The Traditional Arrowheads Quilt Block - Free Tutorial for this Classic Block

Let's take a look at the Arrowheads quilt block by Nancy Page. It also is called Crow's Foot by the Ladies Art Company. There are lots of pieces and steps to this block but it finishes at 16" square so not many blocks are needed to make a good sized quilt! Let's get started!

Fabric Requirements for a 16" Finished Arrowheads (or Crow's Foot) Quilt Block:

• Light/White: 1 - 4.5" squares, and 28 - 2.5" squares
• Medium/Blue: 4 - 4.5" squares, and 4 - 3" squares
• Dark/Blue: 4 - 3" squares, and 12 - 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles
• Yardage: 1 yard of each color will make approximately 8 blocks

Sewing Directions:

Half Square Triangle Units:

Step 1:

Using the Medium/Blue and Dark/Blue 3" squares sew together Half Square Triangle (HST) units. You can find my detailed tutorial for making a basic HST at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block. Press the seam allowance toward the Dark/Blue fabric and trim the unit to 2.5" square.

Step 2:

Repeat Step 1 for a total of 8 Half Square Triangle units like the ones in the picture below. You can also find a 8-at-a-time method for making HSTs at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/two-easy-methods-for-making-half-square-triangle-quilt-blocks

Flying Geese Units:

Step 3:

Using the Dark/Blue 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles and Light/White 2.5" squares, make a Flying Geese unit. You can find my detailed tutorial using my no-trim method for making Flying Geese at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block. In the picture below you can see the first four steps.

Step 4:

And here you can see the last four steps. 

Step 5:

Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for a total of 8 units.

Step 6:

Layout two of the Step 5 Flying Geese patches and one Dark/Blue 2.5" x 4.5" rectangle as shown in the picture below. Note that the points of the Flying Geese patches go in the same direction.

Step 7:

Now you can sew the patches together and press the seam allowance toward the Dark/Blue rectangle as shown below.

Step 8:

Repeat Steps 6 and 7 for a total of four Flying Geese units like the ones below.

Corner Units:

Step 9:

Using the picture below as a reference, match up a Step 2 Half Square Triangle unit with a Light/White 2.5" square and sew together. Note the direction of the diagonal seam. Press the seam allowance toward the Light/White square as shown.

Step 10:

Repeat Step 9 for a total of four units like the ones in the picture below.

Step 11:

Repeat Step 9 only change the direction of the diagonal seam of the Half Square Triangle as shown in the picture below.

Step 12:

You also need four Step 11 units as shown below.

Step 13:

Here is a picture of all eight of these units.

Step 14:

Lay out a Medium/Blue 4.5" square, a Step 10 unit, a Step 12 unit, and a Light/White 2.5" square as shown in the picture below.

Step 15:

Sew the patches into two rows and press the seam allowances away from the Step 10 and Step 12 units as shown.

Step 16:

Sew the two rows together and press the seam allowance away from the Medium/Blue 4.5" square as shown in the picture below.

Step 17:

Repeat Steps 14 through 16 for a total of four Corner units.

Putting It All Together:

Step 18:

Almost done! Lay out the Light/White 4.5" square, the Flying Geese units, and the Corner units as shown in the picture below. From here the block goes together like a typical Nine Patch quilt block.

 

Step 19:

Sew the units into three rows.

Step 20:

Press the seam allowances away from the Flying Geese units as shown in the picture below.

Step 21:

Sew the three rows together and...

Step 22:

Press the seam allowances. As you can see in the picture below, I've pressed toward the center of the block. This will make the seams nest nicely when sewing multiple blocks together. You're done! Whew!

Layout Suggestions:

Here's a basic 4 x 4 layout using purple fabrics. 

 

And here is the same layout as above except with sashing and cornerstones added.

Look what happens when a pieced sashing is used! Cute!

In this example a simple chain block is alternated with the Arrowheads block.

Here's an on-point layout using the pieced sashing and cornerstones.

Also an on-point layout with the alternating chain block and plain setting triangles.

I played around with a different alternating block. You could put embroidery, applique or fancy quilting in the open squares.

And here's a different coloring with an on-point layout and an alternating block.

Conclusion:

While there were lots of pieces and steps for the Arrowheads (or Crow's Foot) quilt block, it was fairly easy. The Flying Geese units were the hardest and the no-trim method makes them much easier to sew. I love all the different layouts I came up with - it was fun playing with the 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. For other Nine Patch quilt blocks, check out https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/tagged/nine-patch-blocks

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