QAF Block of the Month

September 2003

Triple 4 Patch

10 1/2" unfinished (10" finished size)

Here's a traditional block for you this month to make in blues and goldy tans. You will need a dark blue and a tan for the first little 4 patch, then a lighter blue print for the solid squares that make the littlest 4 patch into a double 4 patch, and then those patches into the triple 4 patch. The block and quilt layouts shown here are scrappy in the dark blues only, and you have a chance to do it that way, or to use just one blue for all the darks. The other fabrics should stay the same throughout each block, or in other words, you only need 3 fabrics for each block, but you COULD make the dark blues scrappy.

Fabric:

For 1 Block cut:

(8) 1 3/4" squares of dark blue fabric(s)

(8) 1 3/4" squares of gold, tan, beige or cream fabric

(4) 3" squares and (2) 5 1/2" squares of medium blue fabric

 

To Assemble Block: Sew each of the small dark blue squares to a tan square. Press each to the dark. Sew each resulting rectangle to another following the picture. Press that seam. Your 4 patch should measure 3" square. Square up if necessary before the next step.

Next, sew each 4 patch to a 3" square of medium blue fabric. Press to the medium blue. Arrange these rectangles into bigger 4-patches, following the picture, sew and press seam.

Now arrange these 4 patch blocks with the 5 1/2" squares to make your final '4 patch'. You have a Triple 4-patch.

It's possible to strip piece the littlest 4 patches, particularly if you use the same dark blue for each block. You need strips about 15" long by 1 3/4" - one dark blue and one in your tan fabric. Seam them together along the length with a 1/4" seam, press to the dark and crosscut 8 pieces at 1 3/4".

As always, check your seam allowances, and measure, measure, measure as you go along. Your blocks must measure 10 1/2" before you enter in the BOM lottery.

A Tip: If you press as noted above, each time you sew two rectangles together, you will have seams to match that will nestle into each other and you will have nicely matching seams at each intersection.

 

Here are a couple of settings that show off this block in different ways, each a generous lap/nap quilt 60 inches or so square.