squares 2½″
Medium · Denim in the picture
4 vanes
- C4 rectangles 4⅝″ × 4½″then cut with template C
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 Weathervane’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 8 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 1½″ (1″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 4 sections, 2½″ × 1½″
Sew a Background A square and a half-square triangle unit together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 2½″ × 1½″ (2″ × 1″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 2½″ × 1½″
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a Dark A square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 2½″ × 1½″ (2″ × 1″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 2½″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 2½″ (2″ 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 Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2″ (1½″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 4 sections, 3½″ × 2″
Sew a Background A square and a half-square triangle unit together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 3½″ × 2″ (3″ × 1½″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 3½″ × 2″
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a Dark A square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 3½″ × 2″ (3″ × 1½″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 3½″ (3″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 3½″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Each measures 3½″ (3″ 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 Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Each measures 2½″ (2″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 4 sections, 4½″ × 2½″
Sew a Background A square and a half-square triangle unit together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 4½″ × 2½″ (4″ × 2″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 4½″ × 2½″
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a Dark A square together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Each measures 4½″ × 2½″ (4″ × 2″ finished).
- Add 4 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Each measures 4½″ (4″ finished).
- Make 4 sections, 4½″
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. 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 12½″ (12″ finished).
Blocks like it
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Christmas StarNine-patch · Stars
More like this: Star quilt blocks · Nine-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
Is it Weathervane or Weather Vane?
Both: you’ll see it written either way in books and patterns. It’s the same block, and a search for either 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 11 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J and K), 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 4 different shapes and 8 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.