SeeMyQuilt
Classics · Confident beginner

Attic Window quilt block

A square window with a dark strip on one side and a medium strip below. The corner where the strips meet is a half-square triangle that stands in for the mitered seam.

Attic Window: main, background and accent. A 3 × 3 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

6" Attic Window (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle4 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Main1 square2 7/8" × 2 7/8"1 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square4 1/2" × 4 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle4 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent1 square2 7/8" × 2 7/8"1 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

9" Attic Window (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle6 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Main1 square3 7/8" × 3 7/8"1 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square6 1/2" × 6 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle6 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Accent1 square3 7/8" × 3 7/8"1 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

12" Attic Window (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle8 1/2" × 4 1/2"–
Main1 square4 7/8" × 4 7/8"1 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square8 1/2" × 8 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle8 1/2" × 4 1/2"–
Accent1 square4 7/8" × 4 7/8"1 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

15" Attic Window (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle10 1/2" × 5 1/2"–
Main1 square5 7/8" × 5 7/8"1 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square10 1/2" × 10 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle10 1/2" × 5 1/2"–
Accent1 square5 7/8" × 5 7/8"1 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

How to make a 15" Attic Window block

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. Cut the squares marked "cut once" in half on the diagonal. Each gives two triangles. Sew them to their neighbours along the long edge first and press toward the darker fabric.
  3. Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 3 × 3 grid, and each cell finishes at 5". Sew neighbouring pieces into sections, then the sections into rows, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
  4. Join the rows. The block should measure 15 1/2" now and 15" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Attic Window quilt (15" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentBorder & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)36" × 51"5/8 yd3/4 yd5/8 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap3 × 4 (12)51" × 66"3/4 yd1 yd3/4 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw4 × 4 (16)66" × 66"1 1/8 yd1 3/8 yd1 1/8 yd1 3/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Twin4 × 6 (24)66" × 96"1 3/8 yd2 yd1 3/8 yd1 1/2 yd6 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)96" × 96"2 1/8 yd3 yd2 1/8 yd1 7/8 yd8 3/4 yd
King7 × 7 (49)111" × 111"3 yd4 1/4 yd3 yd2 1/8 yd10 yd

Blocks side by side with a 3" border, 2 1/2" binding, 42" usable width and 10% extra.

Four ways to set it

A throw quilt of 15" Attic Window blocks in each setting.

SettingBlocksFinished sizeExtra fabric
Side by side1666" × 66"–
With sashing1255" × 72"Sashing 3/4 yd, Cornerstones 1/8 yd
Alternating plain blocks8 pieced + 8 plain66" × 66"Plain blocks 2 yd
On point1369 3/4" × 69 3/4"Setting triangles 1 3/4 yd

See Attic Window in your own fabrics

1. Your fabrics (tap a fabric, then choose a sample or your own photo)
2. Block
3. Quilt size
4. Block size
5. Setting

What to buy

FabricYardageCut

Based on 42" usable fabric width, 1/4" seams and 10% extra. Your photos stay on your device.

Questions

How many fabrics does a Attic Window block need?

Three: main, background and accent. Choose a main fabric that contrasts clearly with the background so the design reads from a distance.

What size pieces do I cut for a 15 inch Attic Window?

1 main rectangle at 10 1/2" × 5 1/2"; 1 main square at 5 7/8" × 5 7/8"; 1 background square at 10 1/2" × 10 1/2"; 1 accent rectangle at 10 1/2" × 5 1/2"; 1 accent square at 5 7/8" × 5 7/8".

How many Attic Window blocks for a lap quilt?

12 blocks at 15", set 3 by 4 with a 3" border, make a 51" × 66" quilt.

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