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Chains & crosses · Beginner · 12" finished

12 inch Thrifty quilt block

Cutting chart, piecing steps and yardage for a Thrifty block that finishes at 12". The block is a 6 × 6 grid and each cell finishes at 2".

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

Cutting chart for one block

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 square4 1/2" × 4 1/2"–
Main8 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background4 squares4 1/2" × 4 1/2"–
Accent8 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 6 × 6 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 12 1/2" now and 12" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a quilt of 12" Thrifty blocks

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

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.

6" Thrifty9" Thrifty15" ThriftyAll Thrifty 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 12 inch Thrifty block?

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

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 Thrifty blocks?

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