Depression quilt block

The Depression quilt block is one of my favourites -- for two reasons. First, it is an easy block to construct featuring only half square triangles. Secondly, this block lends itself perfectly to making a scrappy version, thereby clearing out a lot of the little bits of fabric in your stash.

DEPRESSION quilt block

This four patch block is a perfect choice to practice up on sewing half square triangles, as the whole block is comprised of only those patches -- which are the most commonly used patches in quiltmaking (after the square of course).

The two sample quilts give you an idea of using this block to create a sort of optical illusion (left quilt) -- as in "Am I looking at light diamonds framing dark diamonds or is it the reverse?" The quilt on the right gives even more attention to the scrappy look by adding extra blank blocks in a variety of colours. There is no end to the designs you can come up with.

Quilts designed using the DEPRESSION quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Oklahoma Twister quilt block

It's the time of year when Mother Nature shows who is boss and so I thought I would feature this Oklahoma Twister quilt block. This block could be considered as a study in half square triangles. This is the perfect block to choose if you want to practice up on that most commonly used patch in quiltmaking (other than the square), as there are lots of them in this block. It is these half square triangles that give the impression of the "twister" spinning -- at least that is how I see it.

Oklahoma Twister quilt block

The trick to the making of this block is the careful placement of the "values" of the fabrics -- meaning whether the fabrics are a dark, medium or light choice. I chose to use a single fabric for the background (the light), while using a variety of mediums and darks -- all in blue -- to make a scrappy version, but still have it "read" as a blue block.

The two sample quilts illustrated are both designed using a side by side setting of the blocks. But, I could not resist adding the extra blank blocks in a variety of blue fabrics, to continue the "scrappy" look in the quilt on the right.

Quilts designed using the OKLAHOMA TWISTER quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Entwined Star quilt block

The Entwined Star quilt block is a simple nine patch block. Now having said that, it also introduces you to a method that quilters refer to as "sew and flip". In a nutshell, for some of the patches, you sew a square to another fabric and the end result is a triangle in the corner! Sounds complicated, but this is really easy and an alternative method for quilters who like to avoid triangles if at all possible.

Entwined Star quilt block

Now, not all of the visible triangles in this block are constructed in this manner -- and that gives you more exposure to working with quarter square triangles and half square triangles to produce a patch (underused, in my opinion), which is often referred to as the three quarter square triangle.


The two sample quilts illustrated use standard layouts for the blocks. So depending on whether you like to do lots of patchwork or you like to show off your quilting skills, you might lean towards one of these options -- or be creative and design a setting of your own.

Quilts designed using the ENTWINED STAR quilt block

As a side note ~ This block looked familiar to me and I realized that not only had I already created the pattern for a similar block -- but -- that other block uses similar fabrics! So perhaps you might take a look at this block, which uses only squares and half square triangles.

• FROLIC quilt block pattern

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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King's Crown quilt block

The King's Crown quilt block is technically a six patch (as it is designed using a 6 x 6 grid), but it is constructed as an uneven nine patch due to the large centre patch that takes up a great deal of the design.

King's Crown quilt block

The centre unit is known as a square in a square patch. With the centre section being so large, this is the perfect spot to place a motif that has been "fussy cut" from a large fabric. It would also be a wonderful spot to place a photograph that has been transferred to fabric.


To finish off the patches to create, you will make a number of half square triangles as well as a few flying geese units. All in all, this block is a great learning experience, if you are new to quiltmaking.

The two sample quilts illustrated are both designed using on point settings. This just gives you ideas of how very different two quilts can be when using identical blocks.

Quilts designed using the KING'S CROWN quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Disappearing Nine Patch quilt block

The Disappearing Nine Patch quilt block is one that is designed for machine piecers -- not the hand piecers in the quiltmaking world. However, for those quilters (like me) who enjoy sewing your quilt blocks by hand, I have also made that pattern for you as well. (More on that later in this post.)

Disappearing Nine Patch quilt block

This is a quick and easy quilt block to sew by machine. It is constructed as a simple nine patch of nine equal sized squares. After pressing, the block is then sliced and sections are rotated to create the new block -- (hence the "disappearing" part of the name of the quilt block.)


The two sample quilts illustrated use common layouts of the blocks -- an on point version and side by side version. And as you can see I have chosen to make these quilts as totally scrappy versions, but you may choose to use a controlled set of colour options. (That's what makes quiltmaking so amazing -- every quilt is an original work of art!)

Quilts designed using the DISAPPEARING NINE PATCH quilt block

Now back to the pattern designed for quilters who like to piece their blocks by hand. I had made this pattern a few years ago when I was unsure of the name of the block -- and, since it is constructed in a totally different manner, I made up my own name for that version of the block. Here is my version of the MOSAIC quilt block. You will also notice that I have reversed the placement of the dark and light colours in the Mosaic block/quilts to give you a totally different look.

<sub>* Thanks to Alyssa C. for the heads up about the real name of the Mosaic quilt block

All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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West Virginia quilt block

The West Virginia quilt block is an eight patch, but is constructed as an uneven nine patch due to the different sizes of the patches.

Check out other "location" quilt blocks too: Cities, States and Other Places

There are lots of interesting things going on with this block -- a star, a "frame" around the star and the corner sections make a secondary pattern of sorts, depending on how you lay the blocks out next to each other in your final quilt.

West Virginia quilt block

I have assigned this quilt block to an intermediate category of difficulty -- not because there are any hard-to-sew patches, but simply because there are many pieces and therefore many seams in the block. Careful attention to sewing a precise quarter inch seam allowance will make this block go together in no time. The block features half square triangles and square in a square patches.

The two sample quilts illustrated give you an idea of how the secondary pattern can emerge -- do you see the extra "stars" that appear where the sashing strips separate the blocks?

Quilts designed using the WEST VIRGINIA quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Stone Tiles quilt block

The Stone Tiles quilt block is perfect for a new quilter, since it contains only squares and rectangles -- no pesky triangles to worry about!

STONE TILES quilt block

This easy quilt block is constructed as an uneven nine patch, even though it is technically a seven patch block (as it is designed on a 7 x 7 grid).

This quilt block is also one that could be used in a two block quilt -- since the "stepping stones" in the four corners would lead the eye on a diagonal line. You would place it as an alternate block to just about any other block you want to feature in your quilt.

Depending on the layout of the blocks into your own quilt, you can have two totally different looks, as illustrated in the sample quilt images shown below.

Quilts designed using the STONE TILES quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Best of All quilt block

The Best of All quilt block is one designed to give you lots of practice with various patches. (Okay -- perhaps that was not the reason for the design, but it is a block with interesting components.)

Best of All quilt block

Half square triangle patches and flying geese units are pretty common in hundreds (and probably thousands) of quilt blocks. But, the interest in this block (from a sewing perspective) is the unit that is sitting adjacent to the centre patch, on all four sides. You get to add quarter square triangles to two sides of a square (the small peach square) and then finish off the patch with larger half square triangles (dark grey) on each end. (Hard to explain, but if you look closely at the block you will understand what I mean.)


The two sample quilts shown are both designed on point with sashing strips separating the blocks. By simply changing up the placement of the pieced blocks and the blank blocks, you get two totally different looks.

Quilts designed using the BEST OF ALL quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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