Pinwheels & triangles · Confident beginner · 6" finished

6 inch Hourglass quilt block

Cutting chart, piecing steps and yardage for a Hourglass block that finishes at 6". The block is a 1 × 1 grid and each cell finishes at 6".

Finished block 6" × 6". Unfinished 6 1/2" × 6 1/2".

Cutting chart for one block

Fabric	Cut	Size	Then
Main	1 square	7 1/4" × 7 1/4"	2 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background	1 square	7 1/4" × 7 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 6 1/2" now and 6" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a quilt of 6" Hourglass blocks

Quilt size	Blocks	Finished size	Main	Background	Border & binding	Backing
Baby	5 × 7 (35)	36" × 48"	1 yd	1 yd	7/8 yd	3 1/4 yd
Lap	7 × 9 (63)	48" × 60"	1 5/8 yd	1 5/8 yd	1 1/8 yd	4 yd
Throw	9 × 11 (99)	60" × 72"	2 1/4 yd	2 1/4 yd	1 3/8 yd	4 1/2 yd
Twin	11 × 15 (165)	72" × 96"	3 7/8 yd	3 7/8 yd	1 5/8 yd	6 yd
Queen	15 × 15 (225)	96" × 96"	5 1/8 yd	5 1/8 yd	1 7/8 yd	8 3/4 yd
King	17 × 17 (289)	108" × 108"	6 1/2 yd	6 1/2 yd	2 1/8 yd	9 3/4 yd

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

7 × 9 blocks, 48" × 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.

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 6 inch Hourglass block?

1 main square at 7 1/4" × 7 1/4"; 1 background square at 7 1/4" × 7 1/4".

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

6 1/2" square. It finishes at 6" once the seams on all four sides are sewn.

How much fabric for a throw quilt of 6 inch Hourglass blocks?

99 blocks make a 60" × 72" 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.