SeeMyQuilt
Pinwheels & triangles · Confident beginner

Hovering Hawks quilt block

Ten half-square triangles and six plain squares. All the seams slant the same way and the plain squares run along the diagonal and sit in two corners.

Hovering Hawks: main and background. A 4 × 4 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

6" Hovering Hawks (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main5 squares2 3/8" × 2 3/8"10 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background5 squares2 3/8" × 2 3/8"10 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background6 squares2" × 2"–

8" Hovering Hawks (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main5 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"10 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background5 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"10 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background6 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–

10" Hovering Hawks (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main5 squares3 3/8" × 3 3/8"10 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background5 squares3 3/8" × 3 3/8"10 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background6 squares3" × 3"–

12" Hovering Hawks (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main5 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"10 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background5 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"10 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background6 squares3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–

How to make a 12" Hovering Hawks 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 4 × 4 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 12 1/2" now and 12" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Hovering Hawks quilt (12" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundBorder & bindingBacking
Baby3 × 4 (12)42" × 54"3/4 yd1 3/8 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap4 × 5 (20)54" × 66"1 1/4 yd2 3/8 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw5 × 6 (30)66" × 78"1 7/8 yd3 1/2 yd1 3/8 yd5 yd
Twin6 × 8 (48)78" × 102"2 7/8 yd5 1/2 yd1 3/4 yd9 1/4 yd
Queen8 × 8 (64)102" × 102"3 7/8 yd7 1/4 yd1 7/8 yd9 1/4 yd
King9 × 9 (81)114" × 114"4 7/8 yd9 1/4 yd2 1/8 yd10 1/4 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 12" Hovering Hawks blocks in each setting.

SettingBlocksFinished sizeExtra fabric
Side by side3066" × 78"–
With sashing2060" × 74"Sashing 7/8 yd, Cornerstones 1/8 yd
Alternating plain blocks15 pieced + 15 plain66" × 78"Plain blocks 2 yd
On point1857" × 74"Setting triangles 1 1/2 yd

See Hovering Hawks 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 Hovering Hawks block need?

Two: main and background. 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 12 inch Hovering Hawks?

5 main squares at 3 7/8" × 3 7/8"; 5 background squares at 3 7/8" × 3 7/8"; 6 background squares at 3 1/2" × 3 1/2".

How many Hovering Hawks blocks for a lap quilt?

20 blocks at 12", set 4 by 5 with a 3" border, make a 54" × 66" quilt.

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