- Background (muslin)
- Light (faded chambray)
- Dark (indigo)
Block No. 67 · nine-patch
Road to California Quilt Block
Part of: Nine Patch Quilt BlocksHalf Square Triangle Quilt BlocksQuilt Blocks For BeginnersState Quilt Blocks
Road to California sends a diagonal line of dark squares across the block, flanked by small triangle signposts. Repeated in a quilt, the dark squares join into long zigzag roads.
Version note: Grid corrected from 6 to 4 to match the reference drawing's smallest patches.
- Level
- Confident Beginner
- Grid
- 4 × 4
- Pieces
- 19
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 | 6 | 3 1/2" square | Use as cut | 6 |
| Background | Rectangle | 1 | 3 1/2" × 6 1/2" | Use as cut | 1 |
| Background | Half-square triangle | 2 | 3 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 4 |
| Light | Half-square triangle | 2 | 3 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 4 |
| Dark | Square | 4 | 3 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Cut the HST parent squares once diagonally. Sew each contrasting pair along the long edge, press toward the darker fabric and square the unit to 3 1/2", keeping the diagonal running corner to corner.
Step 2: Lay out four rows of four following the diagram. The dark squares run from the upper-right corner to the lower-left corner.
Step 3: Place the light HSTs beside the dark diagonal, with their light halves facing it as shown.
Step 4: Sew each row, using the background rectangle for the last two positions of the bottom row.
Step 5: Join the rows with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, matching each seam intersection. Press and check the unfinished block measures 12 1/2" square.