If you're new to quilting and patchwork or you're looking for new ideas for your quilt tops, half square triangles (HSTs) are your new best friend. We'll show you a quick way to piece these most versatile of patchwork units, then walk you through three ways to combine your finished HSTs into beginner-friendly quilt blocks. We'll talk you through how to make a simple arrows (or chevrons) quilt block, a cross patch quilt block (the final pattern looks like a cross) and a "Fly Away" quilt block which gives you another way to arrange your shapes for different effects. Mix and match all three in your quilt tops for a scrap-busting quilt or pick your favourite and repeat it or combine with solid blocks to achieve different quilt designs!
Before we begin, let's show you a super simple way of speedily piecing up the half square triangle units that will be the foundation of these free quilt block patterns for beginners...
Half Square Triangles: speedy method
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. For more on this, see our Essential Guide to How to make half square triangles.
3 free quilt block patterns
Fabrics used
In this post, we've used print fabrics provided by Fabric Rehab and solids are all from the Hawthorne Threads' Hawthorne Hues collection.
Notes
Seam allowances are ¼in throughout.
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
How to make an arrow quilt block
Step 1
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 2
Arrange four matching HSTs as shown in Figure 1. Sew the squares together in two rows of two. Then sew the rows together. Repeat with each set of four HSTs.
Step 3
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.
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
How to make a cross patch quilt block
Step 1
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 2
Arrange four HSTs as shown in Figure 2. Sew the squares together in two rows of two. Then sew the rows together. Repeat with each set of four HSTs.
Step 3
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.
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)
Fly Away quilt block pattern
Step 1
Pair each blue square with a background square. Make four (4) HSTs from each pair, following the HST method.
Step 2
Arrange four matching HSTs as shown in Figure 3 (above). Sew the squares together in two rows of two. Then sew the rows together. Repeat with each set of four HSTs.
Step 3
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.
If you like the sound of these free quilt block patterns, you might also like our sewing room quilt blocks or if you're feeling a little more confident, try our Weather paper pieced quilt block patterns.
