SeeMyQuilt
Strips & logs · Confident beginner

Housetop quilt block

A center square with three rounds of strips, each round in one fabric, so the block reads as squares inside squares.

Housetop: main, background, accent and fabric 4. A 7 × 7 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

7" Housetop (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main2 rectangles5 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Main2 rectangles3 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Background2 rectangles3 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Background2 squares1 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Accent1 square1 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 42 rectangles7 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Fabric 42 rectangles5 1/2" × 1 1/2"–

10 1/2" Housetop (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main2 rectangles8" × 2"–
Main2 rectangles5" × 2"–
Background2 rectangles5" × 2"–
Background2 squares2" × 2"–
Accent1 square2" × 2"–
Fabric 42 rectangles11" × 2"–
Fabric 42 rectangles8" × 2"–

14" Housetop (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main2 rectangles10 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Main2 rectangles6 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background2 rectangles6 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background2 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent1 square2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 42 rectangles14 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 42 rectangles10 1/2" × 2 1/2"–

How to make a 14" Housetop 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 7 × 7 grid, and each cell finishes at 2". 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 14 1/2" now and 14" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Housetop quilt (14" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentFabric 4Border & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)34" × 48"1/2 yd1/4 yd1/8 yd3/4 yd7/8 yd1 3/4 yd
Lap3 × 4 (12)48" × 62"7/8 yd1/2 yd1/8 yd1 3/8 yd1 1/8 yd4 yd
Throw4 × 5 (20)62" × 76"1 3/8 yd7/8 yd1/4 yd2 3/8 yd1 3/8 yd4 3/4 yd
Twin5 × 6 (30)76" × 90"2 yd1 1/8 yd1/4 yd3 1/2 yd1 5/8 yd5 1/2 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)90" × 90"2 3/8 yd1 3/8 yd1/4 yd4 1/8 yd1 3/4 yd8 1/4 yd
King7 × 7 (49)104" × 104"3 1/4 yd1 7/8 yd3/8 yd5 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.

Four ways to set it

A throw quilt of 14" Housetop blocks in each setting.

SettingBlocksFinished sizeExtra fabric
Side by side2062" × 76"–
With sashing1668" × 68"Sashing 1 yd, Cornerstones 1/8 yd
Alternating plain blocks10 pieced + 10 plain62" × 76"Plain blocks 2 1/4 yd
On point1365 1/2" × 65 1/2"Setting triangles 1 5/8 yd

See Housetop 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 Housetop 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 14 inch Housetop?

2 main rectangles at 10 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 2 main rectangles at 6 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 2 background rectangles at 6 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 2 background squares at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 accent square at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 2 fabric 4 rectangles at 14 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 2 fabric 4 rectangles at 10 1/2" × 2 1/2".

How many Housetop blocks for a lap quilt?

12 blocks at 14", set 3 by 4 with a 3" border, make a 48" × 62" quilt.

More strips & logs blocks