How to Make the Colorado Quilt Block (Easy 8" Half-Square Triangle Block)
The Colorado quilt block (also known as Colorado Beauty) is a classic 8" pattern that's perfect for beginners and scrappy quilters alike. First published in the Kansas City Star and designed by Pearl Bacon, this traditional block is made entirely from half-square triangles, with a charming pinwheel design at its center. Go fully scrappy or use a planned color scheme - either way, it's simple to piece. Here's how to make your own 8" Colorado quilt block, step by step.
Fabric Requirements for an 8" Finished Colorado (or Colorado Beauty) Quilt Block:
- Light/White: 2 - 6" squares
- Dark/Blue: 2 - 6" squares
Sewing Directions:
Half Square Triangle Units:
Step 1:
For this block I'm using the eight-at-a-time method to make the Half Square Triangles. You can find that tutorial at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/two-easy-methods-for-making-half-square-triangle-quilt-blocks I also have the fabric requirements for lots of different size blocks in that tutorial.
On the back of the Light/White 6" square mark four lines as shown in the picture below. Two are diagonal from corner to corner and the other two are from the center of one side to the center of the opposite side of the square.
Step 2:
Match up the Light/White and the Dark/Blue, right sides together, and sew 1/4" from both sides of the marked diagonal lines as shown below. The lower image shows the sewing lines more clearly.
Step 3:
Now cut along all the marked lines as shown in the picture below. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 for a total of 16 Half Square Triangle units.
Step 4:
Open up the Half Square Triangles. Press 12 of units' seam allowances toward the Dark/Blue fabric as shown in the top right unit.
Step 5:
Press the remaining four units' seam allowances toward the Light/White fabric as shown in the right unit.
Step 6:
Trim/square-up all of the Half Square Triangle units to 2.5" square.
Corner Units:
Step 7:
Lay out one Step 5 unit (top left position) and three Step 4 units as shown in the picture below.
Step 8:
Sew the patches together like a typle Four Patch block. Here are the steps corresponding to the images in the picture below going from top to bottom, left to right.
- Sew the units into two rows.
- Press the seam allowances in opposite directions as shown.
- Sew the two rows together.
- Press the seam allowance. As you can see I've used the tweak/twirl/furl method for pressing.
- Repeat for a total of four Corner units.
Putting It All Together:
Step 9:
Lay out the Corner units as shown in the picture below.
Step 10:
Sew the units into two rows as shown below.
Step 11:
Press the seam allowances in opposite directions as shown in the picture below.
Step 12:
Sew the two rows together.
Step 13:
Press the seam allowance. As you can see I've used the tweak/twirl/furl method for pressing.
Layout Ideas:
Here's what the basic 4 x 4 layout with similar colors to the tutorial would look like.
And here's the same layout but with narrow (1") sashing and cornerstones in the background color.
This is an example of the basic layout but with the addition of another color for the pinwheel in the center.
This layout uses blocks made of different colors and complementary sashing and cornerstones.
Here's a scrappy alternating layout where every other block is a Snowball block.
Here's an on-point layout with two different color blocks and the background fabric is used for the setting triangles.
This is an alternating on-point layout using a Snowball block for the alternate block that extends into the setting triangles. Additionally, a different color is used for the center pinwheel.
Conclusion:
The Colorado block was fun and quick to sew together. For all it's simplicity, it makes for some lovely layouts. It also creates a beautiful scrappy quilt!
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. If you like it and want to see more, just click HERE to sign up for my newsletter and receive a free PDF quilt pattern called "Chained Weathervane".
Happy Quilting!
Elaine
P.S. Looking for more beginner-friendly blocks? Take a look at these tutorials: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/tagged/tutorials_beginning-blocks
P.P.S. Check out my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406