Pinwheels & triangles · Confident beginner · 8" finished

8 inch Big Dipper quilt block

Cutting chart, piecing steps and yardage for a Big Dipper block that finishes at 8". The block is a 2 × 2 grid and each cell finishes at 4".

Finished block 8" × 8". Unfinished 8 1/2" × 8 1/2".

Cutting chart for one block

Fabric	Cut	Size	Then
Main	2 squares	5 1/4" × 5 1/4"	8 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background	2 squares	5 1/4" × 5 1/4"	8 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)

Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
Cut the squares marked "cut twice" on both diagonals. Each gives four triangles with the long edge on the straight grain: these are the large triangles in flying geese and hourglass units.
Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 2 × 2 grid, and each cell finishes at 4". Sew neighbouring pieces into sections, then the sections into rows, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
Join the rows. The block should measure 8 1/2" now and 8" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a quilt of 8" Big Dipper blocks

Quilt size	Blocks	Finished size	Main	Background	Border & binding	Backing
Baby	4 × 5 (20)	38" × 46"	7/8 yd	7/8 yd	7/8 yd	3 yd
Lap	5 × 7 (35)	46" × 62"	1 1/2 yd	1 1/2 yd	1 1/8 yd	4 yd
Throw	7 × 8 (56)	62" × 70"	2 1/4 yd	2 1/4 yd	1 3/8 yd	4 1/2 yd
Twin	8 × 11 (88)	70" × 94"	3 5/8 yd	3 5/8 yd	1 5/8 yd	5 3/4 yd
Queen	11 × 11 (121)	94" × 94"	5 yd	5 yd	1 3/4 yd	8 1/2 yd
King	13 × 13 (169)	110" × 110"	7 yd	7 yd	2 1/8 yd	10 yd

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

5 × 7 blocks, 46" × 62" with border.

This diagram uses plain colors. To see the quilt in your own fabrics, with sashing or on point, use the tool below: tap a fabric and choose a photo.

1. Your fabrics (tap a fabric, then choose a sample or your own photo)

2. Block

3. Quilt size

4. Block size

5. Setting

Border

Fabric	Yardage	Cut

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

What do I cut for a 8 inch Big Dipper block?

2 main squares at 5 1/4" × 5 1/4"; 2 background squares at 5 1/4" × 5 1/4".

What size is the block before it is sewn into the quilt?

8 1/2" square. It finishes at 8" once the seams on all four sides are sewn.

How much fabric for a throw quilt of 8 inch Big Dipper blocks?

56 blocks make a 62" × 70" quilt. Buy 2 1/4 yd of main, 2 1/4 yd of background and 1 3/8 yd of border & binding, plus 4 1/2 yd for the backing.

The app is in the works. Join the early list and help decide what goes in.