How to Make the Old Fashioned Quilt Block: an Easy 14" Block with a Vintage Look

The Old Fashioned Quilt block is a timeless classic that captures the cozy, well-loved spirit of vintage quilts straight from grandmother's sewing basket. Worked in a generous 14-inch size, this beginner-friendly block is built entirely from three humble shapes — half-square triangles, squares, and rectangles — making it a perfect first project or a satisfying go-to when you want reliable results with a charming finish.

Whether you pull fabrics with intention, building a careful color story, or raid your scrap bin for a carefree scrappy version, the Old Fashioned Quilt block rewards both approaches with equal grace, lending itself beautifully to sampler quilts, cozy throws, and everything in between.

Fabric Requirements for a 14" Old Fashioned Quilt Block:

• Light/White: 4 - 2.5" x 6.5" rectangles, 4 - 3" squares, and 12 - 2.5" squares
• Medium/Purple: 8 - 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles
• Dark/Purple: 4 - 3" squares, and 4 - 2.5" squares
• Dark/Green: 5 - 2.5" squares

Sewing Directions:

Half Square Triangle Units:

Step 1:

Using a Light/White 3" square and a Dark/Purple 3" square, make Half Square Triangle (HST) units as shown. Here are the steps corresponding to the images in the picture below going from top to bottom, left to right.

• Match up a Light/White square and a Dark/Purple square right sides together. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the White 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.
• Open up the patch and press the seam allowance toward the Dark/Purple fabric. 
• Square up/trim the units to 2.5" 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 2:

Repeat Step 1 for a total of eight Half Square Triangle units like the ones shown below.

Snowball Rectangle Units:

Step 3:

Make four Snowball Rectangle units using the Medium/Purple 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles, and the Light/White 2.5" squares. This unit goes together just like one corner of a Snowball block except that you use a rectangle for the base. You can find my tutorial for making a Snowball block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-snowball-block

Here are the first steps, going from top to bottom: 

• Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of a 2.5" square and sew the 2.5" square to one corner of the Medium/Purple rectangle along the marked line. Note the orientation of the marked line.
• Match the corners of the 2.5" square and press.
• Open up the 2.5" square and trim the seam allowance.
• Refold.

Step 4:

Repeat Step 3 for a total of four units like the ones in the picture below.

Step 5:

Repeat Steps 3 and 4 only changing the orientation of the marked line on the 2.5" square so that you get units that look like the ones below.

Corner Units:

Step 6:

Lay out two Step 2 Half Square Triangle units, a Light/White 2.5" square, and a Dark/Purple 2.5" square as shown below.

Step 7:

Sew the units into two rows and press the seam allowances away from the Half Square Triangle units.

Step 8:

Sew the two rows together and press the seam allowance. You can see in the picture below that I've used the tweak/twirl/furl method but you can press however you prefer. 

Step 9:

Repeat Steps 6 through 8 for a total of four units like the ones in the picture below.

Step 10:

Lay out a Step 9 unit, a Step 4 unit, a Step 5 unit, and a Dark/Green 2.5" square as shown below.

Step 11:

Sew the units into two rows and press the seam allowances toward the Snowball Rectangle units.

Step 12:

Sew the two rows together and press the seam allowance. You can see in the picture below that I've used the tweak/twirl/furl method but you can press however you prefer. 

Step 13:

Repeat Steps 10 through 12 for a total of four units like the ones in the picture below.

Putting It All Together:

Step 14:

Lay out the four Corner units, the four Light/White 2.5" x 6.5" rectangles, and the remaining Dark/Green 2.5" square as shown below. From here the block goes together like an uneven Nine Patch block.

Step 15:

Sew the units into three rows as shown below.

Step 16:

Press the seam allowances toward the Light/White rectangles as shown in the picture below.

Step 17:

Sew the three rows together to complete the block.

Step 18:

Press the seam allowances. You can see in the picture below that I pressed the seam allowances toward the center of the block but you can press however you prefer.

Layout Ideas:

Here is the basic 4 x 4 layout using colors similar to the tutorial. Interesting secondary design appears with this one. 

Conclusion: