The Postage Stamp Basket Quilt Block

The postage stamp basket quilt block is another easy quilt pattern in the basket family that is great for the beginner quilter.

Sometimes basket quilts can look complicated but when you take the time to really look at the pattern, they really are just simple quilt projects.

All you need is a little imagination, a few scraps of fabric and a sewing machine.

The postage stamp basket quilt block uses half square triangles, large and small.

To complete one block for a sampler quilt:

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

Step 1 - Use the rotary cutting techniques.

Cut 6 patches 2 ½” square from the white fabric.
Cut 3 patches 3 ½” square from each of the blue and white fabric.
Cut 1 patch 5 ½” square from each of the blue and white fabric.

Step 2 - Use the half square triangle method.

Place one 3 ½” square of blue fabric and one 3 ½” 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 2 ½”. Be sure to use the 45 degree angle on your ruler.

You will need a total of 6 half square triangles measuring 2 ½”.

Step 3 - Use the half square triangle method using the 5 ½“ square blue and 5 ½” square white fabric to yield 2 half square triangles measuring 4 ½” finished size. You will only need one half square triangle for our postage stamp quilt block.

Step 4 - Sew row one, white square, half square triangle, half square triangle, white square.

Step 5 - Sew row two. This row is a little different than the first row.

Sew a white square to a half square triangle vertically. Refer to the picture for the correct placement.

Sew a half square triangle to another half square triangle vertically.

Sew the white square/half triangle square unit, large half square triangle, small half square triangle/half square triangle unit.

Step 6 - Sew row three, white square, half square triangle, white square, white square.

Step 7 - Sew the rows together to complete the postage stamp basket quilt block.

The postage stamp basket quilt block is an easy quilt pattern that does not require any applique like so many of the basket patterns do.

Mix up your color choices and see what you can create.

Quilters have a sense of contentment when working on a quilt.

Go to Quick and Easy Quilting Ideas from Postage Stamp Basket Quilt Block