3 easy quilt blocks to sew for beginners

Our clever Technical Editor Sarah has made up a selection of beginner quilt blocks for you to sew at home and practise your patchwork piecing skills. In this three-part tutorial we’ll show you how to sew an Arrows, Cross Patch and Fly Away Quilt Block – all using a basic Half Square Triangle method.

How to make Half Square Triangles

To make four (4) 2½in HSTs at once, pair two 4in squares right sides together. Sew along the outer edge of the squares using a ¼in seam. Cut along both diagonals and press each HST open.

How to sew an easy arrows quilt block

You will need

Cut 4in squares of fabric in the following colours:

• Three (3) light grey
• Three (3) dark blue
• One (1) dark grey
• One (1) light blue

Fabrics used

• Print fabrics provided by Fabric Rehab
• Solids are all from the Hawthorne Threads Hawthorne Hues collection.

Notes

• Seam allowances are ¼in throughout.

Step one

Pair the light grey and dark blue squares together and make four (4) HSTs from each pair, following the HST method above, for a total of twelve (12) light grey/dark blue HSTs. Repeat to make four (4) dark grey/light blue HSTs.

Step two

Arrange four matching HSTs as shown in Fig 1. Sew the squares together in two rows of two. Then sew the rows together. Repeat with each set of four HSTs.

Step three

Arrange the four squares as shown in the Layout Diagram. Sew together in two rows of two, then sew the rows together to complete your block.

How to sew a Cross Patch Quilt Block

You will need

Cut 4in squares of fabric in the following colours:

• One (1) dark grey
• One (1) light blue
• Three (3) light grey
• Two (2) medium blue
• One (1) dark blue

Step one

Pair your squares as follows, and make four HSTs from each pair following the HST method:

• One (1) Dark grey/light blue
• Two (2) Light grey/medium blue
• One (1) Light grey/dark blue

Step two

Arrange four HSTs as shown in Fig 2. Sew the squares together in two rows of two. Then sew the rows together. Repeat with each set of four HSTs.

Step three

Arrange the four squares as shown in the Layout Diagram. Sew together in two rows of two, then sew the rows together to complete your block.

How to sew a Fly Away Quilt Block

You will need

Cut 4in squares of fabric in the following colours:

• One (1) square from each of four (4) different blue fabrics
• Four (4) background fabric (we used a medium grey)

Step one

Pair each blue square with a background square. Make four (4) HSTs from each pair, following the HST method.

Step two

Arrange four matching HSTs as shown in Fig 3 above. Sew the squares together in two rows of two. Then sew the rows together. Repeat with each set of four HSTs.

Step three

Arrange the four squares as shown in the Layout Diagram. Sew together in two rows of two, then sew the rows together to complete your block.