How to Sew the Alaska Homestead Quilt Block - an Easy 10" Pieced Block
The Alaska Homestead quilt block is a beginner-friendly favorite that's perfect for both scrappy quilts and carefully planned color layouts. Finishing at 10 inches, this easy quilt block comes together with simple squares and half square triangles, making it an ideal choice for quilters who want beautiful results without complicated piecing.
Whether you're digging into your scrap bin for a scrappy look or choosing coordinating fabrics, this step-by-step tutorial will walk you through everything you need to know to sew the Alaska Homestead block with confidence.
Fabric Requirements for a 10" Finished Alaska Homestead Quilt Block:
- Light/White: 2 - 5" squares, and 4 - 2.5" squares
- Medium/Aqua: 5 - 2.5" squares
- Dark/Blue: 2 - 5" squares
Sewing Directions:
Half Square Triangle Units:
Step 1:
Using the Light/White 5" squares and the Dark/Blue 5" squares, 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/Blue square right sides together.
- Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the Light/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.
Step 2:
- Open up the patch and press the seam allowance toward the Dark/Blue fabric.
- Square up/trim the units to 4.5" 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 3:
Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for a total of four Half Square Triangle units like the ones in the picture below.
Two-Patch Units:
Step 4:
- Match up a Light/White 2.5" square and a Medium/Aqua 2.5" square (top image).
- Sew the two squares together (middle image).
- Press the seam allowance toward the Medium/Aqua square (bottom image).
Step 5:
Repeat Step 4 for a total of four Two-Patch units as shown in the picture below.
Putting It All Together:
Step 6:
Lay out the Half Square Triangle units, the Two-Patch units, and the remaining Medium/Aqua 2.5" square as shown below. From here the block goes together like an uneven Nine Patch block.
Step 7:
Sew the units into three rows as shown below.
Step 8:
Press the Seam allowances toward the Two-Patch units as shown in the picture below.
Step 9:
Sew the three rows together.
Step 10:
Press the seam allowances away from the center of the block as shown below. By pressing this way, when sewing multiple blocks together, all you have to do is rotate every other block 90 degrees and all the seams will nest nicely.
Layout Ideas:
This is the basic 4 x 4 layout using colors similar to the tutorial.
Here's the same layout as above but with pieced sashing and cornerstones added.
This is an alternating layout where every other block is a Snowball block.
This layout is the same as the one above but uses main blocks of different colors for a scrappy look.
Here's another alternating design using a chain block for the alternate block.
And another alternating design where the alternate block is a color modification of the main block - the light and dark squares are switched and the Half Square Triangle units are rotated.
Here is an alternating on-point layout that uses a simple chain block for the alternate block that extends into the setting triangles.
For this on-point layout a coordinating color is used for narrow sashing and cornerstones.
Conclusion:
The Alaska Homestead block was quick and easy to sew together. It's simplicity lends itself to creating interesting layouts using either scrappy or planned colors too! It's a great little block!
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 state-themed blocks? Take a look at these tutorials: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/tagged/state-blocks
P.P.S. Check out my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406