How to Sew a Sister’s Choice Quilt Block

By: Elaine Huff

Here’s another “Choice” block for you to sew – a 10″ finished one this time. The Sister’s Choice block is easy to sew but with the right color placement, it can be so stunning - you get a diagonal design in one color and a grid design in the other color. So let’s get started!

Fabric Requirements for a 10" Finished Sister's Choice Quilt Block:

Light/White: 4 – 3″ squares; and 4 – 2.5″ squares
Medium 1/Light Pink: 4 – 2.5″ squares
Medium 2/Pink: 4 – 2.5″ squares
Medium 3/Light Blue: 4 – 3″ squares
Medium 4/Blue: 4 – 2.5″ squares
Dark/Black: 1 – 2.5″ square

Sewing Directions:

Step 1:

Half-Square Triangle Units:

The first step is to make 8 Half-Square Triangle (HST) units using the Light/White 3″ squares and the Medium 3/Light Blue 3″ squares. You can find my tutorial on HSTs at https://fabric-406.myshopify.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block

Putting It All Together:

Step 2:

Lay out the HSTs you just made and all the other 2.5″ squares as shown in the picture below.

Step 3:

Now you can sew them into rows and…

Step 4:

Press the seam allowances away from the Half-Square Triangle units as shown below.

Step 5:

And now you sew the rows together to make the block. See, I told you it was easy!

Step 6:

Now to press the seam allowances. I found that the block laid flatter by pressing the middle two seam allowances toward the center and the outer two seam allowances toward the outside of the block. The picture below shows how I pressed the seam allowances. Trim/square up the block to 10.5″ if needed.

Layout Ideas:

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

This is the same layout as above with 2" pieced sashing and cornerstones added.

This is an alternating layout where every other block is a Snowball block. I also switched the dark and medium color tones in the block.

Another alternating layout using a chain block to accentuate the Sister's Choice block.

Here's another alternating example with a cross block being used as the alternate block.

This is an on-point design where the cross block is used in the setting triangles.

This on-point alternating design uses a Snowball block as the alternate block that also extends into the setting triangles.

This is another on-point alternating layout that uses the cross block for the alternate block and extends into the setting triangles.

Conclusion:

The Sister's Choice block is one of my favorite blocks. I love the diamond and grid patterns that appear when multiple blocks are sewn together. Plus it's an easy block to piece!

If you like this tutorial 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