How to Make the Super Easy Patience Corners Quilt Block

Today let's look at the Patience Corners quilt block. This beginner block is super easy with only three sizes of patches, no triangles, and lots of different looks depending on color placement. I'll show some different color and layout options at the end. Let's get started!

Fabric Requirements for a 12" Finished Patience Corners Quilt Block:

• Light/Medium: 4 - 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles, and 4 - 2.5" x 6.5" rectangles
• Dark/Focus: 4 - 4.5" squares

Sewing Directions:

Basic Unit:

Step 1:

Match up a Dark/Focus 4.5" square with a Light/Medium 2.5" x 4.5" rectangle and sew together as shown in the picture below. Press the seam allowance toward the rectangle.

Step 2:

Now you can sew a Light/Medium 2.5" x 6.5" rectangle to the Step 1 unit. Press the seam allowance toward the rectangle as shown in the picture below. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for a total of four Basic units.

Putting It All Together:

Step 3:

Layout the four Basic units you just made as shown in the picture below.

Step 4:

From here the block goes together just like a basic Four Patch block. Sew the Basic units into two rows as shown below.

Step 5:

Press the seam allowances toward the 2.5" x 6.5" rectangle as shown below.

Step 6:

To finish the block, just sew the two rows together as shown in the picture below. Easy peasy!

Step 7:

The last thing to do is to press the seam allowance. In the picture below you can see that I used the tweak/twirl/furl method of pressing but you can press however you like. You can find out more about the tweak method of pressing at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-four-patch-quilt-block

Layouts:

Here is a layout using a similar color way as the example in the tutorial.

Here's an example using just two colors. This is a great layout if you have a focal fabric for the 4.5" square.

In this layout, I've changed the dark and light fabrics. It's amazing how much that changes the overall look.

In this example, the 4.5" square is the same throughout the quilt but the rectangles alternate between two fabrics.

In this layout, a variety of prints are used. This would be a good way to use up scraps from other quilts. You could make up several Basic units and then set them aside for when you have enough to make a quilt top. It would also be good for fat quarter bundles!

Conclusion:

I had a lot of fun playing with colors in the layout section. The Patience Corners is really easy and quick to sew together. I think I will continue making these blocks using the second to last layout example and my purple scraps!

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial for the Patience Corners block. If you liked this post and want to see more quilting tutorials like this, simply click here to sign up for my newsletter and also receive a free PDF quilt pattern called Chained Weathervane.

Happy Quilting!

Elaine

P.S. To purchase a PDF of this block pattern from my Etsy shop, just click on this link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1497659939/patience-corners-quilt-block-pattern-pdf

P.P.S. To figure out yardage for a quilt, check out this post: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-much-fabric-do-i-need