The Garden Square Quilt Block

The garden square quilt block uses large and small triangles to create the changes in the pattern. It is a basic quilt block that is easy for the beginner to master new skills.

Think of the garden square quilt block as a nine patch. Complete each of the nine patches or units using the different sizes of half square triangles and strips. Then sew them together to complete the block.

To complete one block for a sampler quilt:

Materials:
Fat quarter fabric in four colors
(green print, dark green, tan and white)
Batting
Backing

Step 1 - Use the rotary cutting techniques.

Cut 2 patches 4½” square from the green print fabric.
Cut 6 patches 3” square from the dark green fabric.
Cut 1 strip 2”x 14” from the tan fabric. Sub cut the strip into 3½” patches. Cut 6 patches 3” square from the white fabric.
Cut 2 patches 4½” square from the white fabric.

Step 2 - Use the half square triangle method.

Place one 4½” square of green print fabric and one 4½” 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 drawn 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 3½”. Be sure to use the 45 degree angle on your ruler.

Complete 4 green print/white half square triangle units.

Step 3 - Repeat the same procedure using the dark green and white fabrics to complete 12 dark green/white half square triangle units. The completed units will need to measure 2”.

Step 4 - Sew one dark green half square triangle to another dark green half square triangle. The dark triangles need to be pointing toward the outer corners.

Complete 6 dark green/white half square triangle units.

Step 5 - Sew one of the dark green half square triangle pair units to one tan patch. Be sure to position the tan patch so it will be in the center of the completed block.

Complete 4 of these dark green/tan units.

Step 6 - Sew the remaining 2 dark green half square triangle units together with the dark green triangles on the outer corners to complete the center patch unit.

Step 7 - Sew row one - green print half square triangle, dark green/tan unit, green print half square triangle.

Step 8 - Sew row two - dark green/tan unit, dark green center patch unit, dark green/tan unit.

Step 9 - Sew row three - green print half square triangle, dark green/tan unit, green print half square triangle.

Step 10 - Sew the rows together to complete the garden square quilt block.

That wasn’t so hard, right. It is amazing how many different blocks you can create with the nine patch grid.

Go to Free Quilt Block Patterns from Garden Square Quilt Block