The Contrary Wife Quilt Block

The contrary wife quilt block is one of the many favorite vintage quilt blocks from the Kansas City Star published in the 1930’s.

This quilt block is one of the basic nine patch patterns and only uses squares and half square triangles to complete.

To complete one block for a sampler quilt:

Materials:
Fat quarter fabric in three colors
(blue, purple and white)
Batting
Backing

Step 1 - Use the rotary cutting techniques.

Cut 2 patches 2½” square from the blue fabric.
Cut 2 patches 3½” square from the blue fabric.
Cut 2 patches 2½” square from the purple fabric.
Cut 1 patch 2½” square from the white fabric.
Cut 2 patches 3½” square from the white fabric.

Step 2 - Use the half square triangle method.

Place one 3½” square of blue fabric and one 3½” 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.

Complete 4 blue/white half square triangles.

Step 3 - Sew row one. Purple square, blue/white half square triangle, blue square.

Step 4 - Sew row two. Blue/white half square triangle, white square, blue half square triangle.

Step 5 - Sew row three. Blue square, blue/white half square triangle, purple square.

Step 6 - Sew the rows together to complete the contrary wife quilt block.

Go to Free Quilt Block Patterns from the Contrary Wife Quilt Block