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Famous Quilt Blocks

If you’ve paid much attention to quilts, you’ve probably noticed several common patterns. You may be able to describe what they look like, but you might not know their names or how to make it. Here’s a guide to several classic quilt patterns.

Beginner

If you’re brand new to the quilting world, give these patterns a try.

Log Cabin

One of the most famous quilt blocks, the log cabin is fairly easy to create. Sew narrow strips of various colored fabric in a square swirl shape to achieve this quilt block.

Diamond in the Square

This block is almost as easy as sewing a row of squares together. You’ll simply sew half square triangles to the edge of a square to make a diamond within a square.

Snowball Blocks

You can sew this quilt block with just four seams. Cut a large square, sew small triangles to the edges of the square, and then cut off the sharp edges of the square.

Hourglass Block

This one looks just exactly as it sounds. Cut two squares out of two different kinds of fabrics, and then draw an X from corner to corner. Cut along the lines to make four triangles per square. Then, sew two quilt blocks out of the eight triangles in the shape of an hourglass.

Shooting Star

With contrasting colors and half square pieces, you can easily make this quilt block shaped like a four-pointed star.

Intermediate

Star of Virginia

Create an eight-pointed star shape by sewing eight half triangles around a large square, and fill in the spaces around to make a quilt block.

Flying Geese

As you know, geese fly in a triangular shape, which is where this quilt block gets its name. The typical flying geese quilt block is made of half square blocks. Essentially, the flying geese pattern involves rows of triangles within the block. The more colorful the better.

Star Flower

Like many of the other famous quilt patterns, this block sounds exactly like its name. By placing half square blocks alternately in the shape of a flower, this beautiful quilt block will come to life.

Advanced

Arkansas Traveler

This quilt block is reminiscent of four kites touching at their bottom points. Each “kite” is made of four half squares. The more fabrics and colors, the better it’ll turn out.

Dresden Plate

One of the most famous quilt patterns, the dresden plate looks more like a flower than any other block. Place sharp, petal-shaped quilt pieces around a circular center.

Texas Star

This eight-pointed star block is made up of half square blocks around a center made of half square blocks.

Now that you have a better idea of all the famous quilt blocks, you’ll be able to try them out. Let us know if you need a hand!