- Background (muslin)
- Light (faded chambray)
- Dark (indigo)
Block No. 78 · nine-patch
Union Square Quilt Block
Part of: Nine Patch Quilt BlocksFlying Geese Quilt BlocksHalf Square Triangle Quilt Blocks
Union Square sets an Economy-style square-in-a-square in the middle of a sawtooth border. The light ring and dark center sit inside a band of triangle points, a strong choice for red, white and blue quilts.
Version note: Grid corrected from 3 to 6 to match the reference drawing's smallest patches.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Grid
- 6 × 6
- Pieces
- 41
Chart
Cutting for a 12" block
6 × 6 grid. All cuts fall on 1/8" ruler marks. Unfinished block: 12 1/2".
| Fabric | Shape | Cut | Size | Then | Pieces used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Square | 4 | 2 1/2" square | Use as cut | 4 |
| Background | Half-square triangle | 4 | 2 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 8 |
| Background | Quarter-square triangle | 2 | 5 1/4" square | Cut twice diagonally (4 triangles each) | 8 |
| Light | Half-square triangle | 2 | 4 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 4 |
| Dark | Square | 1 | 4 1/2" square | Use as cut | 1 |
| Dark | Half-square triangle | 8 | 2 7/8" square | Cut once diagonally (2 triangles each) | 16 |
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 2 1/2", keeping the diagonal running corner to corner.
Step 2: Make the center: sew background QST triangles to opposite sides of the dark square, then the other two sides. Add the four large light triangles the same way and trim to 8 1/2".
Step 3: Make four flying geese with background goose triangles and dark sky; trim to 4 1/2" by 2 1/2". Sew an HST to each end so the dark triangles continue the sawtooth, making four 8 1/2" by 2 1/2" border strips.
Step 4: Sew border strips to the top and bottom of the center. Add background corner squares to the remaining strips and sew them to the sides.
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.