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Strips & logs · Beginner · 4" finished

4 inch Two-Rail Fence quilt block

Cutting chart, piecing steps and yardage for a Two-Rail Fence block that finishes at 4". The block is a 2 × 2 grid and each cell finishes at 2".

Finished block 4" × 4". Unfinished 4 1/2" × 4 1/2".

Cutting chart for one block

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle4 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background1 rectangle4 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 2 × 2 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 4 1/2" now and 4" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a quilt of 4" Two-Rail Fence blocks

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundBorder & bindingBacking
Baby8 × 11 (88)38" × 50"7/8 yd7/8 yd1 yd3 1/4 yd
Lap11 × 14 (154)50" × 62"1 3/8 yd1 3/8 yd1 1/8 yd4 yd
Throw14 × 17 (238)62" × 74"2 1/8 yd2 1/8 yd1 3/8 yd4 3/4 yd
Twin17 × 23 (391)74" × 98"3 3/8 yd3 3/8 yd1 3/4 yd6 yd
Queen23 × 23 (529)98" × 98"4 5/8 yd4 5/8 yd1 7/8 yd9 yd
King26 × 26 (676)110" × 110"5 7/8 yd5 7/8 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

11 × 14 blocks, 50" × 62" 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 4 inch Two-Rail Fence block?

1 main rectangle at 4 1/2" × 2 1/2"; 1 background rectangle at 4 1/2" × 2 1/2".

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

4 1/2" square. It finishes at 4" once the seams on all four sides are sewn.

How much fabric for a throw quilt of 4 inch Two-Rail Fence blocks?

238 blocks make a 62" × 74" quilt. Buy 2 1/8 yd of main, 2 1/8 yd of background and 1 3/8 yd of border & binding, plus 4 3/4 yd for the backing.