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Strips & logs · Beginner

Five-Rail Fence quilt block

Five strips sewn side by side, usually shaded from dark to light.

Five-Rail Fence: main, background, accent, fabric 4 and fabric 5. A 5 × 5 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

5" Five-Rail Fence (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle5 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Background1 rectangle5 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle5 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle5 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 51 rectangle5 1/2" × 1 1/2"–

7 1/2" Five-Rail Fence (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle8" × 2"–
Background1 rectangle8" × 2"–
Accent1 rectangle8" × 2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle8" × 2"–
Fabric 51 rectangle8" × 2"–

10" Five-Rail Fence (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle10 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background1 rectangle10 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle10 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle10 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 51 rectangle10 1/2" × 2 1/2"–

15" Five-Rail Fence (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle15 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Background1 rectangle15 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle15 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle15 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Fabric 51 rectangle15 1/2" × 3 1/2"–

How to make a 15" Five-Rail Fence block

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 5 × 5 grid, and each cell finishes at 3". Sew neighbouring pieces into sections, then the sections into rows, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
  3. Join the rows. The block should measure 15 1/2" now and 15" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Five-Rail Fence quilt (15" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentFabric 4Fabric 5Border & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)36" × 51"3/8 yd3/8 yd3/8 yd3/8 yd3/8 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap3 × 4 (12)51" × 66"3/4 yd3/4 yd3/4 yd3/4 yd3/4 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw4 × 4 (16)66" × 66"7/8 yd7/8 yd7/8 yd7/8 yd7/8 yd1 3/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Twin4 × 6 (24)66" × 96"1 3/8 yd1 3/8 yd1 3/8 yd1 3/8 yd1 3/8 yd1 1/2 yd6 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)96" × 96"2 yd2 yd2 yd2 yd2 yd1 7/8 yd8 3/4 yd
King7 × 7 (49)111" × 111"2 3/4 yd2 3/4 yd2 3/4 yd2 3/4 yd2 3/4 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" Five-Rail Fence 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 Five-Rail Fence 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 Five-Rail Fence block need?

Five: main, background, accent, fabric 4 and fabric 5. 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 Five-Rail Fence?

1 main rectangle at 15 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 background rectangle at 15 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 accent rectangle at 15 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 fabric 4 rectangle at 15 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 fabric 5 rectangle at 15 1/2" × 3 1/2".

How many Five-Rail Fence blocks for a lap quilt?

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

More strips & logs blocks

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