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Pinwheels & triangles · Confident beginner · 12" finished

12 inch Three-Fabric Hourglass quilt block

Cutting chart, piecing steps and yardage for a Three-Fabric Hourglass block that finishes at 12". The block is a 1 × 1 grid and each cell finishes at 12".

Finished block 12" × 12". Unfinished 12 1/2" × 12 1/2".

Cutting chart for one block

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square13 1/4" × 13 1/4"1 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background1 square13 1/4" × 13 1/4"2 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Accent1 square13 1/4" × 13 1/4"1 triangles (cut twice 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 twice" on both diagonals. Each gives four triangles with the long edge on the straight grain: these are the large triangles in flying geese and hourglass units.
  3. Lay the pieces out as in the diagram and sew them together, matching the center.
  4. The block should measure 12 1/2" now and 12" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a quilt of 12" Three-Fabric Hourglass blocks

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

What a lap quilt looks like

4 × 5 blocks, 54" × 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 12 inch Three-Fabric Hourglass block?

1 main square at 13 1/4" × 13 1/4"; 1 background square at 13 1/4" × 13 1/4"; 1 accent square at 13 1/4" × 13 1/4".

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

12 1/2" square. It finishes at 12" once the seams on all four sides are sewn.

How much fabric for a throw quilt of 12 inch Three-Fabric Hourglass blocks?

30 blocks make a 66" × 78" quilt. Buy 1 1/4 yd of main, 2 1/8 yd of background, 1 1/4 yd of accent and 1 3/8 yd of border & binding, plus 5 yd for the backing.