Hourglass quilt block
One square cut into four triangles, two dark and two light, meeting in the middle. Made two at a time from a pair of squares.
The Hourglass is pieced on a 1 × 1 grid, so a 12" block has 12" grid squares.
Also called Quarter-square triangle.
Cutting for 6", 8", 10", 12" blocks
| Fabric | Pieces | Cut | 6" block | 8" block | 10" block | 12" block |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| main | Quarter-square triangles | 1 | 7¼" | 9¼" | 11¼" | 13¼" |
| background | Quarter-square triangles | 1 | 7¼" | 9¼" | 11¼" | 13¼" |
Cut sizes include ¼" seam allowances. One pair of squares makes two triangle units; where one block needs only one, the spare goes into the next block.
How to sew a 12" Hourglass block
Make 1 hourglass unit, 12" finished. Make two half-square triangles from a 13¼" main square and a 13¼" background square. Lay them right sides together with opposite colors facing and the seams nested, draw a line across the seam, sew ¼" on both sides, cut on the line and press. Each pair of squares makes 2.
Lay out the units as drawn. Sew them into sections where the seams run straight across, then join the sections. The block measures 12" finished, 12½" with seam allowance.
Quilts made with the Hourglass block
Hourglass quilt pattern
Design a quilt with this block
Quiltspiration draws it in your own fabric and gives the cut list for any size.
