Traditional Quilt Block - Castle Tower Tutorial

By: Elaine Huff

Today let's look at the traditional quilt block called Castle Tower. I really don't see a castle tower in the design but the original maker (whoever that might be) must have! The block is pretty easy to do with on two main components. Let's get started!

Fabric Requirements for a 9" Finished Traditional Castle Tower Quilt Block

Light/White: 1 - 3.5" square, and 20 - 2" squares
Medium/Green: 4 - 2" x 3.5" rectangles
Medium/Pink: 4 - 2" squares, and 4 - 2" x 3.5" rectangles
Dark/Green: 4 - 3.5" squares

Sewing Directions:

Square in a Square Units:

Step 1:

Using the 4 Dark/Green 3.5" squares, 12 of the Light/White 2" squares, and the 4 Medium/Pink 2" squares, sew together four Square in a Square units as shown in the picture below. You can find my tutorial for making a basic Square in a Square block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-square-in-a-square-block

Flying Geese Units:

Step 2:

Using the 4 Medium/Pink 2" x 3.5" rectangles, and the remaining 8 Light/White 2" squares, make four Flying Geese units like shown in the picture below. My tutorial showing my (easy) method for making Flying Geese blocks is at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block

Step 3:

Sew together one of the Step 2 Flying Geese units with a Medium/Green 2" x 3.5" rectangle as shown in the picture below. Press the seam allowance away from the Flying Geese unit. Repeat for a total of four units.

Putting It All Together:

Step 4:

Now all you need to do is sew the units together like you would a typical Nine Patch block.

Lay out the Light/White 3.5" square, the four Square in a Square units, and the four Step 3 units as shown in the picture below.

Step 5:

Sew the units together into three rows as you can see in the picture below.

Step 6:

Press the seam allowances toward the Square in a Square units as shown below.

Step 7:

Now you can sew the three rows together and you're done!

Step 8:

Well, you still need to press it! Press the seam allowances toward the center of the block as shown in the picture below.

Layout Ideas:

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

And this example is the same except I added sashing and cornerstones.

This is an alternating version. I used a simple two-color chain block for the alternate block.

And in this one, I used a large hourglass block for the alternating block.

Here's an on-point layout. I find it interesting that a Nine Patch is so obvious in the on-point layout.

This on-point layout has sashing, cornerstones, and setting triangles in a coordinating lighter green. I like this one best.

Conclusion:

This traditional Castle Tower quilt block is quite pretty and went together easily. The original block only used two contrasting colors and a light background fabric but, of course, I had to make it my own. In the original block, the Medium/Green and Dark/Green fabrics would have been the same fabric.

I hope you've enjoyed this traditional quilt block called Castle Tower! If you decide to make it, feel free to share a picture - I'd love to see it!

Happy Quilting!

Elaine

P.S. If you liked this post and want more quilting tutorials like this, simply click HERE and also receive a free PDF quilt pattern called "Chained Weathervane".