- Background (muslin)
- Dark (indigo)
Block No. 12 · Four-patch
Hourglass Quilt Block
Also known as Bow Tie (quarter-square variation), Kaleidoscope Four-Patch
Part of: Four Patch Quilt BlocksQuilt Blocks For Beginners
The Hourglass quilt block pattern brings four triangles together at a central point. Its opposing light and dark triangles resemble an hourglass, and the same traditional unit forms part of more elaborate star blocks.
- Level
- Confident Beginner
- Grid
- 2 × 2
- Pieces
- 16
Chart
Cutting for a 12" block
2 × 2 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 12 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Quarter-square triangle | 2 | 7 1/4" square | Cut twice diagonally (4 triangles each) | 8 |
| Dark | Quarter-square triangle | 2 | 7 1/4" square | Cut twice diagonally (4 triangles each) | 8 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Cut 2 dark and 2 background quarter-square triangle parents. Cut each twice on the diagonal for 8 dark and 8 background triangles.
Step 2: Sew a dark triangle to a background triangle along a short edge, keeping the dark on the same side every time. Make 8 pairs and press toward the dark.
Step 3: Join two pairs along the long bias edge, dark opposite background, nesting the center seams. Make 4 hourglass units.
Step 4: Trim each hourglass unit to 6 1/2" with the intersection centered.
Step 5: Arrange in two rows, rotating alternate units a quarter turn so a diamond forms in the middle. Sew rows and join. The block should measure 12 1/2".