- Background (muslin)
- Light (faded chambray)
Block No. 52 · four-patch
Northern Lights Quilt Block
Also known as Northern Lights (four-patch version)
Part of: Four Patch Quilt BlocksHalf Square Triangle Quilt BlocksQuilt Blocks For Beginners
Northern Lights combines two broad triangle units with two small four-patches. This four-grid patchwork version uses light and dark value changes rather than pictorial sky shapes.
- Level
- Confident Beginner
- Grid
- 4 × 4
- Pieces
- 12
Chart
Cutting for a 12" block
4 × 4 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 12 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Square | 4 | 3 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Background | Half-square triangle | 1 | 6 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 2 |
| Light | Square | 4 | 3 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Light | Half-square triangle | 1 | 6 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 2 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Make two large light/background HSTs and trim them to 6 1/2".
Step 2: Sew the small squares into two four-patches with like fabrics diagonally opposite, measuring 6 1/2".
Step 3: Arrange the large HSTs in opposite corners, with their light triangles facing the center, and place the four-patches in the other corners.
Step 4: Join the two rows, nest the center seam, and sew the rows together.
Step 5: Join the sections with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, matching the marked intersections. Press and check the unfinished block measures 12 1/2" square.