SeeMyQuilt
Baskets & pictures · Confident beginner

House quilt block

A simple pieced house: a roof with a half-square triangle at each end, a chimney, walls, a door and a window.

House: main, background, accent and fabric 4. A 5 × 5 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

5" House (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle3 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Main1 square1 7/8" × 1 7/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 rectangle3 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Background1 square1 7/8" × 1 7/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square1 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle5 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle3 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle2 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Accent3 squares1 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle2 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 41 square1 1/2" × 1 1/2"–

7 1/2" House (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle5" × 2"–
Main1 square2 3/8" × 2 3/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 rectangle5" × 2"–
Background1 square2 3/8" × 2 3/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square2" × 2"–
Accent1 rectangle8" × 2"–
Accent1 rectangle5" × 2"–
Accent1 rectangle3 1/2" × 2"–
Accent3 squares2" × 2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle3 1/2" × 2"–
Fabric 41 square2" × 2"–

10" House (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle6 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Main1 square2 7/8" × 2 7/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 rectangle6 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background1 square2 7/8" × 2 7/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle10 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle6 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle4 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent3 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle4 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 41 square2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–

15" House (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle9 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Main1 square3 7/8" × 3 7/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 rectangle9 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Background1 square3 7/8" × 3 7/8"2 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle15 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle9 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Accent1 rectangle6 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Accent3 squares3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Fabric 41 rectangle6 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Fabric 41 square3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–

How to make a 15" House block

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. Cut the squares marked "cut once" in half on the diagonal. Each gives two triangles. Sew them to their neighbours along the long edge first and press toward the darker fabric.
  3. 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.
  4. Join the rows. The block should measure 15 1/2" now and 15" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a House quilt (15" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentFabric 4Border & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)36" × 51"3/8 yd1/2 yd7/8 yd1/4 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap3 × 4 (12)51" × 66"5/8 yd3/4 yd1 1/2 yd3/8 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw4 × 4 (16)66" × 66"3/4 yd1 yd2 1/8 yd5/8 yd1 3/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Twin4 × 6 (24)66" × 96"1 yd1 1/4 yd3 yd3/4 yd1 1/2 yd6 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)96" × 96"1 1/2 yd1 7/8 yd4 1/2 yd1 yd1 7/8 yd8 3/4 yd
King7 × 7 (49)111" × 111"2 yd2 5/8 yd6 1/2 yd1 1/2 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" House 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 House 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 House block need?

Four: main, background, accent and fabric 4. 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 House?

1 main rectangle at 9 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 main square at 3 7/8" × 3 7/8"; 1 background rectangle at 9 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 background square at 3 7/8" × 3 7/8"; 1 background square at 3 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 accent rectangle at 15 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 accent rectangle at 9 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 accent rectangle at 6 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 3 accent squares at 3 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 fabric 4 rectangle at 6 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 1 fabric 4 square at 3 1/2" × 3 1/2".

How many House blocks for a lap quilt?

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

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