How to Sew the Salt Lake City Quilt Block - a Lovely Traditional Pieced Block

Let's take a look at the Salt Lake City quilt block today. It is easier to sew together than you might think because I'll show you a simple method to piece that one complicated-looking component.

I didn't find any history on this block. Maybe it represents how Salt Lake City was laid out way back when but I don't know. Let's jump in!

Fabric Requirements for a 12" Finished Salt Lake City Quilt Block:

• Light/White: 2 - 4" squares, and 4 - 3.5" x 6.5" rectangles
• Center Focal Print: 1 - 6.5" square
• Medium/Blue: 8 - 3.5" squares
• Dark/Pink: 2 - 4" squares, and 8 - 3.5" squares

You don't have to use a focal print for the center - that's just my interpretation of the block. Traditionally, the center square is the same as the Medium/Blue fabric.

Sewing Directions:

Half Square Triangles:

Step 1:

Using the two Light/White 4" squares and the two Dark/Pink 4" squares, sew together four Half Square Triangle (HST) units. Press the seam allowance toward the Light/White fabric and trim the units to 3.5" square as shown by the bottom right HST in the picture below. You can find my detailed tutorial for making a basic Half Square Triangle block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block.

Double Flying Geese Units:

Step 2:

Now you can sew what I call a Double Flying Geese unit for lack of a better name. Basically, you will be using the same steps for a basic Flying Geese unit - just doing it twice!

Using eight Medium/Blue 3.5" squares and the four Light/White 3.5" x 6.5" rectangles, sew together four Flying Geese units. For a detailed tutorial of my no-trim method for making perfect Flying Geese blocks check out https://fabric406.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 Medium/Blue 3.5" squares.
• Sew a Medium/Blue square to the Light/White rectangle along the marked line (top image). Note the orientation of the marked line. Because these units are large, I also sewed about a 1/2" from the marked line so I can make a bonus HST.
• Match the corners of the Medium/Blue square and press (second image).
• Cut in between the two seam lines (third image).
• Refold (bottom image). Here you can see the little 2.5" bonus HST that I can add to my stash for a future quilt.

Step 3:

Repeat Step 2 on an adjacent corner. Make a total of four White/Blue Flying Geese units.

Step 4:

Here's where it gets fun! We're going to do the same steps as in Steps 2 and 3 but on the opposite corners.

• Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the Dark/Pink 3.5" squares.
• Sew a Dark/Pink square to a Step 3 Flying Geese unit along the marked line (top image). Note the orientation of the marked line. Because these units are large, I also sewed about a 1/2" from the marked line so I can make a bonus three-color patch.
• Match the corners of the Dark/Pink square and press (second image).
• Cut in between the two seam lines (third image).
• Refold (bottom image). Here you can see the little 2.5" bonus three-color patch that I can add to my stash for a future quilt.

Step 5:

Repeat Step 4 on the adjacent corner. Make a total of four Double Flying Geese units.

Putting It All Together:

Step 6:

Lay out the Half Square Triangle units, the Double Flying Geese units, and the Center Focal Print 6.5" square as shown in the picture 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 away from the Double Flying Geese units as shown in the picture below.

Step 9:

Now you can sew the three rows together to complete the block.

Step 10:

Finish up the block by pressing the seam allowances toward the center of the block as shown below.

Layout Ideas:

By turning the four corner Half Square Triangle patches, you can create a star block!

Here's the basic 4 x 4 layout using colors similar to this tutorial:

And with sashing and cornerstones added:

Of course I had to see what a scrappy version would look like!

In this example I used an alternating chain block to set off the Salt Lake City blocks.

Here's an on-point layout with sashing and cornerstones and plain setting triangles.

This on-point layout has a large Hourglass block as an alternating block. 

Conclusion:

I had fun with the Salt Lake City block. It went together smoothly and didn't take very long to do.

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 something a little easier? Take a look at these blocks: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/30-easy-quilt-block-tutorials-for-the-beginning-quilter

P.P.S. Check out my patterns I have for sale on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406