- Background (muslin)
- Medium (goldenrod)
- Dark (indigo)
- Deep (damson)
- Accent (madder red)
Block No. 17 · nine-patch
Card Trick Quilt Block
Part of: Nine Patch Quilt BlocksHalf Square Triangle Quilt Blocks
Card Trick uses overlapping colored shapes to suggest four playing cards. The familiar design is associated with Jeff Gutcheon rather than an anonymous antique block; this version uses four contrasting fabrics.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Grid
- 3 × 3
- Pieces
- 24
Chart
Cutting for a 12" block
3 × 3 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 12 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Half-square triangle | 2 | 4 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 4 |
| Background | Quarter-square triangle | 1 | 5 1/4" square | Cut twice diagonally (4 triangles each) | 4 |
| Medium | Half-square triangle | 1 | 4 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 2 |
| Medium | Quarter-square triangle | 1 | 5 1/4" square | Cut twice diagonally (4 triangles each) | 22 spare |
| Dark | Half-square triangle | 1 | 4 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 2 |
| Dark | Quarter-square triangle | 1 | 5 1/4" square | Cut twice diagonally (4 triangles each) | 22 spare |
| Deep | Half-square triangle | 1 | 4 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 2 |
| Deep | Quarter-square triangle | 1 | 5 1/4" square | Cut twice diagonally (4 triangles each) | 22 spare |
| Accent | Half-square triangle | 1 | 4 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 2 |
| Accent | Quarter-square triangle | 1 | 5 1/4" square | Cut twice diagonally (4 triangles each) | 22 spare |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Cut the triangle parent squares in the chart once diagonally. Pair the indicated fabrics, sew along the long edges and press; trim each small HST unit to 4 1/2".
Step 2: For each side unit, join two small quarter-square triangles along a short edge: one background and one card fabric. Add the larger card triangle across their combined long edge. Trim to 4 1/2".
Step 3: Sew the four colored quarter-square triangles into the center, joining pairs first, then joining the two pairs. Trim to 4 1/2".
Step 4: Lay out the nine units exactly as in the diagram; each card color must continue across a corner, side and center. Sew three rows, pressing adjacent rows in opposite directions.
Step 5: Join the sections with a consistent 1/4-inch seam, pressing between seams. Check that the unfinished block measures 12 1/2" square.