SeeMyQuilt
Pinwheels & triangles · Intermediate · 16" finished

16 inch Kansas Troubles quilt block

Cutting chart, piecing steps and yardage for a Kansas Troubles block that finishes at 16". The block is a 8 × 8 grid and each cell finishes at 2".

Finished block 16" × 16". Unfinished 16 1/2" × 16 1/2".

Cutting chart for one block

FabricCutSizeThen
Main12 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"24 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares8 7/8" × 8 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background8 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"16 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Accent2 squares4 7/8" × 4 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Accent4 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–

How to piece it

  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 8 × 8 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.
  4. Join the rows. The block should measure 16 1/2" now and 16" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a quilt of 16" Kansas Troubles blocks

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentBorder & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)38" × 54"5/8 yd1 1/4 yd1/2 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap3 × 3 (9)54" × 54"3/4 yd2 yd3/4 yd1 1/8 yd3 1/2 yd
Throw3 × 4 (12)54" × 70"1 yd2 1/4 yd3/4 yd1 1/4 yd4 1/2 yd
Twin4 × 6 (24)70" × 102"1 7/8 yd4 1/2 yd1 3/8 yd1 3/4 yd6 1/4 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)102" × 102"2 3/4 yd6 3/4 yd2 1/8 yd1 7/8 yd9 1/4 yd
King6 × 6 (36)102" × 102"2 3/4 yd6 3/4 yd2 1/8 yd1 7/8 yd9 1/4 yd

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

What a lap quilt looks like

3 × 3 blocks, 54" × 54" 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.

See it 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

What do I cut for a 16 inch Kansas Troubles block?

12 main squares at 2 7/8" × 2 7/8"; 2 background squares at 8 7/8" × 8 7/8"; 8 background squares at 2 7/8" × 2 7/8"; 2 accent squares at 4 7/8" × 4 7/8"; 4 accent squares at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2".

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

16 1/2" square. It finishes at 16" once the seams on all four sides are sewn.

How much fabric for a throw quilt of 16 inch Kansas Troubles blocks?

12 blocks make a 54" × 70" quilt. Buy 1 yd of main, 2 1/4 yd of background, 3/4 yd of accent and 1 1/4 yd of border & binding, plus 4 1/2 yd for the backing.