SeeMyQuilt
Pinwheels & triangles · Confident beginner · 9" finished

9 inch Hourglass Four Patch quilt block

Cutting chart, piecing steps and yardage for a Hourglass Four Patch block that finishes at 9". The block is a 2 × 2 grid and each cell finishes at 4 1/2".

Finished block 9" × 9". Unfinished 9 1/2" × 9 1/2".

Cutting chart for one block

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square5 3/4" × 5 3/4"4 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background1 square5 3/4" × 5 3/4"4 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Accent2 squares5" × 5"–

How to piece it

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. 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.
  3. Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 2 × 2 grid, and each cell finishes at 4 1/2". 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 9 1/2" now and 9" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a quilt of 9" Hourglass Four Patch blocks

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentBorder & bindingBacking
Baby3 × 5 (15)33" × 51"5/8 yd5/8 yd5/8 yd7/8 yd1 3/4 yd
Lap5 × 6 (30)51" × 60"1 yd1 yd1 1/4 yd1 1/8 yd4 yd
Throw6 × 7 (42)60" × 69"1 1/8 yd1 1/8 yd1 3/4 yd1 3/8 yd4 1/2 yd
Twin7 × 10 (70)69" × 96"1 7/8 yd1 7/8 yd2 3/4 yd1 5/8 yd6 yd
Queen10 × 10 (100)96" × 96"2 3/4 yd2 3/4 yd3 7/8 yd1 7/8 yd8 3/4 yd
King11 × 11 (121)105" × 105"3 1/4 yd3 1/4 yd4 3/4 yd2 yd9 1/2 yd

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

What a lap quilt looks like

5 × 6 blocks, 51" × 60" 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.

See it 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

What do I cut for a 9 inch Hourglass Four Patch block?

1 main square at 5 3/4" × 5 3/4"; 1 background square at 5 3/4" × 5 3/4"; 2 accent squares at 5" × 5".

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

9 1/2" square. It finishes at 9" once the seams on all four sides are sewn.

How much fabric for a throw quilt of 9 inch Hourglass Four Patch blocks?

42 blocks make a 60" × 69" quilt. Buy 1 1/8 yd of main, 1 1/8 yd of background, 1 3/4 yd of accent and 1 3/8 yd of border & binding, plus 4 1/2 yd for the backing.