SeeMyQuilt
Pinwheels & triangles · Confident beginner · 15" finished

15 inch North Wind quilt block

Cutting chart, piecing steps and yardage for a North Wind block that finishes at 15". The block is a 3 × 3 grid and each cell finishes at 5".

Finished block 15" × 15". Unfinished 15 1/2" × 15 1/2".

Cutting chart for one block

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square10 7/8" × 10 7/8"1 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Main3 squares5 7/8" × 5 7/8"5 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square10 7/8" × 10 7/8"1 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background3 squares5 7/8" × 5 7/8"5 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

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 3 × 3 grid, and each cell finishes at 5". 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 quilt of 15" North Wind blocks

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundBorder & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)36" × 51"7/8 yd7/8 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap3 × 4 (12)51" × 66"1 5/8 yd1 5/8 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw4 × 4 (16)66" × 66"2 1/8 yd2 1/8 yd1 3/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Twin4 × 6 (24)66" × 96"3 yd3 yd1 1/2 yd6 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)96" × 96"4 3/8 yd4 3/8 yd1 7/8 yd8 3/4 yd
King7 × 7 (49)111" × 111"6 1/4 yd6 1/4 yd2 1/8 yd10 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 × 4 blocks, 51" × 66" 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 15 inch North Wind block?

1 main square at 10 7/8" × 10 7/8"; 3 main squares at 5 7/8" × 5 7/8"; 1 background square at 10 7/8" × 10 7/8"; 3 background squares at 5 7/8" × 5 7/8".

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

15 1/2" square. It finishes at 15" once the seams on all four sides are sewn.

How much fabric for a throw quilt of 15 inch North Wind blocks?

16 blocks make a 66" × 66" quilt. Buy 2 1/8 yd of main, 2 1/8 yd of background and 1 3/8 yd of border & binding, plus 4 1/4 yd for the backing.