Young Mans Fancy Quilt Block

The young mans fancy quilt block is a creative twist using half square triangles, the basic nine patch and strip piecing. When all of these techniques are put together, they make a beautiful young mans fancy quilt block.

This pattern has been seen with just two fabric colors or with the use of several color choices. Get creative. See how far your imagination will take you.

To complete one block for a sampler quilt:

Materials:
Fat quarter fabric in three colors
(light blue, dark blue and tan)
Batting
Backing

Step 1 - Use the rotary cutting techniques.

Cut 6 patches 4” square from the light blue fabric.
Cut 2 strips 1½”x 14” from the light blue fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 12” from the dark blue fabric.
Cut 2 strips 1½”x 6” from the dark blue fabric.
Cut 6 patches 4” square from the tan fabric.
Cut 5 patches 3½” square from the tan fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½"x 14” from the tan fabric.
Cut 2 strips 1½”x 12” from the tan fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 6” from the tan fabric.

Step 2 - Use the half square triangle method.

Place one 4½” square of light blue fabric and one 4½” square of tan 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 2½”. Be sure to use the 45 degree angle on your ruler. Complete 12 light blue/tan half square triangles for the young mans fancy quilt block.

Step 3 - Using the strip piecing method, sew the light blue 14” strip to the tan 14” strip, right sides together. Press the seam allowance towards the darker fabric. Sew the remaining light blue 14” strip to the tan side of the strip unit.

Use a ruler and rotary cutter to sub-cut the strip into 3½“ patches. Make sure you align the ruler with the seam line of the strip set to be sure your cuts are straight.

There should be 4 patches 3½” x 3½” - light blue/tan/light blue.

Step 4 - Using the strip piecing method, sew the tan 12” strip to the dark blue 12” strip, right sides together. Press the seam allowance towards the darker fabric. Sew the remaining tan 12” strip to the dark blue side of the strip unit. Press the seam allowance again to the darker fabric.

Use a ruler and rotary cutter to sub-cut the strip into 1½“ patches. Make sure you align the ruler with the seam line of the strip set to be sure your cuts are straight. (The patch will be 1½” down x 3½” across -tan/dark blue/tan.)

Step 5 - Sew the dark blue 6” strip to the tan 6” strip, right sides together. Press the seam allowance towards the darker fabric. Sew the remaining dark blue 6” strip to the tan side of the strip unit. Press the seam allowance again to the darker fabric.

Use a ruler and rotary cutter to sub-cut the strip into 1½“ patches. Make sure you align the ruler with the seam line of the strip set to be sure your cuts are straight. (The patch will be 1½” down x 3½” across -dark blue/tan/dark blue.)

Step 6 - Sew a sub cut patch from Step 3 to a sub cut patch from Step 4. Sew another sub cut patch from Step 3 to bottom of this unit to complete the mini nine patch unit. Be sure to match the seams to complete the mini nine patch unit.

Complete 4 mini nine patch units.

Step 7 - To complete the young mans fancy quilt block, sew row one - half square triangle, half square triangle, tan square, half square triangle, half square triangle.

Step 8 - Sew row two - half square triangle, mini nine patch, blue/tan strip unit, half square triangle.

Step 9 - Sew row three - tan square, blue/tan strip unit, tan square, blue/tan strip unit, tan square.

Step 11 - Sew row five - half square triangle, half square triangle, tan square, half square triangle, half square triangle.

Step 12 - Sew the rows together to complete the young mans fancy quilt block.

Don't forget to put a few blocks together to see what kind of new pattern emerges.

Go To Free Quilt Block Patterns from the Young Mans Fancy Quilt Block