The Shaded Trail Quilt Block - a Free Tutorial for this Classic Block

Using four Light/White 3" squares and four Purple 3" squares, make Half Square Triangle units as shown. Here are the steps corresponding to the images in the picture below by going from left to right, top to bottom.

• Match up a White square and a Purple square right sides together. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the 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.
• Open up the patch and press the seam allowance toward the Purple fabric. 
• Square up/trim the units to 2.5" square. 

 

Repeat Step 1 for a total of eight White/Purple Half Square Triangle units as shown in the picture below.

 

Repeat Step 1 only using the four Burgundy 3" squares and the four Navy 3" squares for a total of eight Burgundy/Navy Half Square Triangle units.

 

Lay out four of the Step 3 HST units as shown in the picture below. Note the color placement!

 

Sew the units into two rows as shown below.

 

Press the seam allowances toward the Burgundy fabric. Notice how the seam allowances lay in the picture below.

 

Sew the two rows together to complete the Pinwheel unit.

 

Press the seam allowance. You can see in the picture below that I pressed using the tweak/twirl/furl method. Notice that the seam allowances all lay in a clockwise direction.

 

 

Lay out a White 2.5" square, two White/Purple HST units, and one Burgundy/Navy HST unit as shown in the picture below.

 

Repeat Steps 9 and 10 for a total of four Corner units.

 

Square in a Square Units: 

Step 12:

Using a White 4.5" square, two Purple 2.5" squares, a Burgundy 2.5" square, and a Navy 2.5" square "snowball" the corners of the White 4.5" square. I like to work on two opposite corners at a time. Click Square in a Square for a detailed tutorial on making this unit.

Here are the first steps using a Purple and a Navy 2.5" square:

• Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the 2.5" squares. 
• Sew a Purple square and the Navy square to the White square along the marked line (top left image). Note the orientation of the marked line.
• Match the corners of the 2.5" squares and press (top right image).
• Open up the 2.5" squares and trim the seam allowances (bottom left image).
• Refold (bottom right image).

Step 13:

Repeat Step 12 on the two remaining corners only substituting a Burgundy 2.5" square for the Navy 2.5" square. Repeat for a total of four Square in a Square units like the ones in the picture below.

Putting It All Together:

Step 14:

Lay out the Center Pinwheel unit, the Corner units, and the Square in a Square units as shown in the picture below. From here the block goes together like a basic Nine Patch block. 

Step 15:

Sew the units into three rows.

Step 16:

Press the seam allowances toward the Square in a Square units.

Step 17:

Sew the three rows together to complete the block.

Step 18:

Press the seam allowances toward the outside of the block as shown below.

Layout Ideas:

This is the basic 4 x 4 layout in colors similar to the tutorial. I like the diamond shapes that appear between blocks!

And this is the same layout but with sashing and cornerstones added.

This is an example of the traditional coloring of the block. 

This version has an interesting pieced sashing that completes the diamond shape of the block. You could leave out the blue square cornerstone and then you'd have a nice large blank space to do some fancy quilting!

After I got the block sewn, I thought maybe I should have switched the burgundy and purple. This is an example of what that block would have looked like with a simple chain block as the alternating block.

This is an on-point layout. What a different look!

For this layout I used four colors in the block (2 peaches and 2 aquas) and a dark peach color for the sashing, cornerstones, and setting triangles.

Finally, here's another alternating block arrangement. I really like the chain block (may have to do this one for my next tutorial)!

Conclusion:

So I had a bit of fun with the layouts for this block. Lots of possibilities with color choices and layouts! And I didn't even get to a scrappy block!

The block only uses HSTs and Square in a Square units so it's fairly easy to sew. However, there are a lot of seams and getting those points "pointy" was a challenge. I recently heard someone say that "if it looks good from the 50 yard line, it's fine". This was in reference to sewing flags for a marching band that was performing at an American football game but I think it works here too!

You could do this block entirely by HST (and four squares). That might make it easier to get nice points. 

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 12" blocks? Check out this link: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/tagged/12-blocks

P.P.S. Check out my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406