Rocky Mountain Chain Quilt Block - a Free Tutorial
The Rocky Mountain Chain block uses easy pieced patches that join to form a complex-looking block. Let's create one using four colors! The traditional block only uses a light and dark fabric but I had to do it my own way!
This block also goes by the name "Tumbling Block" but so does another popular block that is more commonly known. So I'm sticking with Rocky Mountain Chain which was how it appeared in the Hearth and Home publication.
Fabric Requirements for a 10" Finished Rocky Mountain Chain Quilt Block:
- Light/White: 4 - 3" squares, 8 - 1.5" x 2.5" rectangles, and 16 - 1.5" squares
- Medium/Orange: 4 - 3" squares
- Medium/Blue: 5 - 2.5" squares
- Dark/Navy: 8 - 2.5" squares
Sewing Directions:
Half Square Triangle Units:
Step 1:
Using the Light/White 3" squares and the Medium/Orange 3" squares, piece together eight Half Square Triangles like the ones in the picture below. Trim/square up to 2.5" squares. You can find the 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
Square in a Square Units:
Step 2:
Using four of the Dark/Navy 2.5" squares and the 16 Light/White 1.5" squares, sew together four Square in a Square patches as shown in the picture below. I know these are small, but just take your time and they'll turn out great! You will find the basic Square in a Square tutorial at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-square-in-a-square-block
Step 3:
Lay out one of the Step 2 Square in a Square patches and two of the Light/White 1.5" x 2.5" rectangles as shown below.
Step 4:
Sew the two Light/White 1.5" x 2.5" rectangles to the Square in a Square patch and press the seam allowance toward the rectangle as shown in the picture below. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for a total of four Square in a Square units.
Corner Units:
Step 5:
Lay out two Half Square Triangle units, one Medium/Blue 2.5" square, and one Dark/Navy 2.5" square as shown in the picture below. The Corner unit goes together like a typical Four Patch block.
Step 6:
Sew the patches into two rows and press the seam allowances away from the Half Square Triangle units as shown below.
Step 7:
Now sew the two rows together and press the seam allowances. You can see in the picture below that I used the tweak/twirl/furl method for pressing the seam allowances, but you can press however you prefer. Repeat Steps 5 through 7 for a total of four Corner units.
Putting It All Together:
Step 8:
Lay out the Square in a Square units, the Corner units, and a Medium/Blue 2.5" square as shown in the picture below.
Step 9:
All that's left is to sew the units together like a uneven Nine Patch. Sew the units into three rows as shown below.
Step 10:
Press the seam allowances away from the Square in a Square units as shown below.
Step 11:
Almost done! Sew the three rows together - and...
Step 12:
Press the seam allowances toward the center of the block as shown in the picture below.
Layout Options:
Here's just a Plain Jane 4 x 4 layout using colors similar to the tutorial. I do like the way it looks in a quilt.
Here's how it looks with a simple sashing and cornerstone layout. Each block shines on its own in this type of layout.
This is an example of an alternating layout where every other block creates a diamond design in the quilt.
Here's a variation on the above alternating design. I changed the light and dark placement of colors to create a different look.
Here is another alternating version using a Framed Nine Patch block for the alternate block.
And here's a basic on-point monochromatic layout. I used the medium toned aqua for the setting triangles.
This is an on-point alternating example that creates as diamond design between the block. The alternate block is continued into the setting triangles.
And here we have an on-point layout with sashing and cornerstones. In this example, I used a 1" wide sashing and I like it better than the 2" in the other example above.
Conclusion:
This block was fun to piece together! While it has a some small pieces, the units are easy and produce a complex-looking block.
I hope you've enjoyed this Rocky Mountain Chain quilt block tutorial. 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. Looking for more easy blocks? Take a look at these fun block tutorials: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/tagged/tutorials_beginning-blocks
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
P.P.P.S. Check out my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406