SeeMyQuilt
Patchwork · Confident beginner · 16" finished

16 inch Postage Stamp quilt block

Cutting chart, piecing steps and yardage for a Postage Stamp 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
Main8 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background8 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent8 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 48 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 58 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 68 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 78 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Fabric 88 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. 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.
  3. 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" Postage Stamp blocks

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

8" Postage Stamp12" Postage StampAll Postage Stamp sizes

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 Postage Stamp block?

8 main squares at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 8 background squares at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 8 accent squares at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 8 fabric 4 squares at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 8 fabric 5 squares at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 8 fabric 6 squares at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 8 fabric 7 squares at 2 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 8 fabric 8 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 Postage Stamp blocks?

12 blocks make a 54" × 70" quilt. Buy 1/2 yd of main, 1/2 yd of background, 1/2 yd of accent, 1/2 yd of fabric 4, 1/2 yd of fabric 5, 1/2 yd of fabric 6, 1/2 yd of fabric 7, 1/2 yd of fabric 8 and 1 1/4 yd of border & binding, plus 4 1/2 yd for the backing.