The Cups and Saucers Quilt Block

The cups and saucers quilt block is an old favorite that uses the flying geese patchwork unit to create the circular look.

The cups and saucers quilt block is based on a nine patch grid and also uses the half square triangle method.

To complete one block for a sampler quilt:

Materials:
Fat quarter fabric in two colors
(blue and white)
Batting
Backing

Step 1 - Use the rotary cutting techniques.

Cut 2 patches 5 ½” square from the blue fabric.
Cut 1 strip 2 ½” wide from the blue fabric. Sub cut the strip into patches 2 ½” square for a total of 16 patches.
Cut 1 patch 4 ½” square from the white fabric.
Cut 2 patches 5 1/2” square from the white fabric.
Cut 1 strip 2 ½” wide from the white fabric. Sub cut the strip into patches 2 ½” x 4 ½” for a total of 8 rectangles.

Step 2 - Use the half square triangle method.

Place one 3 ½” square of blue fabric and one 3 ½” square of white flower print 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 4 ½”. Be sure to use the 45 degree angle on your ruler.

Make 4 units.

Step 3 - Use the flying geese patchwork unit method.

On the back of each 2 ½” blue square, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner. Mark a second line ½” away from the first line.

With right sides together, position one of the squares at one end of the rectangle. Stitch along the first drawn line from corner to corner. Stitch along the second line.

Cut between the drawn lines with your rotary cutter or scissors. You will have an extra half square triangle for a future project.

Press the small triangle patch up, turning the seam allowance toward the small triangle.

Position the second square on the opposite end of the rectangle, rights sides together. Be sure to turn the marked lines up. Stitch along the lines as before.

Press the small triangle patch up as before.

You will need a total of 8 blue and white flying geese patch units.

Step 4 - Sew two blue flying geese units together with the geese pointing in the same direction.

Step 5 - Repeat the above procedure to complete three more units with 2 flying geese patches.

Step 6 - Sew row one - half square triangle, flying geese unit pointing north, half square triangle unit.

Step 8 - Sew row three - half square triangle, flying geese unit pointing south, half square triangle unit.

Step 9 - Sew the rows together to complete the cups and saucers quilt block.

Look what happens when you sew a few cups and saucers quilt blocks together. They create a great quilt pattern.

The center squares would make a nice open area for an easy machine quilted pattern.

Go to Free Quilt Block Patterns from Cups and Saucers Quilt Block