How to Make the Jamestown Square Quilt Block (Free 12" Tutorial)

The Jamestown Square quilt block is a traditional 12" block with a clever twist - a crossroads design pieced over a center diamond creates a stunning pinwheel star pattern when multiple blocks are joined together. It's a rewarding block to sew, with unique construction that makes the finished quilt truly shine.

Fabric Requirements for a 12" Finished Jamestown Square Quilt Block:

• Light/Cream: 10 - 3.5" squares
• Medium/Gold: 2 - 4" squares, and 4 - 3.5" squares
• Dark/Orange: 2 - 4" squares, and 4 - 3.5" squares
• Extra Dark/Red: 4 - 3.5" x 6.5" rectangles, and 2 - 3.5" squares

Sewing Directions:

Four Patch Unit:

Step 1:

Using two of the Light/Cream 3.5" squares and the two Extra Dark/Red 3.5" squares sew together a Four Patch unit as shown in the picture below.  You can find my tutorial on how to piece a basic four patch block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-four-patch-quilt-block

Half Square Triangle Units:

Step 2:

Sew together Half Square Triangle units by using the two Medium/Gold and two Dark/Orange 4" squares. 

Here are the first steps corresponding to the images in the picture below.

• Match up a Medium/Gold square and a Dark/Orange square right sides together. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the Medium square and sew 1/4" (or a little less) on each side of the line.
• Cut along the diagonal line.  You will have 2 half-square triangle patches.

Step 3:

And the next two steps:

• Open up the patch and press the seam allowance toward the Dark fabric. 
• Square up/trim the units to 3.5" square. 

You can find my tutorial for making HST units at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block

Step 4:

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for a total of four Half Square Triangle units like the ones shown below.

Double Geese Units:

Step 5:

First thing you need to do is make Flying Geese units using the Extra Dark/Red 3.5″ x 6.5″ rectangles and the Light/Cream 3.5″ squares. You can find my tutorial on Flying Geese units at: https://fabric-406.myshopify.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block. 

The picture below shows the first four steps.

• Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the Light/Cream 3.5" squares.
• Sew a Light/Cream 3.5" square to a Extra Dark/Red rectangle along the marked line (top image). Note the orientation of the marked line. Because this is a larger size unit, I also sewed another seam about 1/2" away from the marked line so I can get a bonus half square triangle (HST) to use in another project!
• Match the corners of the Light/Cream square and press (second image). 
• Open the square up and trim the seam allowance (third image). You will be cutting in between the seams if you did two seams to get the bonus HST.
• Refold (bottom image). Here you can see my bonus HST too.

Step 6:

Repeat Step 5 on an adjacent corner of the Extra Dark/Red rectangle as shown below. 

Step 7:

This is where the non-traditional way to piece together this unit starts. Basically, we are going to go through the same steps used to make a Flying Geese unit but we’ll be using one of the Step 6 Flying Geese units, a Medium/Gold 3.5″ square, and a Dark/Orange 3.5" square. I call this unit a Double Geese unit.

• First you will need to mark a diagonal line on the back of a Medium/Gold 3.5″ square.
• Place the square on one end of Flying Geese unit, right sides together as shown by the top image in the picture below. Note the orientation of the marked line. Sew close to the marked line in what will be the seam allowance. As before, I also sewed another seam about 1/2" away from the marked line so I can get a bonus HST variation.
• Match the corners of the square and press (second image).
• Open up the square and trim the seam allowance (third image).
• Refold (bottom image with the bonus HST variation).

Step 8:

Step 9:

Putting It All Together:

Step 10:

Lay out the Four Patch unit, the Half Square Triangle units, and the Double Geese units as shown in the picture below. From here the block goes together like an uneven Nine Patch block.

Step 11:

Sew the units into three rows.

Step 12:

Press the seam allowances away from the Double Geese units as shown in the picture below.

Step 13:

Sew the three rows together to complete the block.

Step 14:

Press the seam allowances toward the center of the block. 

Layout Ideas:

Here is the basic 4 x 4 layout using colors similar to the tutorial. 

Conclusion: