The Fair and Square Quilt Block

The fair and square quilt block was one of so many published in the Kansas City Star in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

This is one of the easy patterns, even for the beginner quilter.

Remember to think of the fair and square quilt block as a nine patch grid. Each of the nine “mini” blocks need to be completed before you can finish the basic quilt block.

To complete one block for a sampler quilt:

Materials:
Fat quarter fabric in three colors
(purple, tan and cream)
Batting
Backing

Step 1 - Use the rotary cutting techniques

Cut 1 strip 1½”x 10” from the purple fabric. Sub-cut the strip into 1½”x2½” rectangle patches for a total of 4 patches.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 6” from the purple fabric.
Cut 1 patch 2½” square from the purple fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 6” from the tan fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 10” from the tan fabric. Sub-cut the strip into 1½”x2½” rectangle patches for a total of 4 patches.
Cut 2 patches 2½” square from the tan fabric.
Cut 1 strip 1½”x 10” from the cream fabric. Sub-cut the strip into 1½”x2½” rectangle patches for a total of 4 patches.
Cut 1 patch 2½” square from the cream fabric.

Step 2 - Sew the 6” purple strip to the 6” tan strip side by side. Press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric. Sub cut the strip into 1½”x2½” units for a total of 4 patches.

Step 3 - Sew a purple 2½” strip to a purple/tan sub cut unit. This will complete the corner units of the quilt block. Complete 4 units.

Step 4 - Sew the 10” tan strip to the 10” cream strip. Press the seam towards the darker fabric. Sub-cut the strip into 2½” square patches. This will complete the 4 outer middle units of the quilt block.

Step 5 - Use the half square triangle method.

Place one 2½” square of tan fabric and one 2½” square of the cream 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 1½”. Be sure to use the 45 degree angle on your ruler.

You only need 2 half square triangle units from the tan/cream combination.

Repeat the process using the tan and purple fabrics to complete 2 half square triangles from the tan/purple combination.

Step 6 - Sew the half square triangles together, referring to the picture for the correct placement. This will complete the center block unit.

Step 7 - Sew row one - purple/tan corner mini block unit from step 3, tan/cream outer middle unit from step 4, corner purple/tan mini block unit.

Step 8 - Sew row two - tan/cream outer middle unit, half square triangle center unit, tan/cream outer middle unit.

Step 9 - Sew row three - purple/tan corner mini block unit, tan/cream outer middle unit, purple/tan corner mini block unit.

Step 10 - Sew the rows together to complete the fair and square quilt block.

Great job! You have finished another special quilt block for a beautiful project.

Go to Free Quilt Block Patterns from the Fair and Square Quilt Block