The Ozark Trail Quilt Block

The Ozark Trail quilt block is from the Kansas City Star collection of old time blocks from the 1920’s and 1930’s. This is just another one of the many creative blocks from the past quilters that has been passed on for us to enjoy.

The Ozark Trail uses the half square triangle and strip pieced squares. Now that is really easy for any of us.

Try putting a few blocks together. Rotate the center design and see what new pattern emerges. Try using different colors from your fabric stash. Get creative and just imagine what will happen.

Block size: 10 inches

Materials:
Fat quarter fabric in two colors
(blue and white)
Batting
Backing

Step 1 - Use the rotary cutting techniques.

Cut 6 patches 3½” square from the blue fabric.
Cut 6 patches 3½” square from the white fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 39” from the blue fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 39” from the white fabric.

Step 2 - Use the half square triangle method.

Place one 3½” square of blue fabric and one 3½” square of white fabric, right sides together. Draw a line on the diagonal on the lighter fabric from one corner to the opposite corner. Stitch ¼” on each side of the marked line.

Cut on the drawn line with your rotary cutter or scissors to separate the square into triangles.

Fold open the square and press the seam allowances toward the darker fabric. Using your plastic ruler, trim the square to be 2½”. Be sure to use the 45 degree angle on your ruler. Complete 12 blue/white half square triangles.

Step 3 - Using the strip piecing method, sew the blue 39” strip to the white 39” strip, right sides together. Press the seam allowance towards the darker fabric. Use a ruler and rotary cutter to sub-cut the strip into 1½“ patches. Make sure you align the ruler with the seam line of the strip set to be sure your cuts are straight. (The patch will be 1½” down x 2½” across -blue/white.)

Step 4 - Sew two 1½” sub cut patches to each other with the blue squares opposite each other. Be sure to match the center seam to complete the small four patch unit.

Complete 13 small blue/white four patch units.

Step 5 - To complete the Ozark Trail quilt block pay close attention to the direction of the four square units and the half square triangles by looking at the picture. It does make a difference in how the pattern comes together in the finished block.

Sew row one - four square unit, half square triangle, four square unit, half square triangle, four square unit.

Step 6 - Sew row two - half square triangle, four square unit, half square triangle, four square unit, half square triangle.

Step 7 - Sew row three - four square unit, half square triangle, four square unit, half square triangle, four square unit.

Step 8 - Sew row four - half square triangle, four square unit, half square triangle, four square unit, half square triangle.

Step 9 - Sew row five - four square unit, half square triangle, four square unit, half square triangle, four square unit.

Step 10 - Sew the rows together to complete the Ozark Trail quilt block.

Easy! Right.

Go To Free Quilt Block Patterns from the Ozark Trail Quilt Block.