Pinwheels & triangles · Confident beginner · 12" finished

12 inch Hourglass quilt block

Cutting chart, piecing steps and yardage for a Hourglass block that finishes at 12". The block is a 1 × 1 grid and each cell finishes at 12".

Finished block 12" × 12". Unfinished 12 1/2" × 12 1/2".

Cutting chart for one block

Fabric	Cut	Size	Then
Main	1 square	13 1/4" × 13 1/4"	2 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background	1 square	13 1/4" × 13 1/4"	2 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 the pieces out as in the diagram and sew them together, matching the center.
The block should measure 12 1/2" now and 12" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a quilt of 12" Hourglass blocks

Quilt size	Blocks	Finished size	Main	Background	Border & binding	Backing
Baby	3 × 4 (12)	42" × 54"	7/8 yd	7/8 yd	1 yd	3 1/2 yd
Lap	4 × 5 (20)	54" × 66"	1 5/8 yd	1 5/8 yd	1 1/8 yd	4 1/4 yd
Throw	5 × 6 (30)	66" × 78"	2 1/8 yd	2 1/8 yd	1 3/8 yd	5 yd
Twin	6 × 8 (48)	78" × 102"	3 1/4 yd	3 1/4 yd	1 3/4 yd	9 1/4 yd
Queen	8 × 8 (64)	102" × 102"	4 1/2 yd	4 1/2 yd	1 7/8 yd	9 1/4 yd
King	9 × 9 (81)	114" × 114"	5 3/4 yd	5 3/4 yd	2 1/8 yd	10 1/4 yd

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

4 × 5 blocks, 54" × 66" 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 12 inch Hourglass block?

1 main square at 13 1/4" × 13 1/4"; 1 background square at 13 1/4" × 13 1/4".

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

12 1/2" square. It finishes at 12" once the seams on all four sides are sewn.

How much fabric for a throw quilt of 12 inch Hourglass blocks?

30 blocks make a 66" × 78" quilt. Buy 2 1/8 yd of main, 2 1/8 yd of background and 1 3/8 yd of border & binding, plus 5 yd for the backing.

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