The Friendship Quilt Block

The friendship quilt block is another one of the classic patterns from the Kansas City Star. There were so many of these traditional patterns that laid a great foundation in quilting.

The friendship quilt block is based on the nine patch grid and uses squares and half square triangles.

You can use any combination of fabric colors to emphasize the “chevron” design or the squares. Or use the same color of fabric and see what pattern you can create.

Just like with many of the traditional quilt block patterns from the early 1900’s, this block also makes an interesting pattern when several block are put together.

To complete one block for a sampler quilt:

Block size: 9 inches

Materials:
Fat quarter fabric in three colors
(brown, blue and white)
Batting
Backing

Step 1 - Use the rotary cutting techniques.

Cut 1 strip 2”x 8” from the brown fabric.
Cut 8 patches 3” square from the brown fabric.
Cut 2 strips 2”x 8” from the blue fabric.
Cut 1 strip 2”x 8” from the white fabric.
Cut 8 patches 3” square from the white fabric.
Cut 1 patch 3˝” square from the white fabric.

Step 2 - Using the strip piecing method, sew the brown 8” strip to a blue 8” strip, right sides together. Press the seam allowance towards the darker fabric. Use a ruler and rotary cutter to sub-cut the strip into 2“ patches. Make sure you align the ruler with the seam line of the strip set to be sure your cuts are straight.

Repeat the process sewing the remaining blue 8” strip to the white 8” strip.

Step 3 - Sew a brown/blue sub-cut patch to a blue/white sub-cut patch, making sure to rotate the blue squares to be opposite each other and matching the center seam.

Complete 4 corner four patch units.

Step 4 - Use the half square triangle method.

Place one 3” square of brown fabric and one 3” 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 Ľ” 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 2”. Be sure to use the 45 degree angle on your ruler.

Complete 16 brown/white half square triangles.

Step 5 - To complete the chevron square units, sew two brown/white half square triangle units together with the brown triangle pointing down. Sew two brown/white half square triangle units with the brown triangle pointing up. Sew the patches together to create the chevron unit.

Complete 4 brown/white chevron units.

Step 6 - Sew row one of the friendship quilt block. Four patch unit, chevron unit, four patch unit.

Step 7 - Sew row two. Chevron unit, white square, chevron unit.

Step 8 - Sew row three. Four patch unit, chevron unit, four patch unit.

Step 9 - Sew the rows together to complete the friendship quilt block.

Go to Free Quilt Block Patterns from the Friendship Quilt Block