- Light (faded chambray)
- Medium (goldenrod)
- Dark (indigo)
- Accent (madder red)
Block No. 111 · other
Strength in Union Quilt Block
Part of: Half Square Triangle Quilt BlocksEasy Quilt BlocksQuilt Blocks For BeginnersPatriotic Quilt Blocks
Strength in Union is a checkerboard: identical light and dark triangle units alternate with medium and accent squares, all turned the same way. Pairs of accent squares sit on short diagonals near two opposite corners.
Version note: Five by five checkerboard from Quilter's Cache. The patriotic theme is name based only, from the Civil War era name. Layout confidence: medium.
- Level
- Beginner
- Grid
- 5 × 5
- Pieces
- 38
Chart
Cutting for a 10" block
5 × 5 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 10 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Half-square triangle | 7 | 2 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 131 spare |
| Medium | Square | 8 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 8 |
| Dark | Half-square triangle | 7 | 2 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 131 spare |
| Accent | Square | 4 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
Method
Piecing steps
Step 1: Cut every patch listed in the cutting chart for your size. Plain areas are cut as the larger squares and rectangles shown; do not subdivide them. Columns count from the left and rows from the top, starting at 1, in grid cells.
Step 2: Make the half-square triangles: cut each HST parent square once diagonally, sew contrasting triangles along the long edge, press toward the darker fabric and square up (13 at 2 1/2"). Keep each fabric pair and size in its own stack.
Step 3: Make thirteen identical HSTs and square each to 2 1/2".
Step 4: Lay out five rows of five, turning every HST so the light triangle is in the upper-right.
Step 5: Make section 1: sew the light/dark HST at column 1, row 1 (light in the upper-right), the medium square at column 1, row 2, the light/dark HST at column 1, row 3 (light in the upper-right), the accent square at column 1, row 4 and the light/dark HST at column 1, row 5 (light in the upper-right) in a column, top to bottom. Press and check it measures 2 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 6: Make section 2: sew the medium square at column 2, row 1, the light/dark HST at column 2, row 2 (light in the upper-right), the medium square at column 2, row 3, the light/dark HST at column 2, row 4 (light in the upper-right) and the accent square at column 2, row 5 in a column, top to bottom. Press and check it measures 2 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 7: Make section 3: sew the light/dark HST at column 3, row 1 (light in the upper-right), the medium square at column 3, row 2, the light/dark HST at column 3, row 3 (light in the upper-right), the medium square at column 3, row 4 and the light/dark HST at column 3, row 5 (light in the upper-right) in a column, top to bottom. Press and check it measures 2 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 8: Make section 4: sew the accent square at column 4, row 1, the light/dark HST at column 4, row 2 (light in the upper-right), the medium square at column 4, row 3, the light/dark HST at column 4, row 4 (light in the upper-right) and the medium square at column 4, row 5 in a column, top to bottom. Press and check it measures 2 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 9: Make section 5: sew the light/dark HST at column 5, row 1 (light in the upper-right), the accent square at column 5, row 2, the light/dark HST at column 5, row 3 (light in the upper-right), the medium square at column 5, row 4 and the light/dark HST at column 5, row 5 (light in the upper-right) in a column, top to bottom. Press and check it measures 2 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 10: Complete the block: sew section 1, section 2, section 3, section 4 and section 5 side by side, left to right. Press and check it measures 10 1/2" wide by 10 1/2" high.
Step 11: Press the finished block. Every join above runs edge to edge, with no set-in or Y-seams.