How to make a four or nine patch quilt block

When you’re new to patchwork, four-patch and nine-patch quilt blocks are great way to group your patchwork squares neatly for a neat finish. These two easy quilt block patterns will soon become the building blocks of your quilting know-how. They are what they sound like – square quilt blocks formed of several smaller square units of fabric. Once you’ve mastered how to sew them together, you can quickly whip up a batch of them, then group them together to make larger groups until you’ve pieced whole quilt tops. Or if you want to start small, try out our simple four-patch pin cushion project at the bottom of this post to practise your skills.

Four patch quilt blocks and nine patch quilt blocks are, well, exactly what they sound like! They’re really simple to make – simply cut a batch of fabric squares or strips (see our guide below), then sew them together to make larger squares, or mix and match your fabrics to create a checkered effect.

If you’re new to quilt-making, learn the ropes wit our guides to quilting for beginners, how to make half square triangles, and how to make a flying geese quilt,

By the end of this tutorial you will be confident sewing these essential building blocks of so many future quilt projects. This tutorial has 3 sections, to teach you two methods plus a practise project.

1. Four patch quilt blocks: starter method

In the first section of this guide below, we’ll show you how to start to build up quilt blocks from 4 smaller fabric squares so that the seams from your different rows will come together at different points. Lining up these seams neatly is the secret to neater patchwork. Seams intersect in patchwork in many styles, and it’s worth taking a bit of time to line them up, especially where blocks are joined together to make up a quilt top. They can become quite bulky, especially with thick fabrics, but – don’t worry – we’re here to help you sew them all up with a nice, flat finish you’ll be pleased with.

An intersecting seam is simply a joining seam – where one seam meets another. For the best results, follow our guide to ensure a neat effect. It’s not the end of the world if your seams don’t meet neatly, but the finished effect is much more satisfying if they do! Making a Four Patch block is the perfect way to practise neat seam sewing.

In this post, first we’ll talk you through how to sew a simple four patch quilt block from four smaller square of fabric.

2. Four and nine patch quilt blocks: strip piecing method

Then in the second part of this tutorial, we’ll move on to how to quickly piece four or nine patch blocks using strip piecing. Strip piecing is a great way to speed up making these easy quilt block patterns – with this method, you’ll sew two or more strips of fabric together, then sub-cut them into ready-to-go rows of squares. You can then sew these groups (or “units”) together to create larger quilt blocks. Using strip piecing not only saves time, but also gives you more uniform results, since the units come from the same piece of fabric. Once you get the hang of strip piecing, you can use it to create more complicated designs like Rail Fence or Windmill blocks too.

3. Four patch quilt blocks: try it out

Finally try out your new skills with our really simple four patch pin cushion project.

Zoe Williams

Zoe launched Gathered.how as editor in 2019. A keen crafter, quilter and sewist, she has worked with the UK’s best-selling craft magazines – from Today’s Quilter to Love Patchwork & Quilting, Simply Sewing and The World of Cross Stitching. With over a decade of craft publishing experience under her belt, she loves crafting with her kids and curling up on the sofa with a spot of hand patchwork. Zoe has previously written for radiotimes.com, Simply Knitting and The World of Cross Stitching and was previously Deputy Editor of Papercraft inspirations magazine. She has guest-lectured at Bath Spa University. She’s a keen quilter with 5 projects in progress at any one time and another 12 or so planned. Specialist skills include hand modelling for YouTube craft tutorials and fabric foraging (she has an inbuilt radar for local haberdasheries and community craft gatherings).

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