Change the size of quilt blocks by breaking down the block.

Over 80% of Traditional Quilt Blocks are made using a grid and basic units.

This article is about how easy it is to change the size of quilt blocks by breaking down the block.

Once you understand the grids and the basic units it is very easy to change the size of the blocks and the size of the quilt.

My Adjustable Rulers and Triangles are designed to make changing the units size and therefore the block size extremely easy, without needing to know the mathematical formulas.

The Adjustable Triangles use the measurement for the finished units - if the unit you require measures 3” x 3” all you have to do is set the tool the 3 it could not be simpler.

Using the Adjustable Triangles you can simply look at a block decide which grid is used and then decide what size you wish to make the block.

If we take a look at the Eccentric Star Block we can see that it is a
Nine Patch 3 x 3 Grid
Using 8 Half Square Triangle units
1 x Square.

We can make quilts of different sizes depending on the size of the unit we use.

The quilt shown below would be made using 16 blocks (4 x 4).

In the following, we will look at Basic Grids, Basic Units and some Four Patch - Nine Patch and Sixteen Patch blocks. I hope that this will encourage you to use with some of the blocks in the Family Reunion Quilt to make your own quilt design.

When using the Westalee Adjustable Rulers it is easy to make blocks in many sizes and design your own quilt block patterns or change the size of favourite blocks.

This is Part 1 where we take a look at the basic grid construction of blocks and the unit sizes.

BASIC BLOCK GRIDS

Traditional pieced block configurations can be easily defined by the number of units in the construction.

The more units used in the grid the more complicated the block. These are the basic grids - there are other grids that can be used.

Once you know the size and the grid of the block you wish to make, you then must work out the size of each unit.

This is very easy to work out.
6” x 6” finished Four Patch (2 x 2) 6” divided by 2 = 3” finished units
This block is made of 4 - 3” finished units

12” x 12” finished Four Patch (2x 2) 12” divided by 2 = 6” finished units
This block is made of 4 - 6” finished units

9” x 9” finished NIne Patch (3 x 3) 9” divided by 3 = 3” finished units
This block is made of 9 - 3” finished units

18” x 18” finished Thirty six Patch (6 x 6) 18” divided by 6 = 3” finished
This block is made of 36 - 3” finished units

Seam allowances are included in the Westalee Triangles, all you need to do is set the tool to the required finished size.
When cutting squares and rectangles, add half an inch (½”) for seam allowance.

Easy Reference Table

BASIC BLOCK UNITS

What are the basic pieced units?
The pieced units are the components blocks are made from.

SQUARE
a four sided unit with all sides of equal measurement. Use the Square to make a four patch unit.

RECTANGLE
The unit can be broken into any number of pieces to make up the unit

HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE
The Half Square Triangle Unit is made from 2 triangles joined diagonally

QUARTER SQUARE TRIANGLE
The Quarter Square Triangle Unit is made from 4 triangles joined diagonally

FLYING GEESE
The Flying Geese Unit is made using 1 Quarter Square Triangle and 2 Half Square Triangles

SQUARE IN A SQUARE
This unit a square surrounded by 4 Half Square Triangles

QUARTER SQUARE TRIANGLE with HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE
1 Half Square and 2 Quarter Square

SAMPLE FOUR PATCH

Here are just a few of the blocks that can be made using the FOUR PATCH grid and the basic units.

SAMPLE NINE PATCH GRID

QUARTER SQUARE TRIANGLE with HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE UNIT.

QUARTER SQUARE TRIANGLE with HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE UNIT.
SQUARES

QUARTER SQUARE TRIANGLE with HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE UNIT.
SQUARES

QUARTER SQUARE TRIANGLE with HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE unit.
QUARTER SQUARE TRIANGLE
RECTANGLES

QUARTER SQUARE TRIANGLE with HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE unit.
QUARTER SQUARE TRIANGLE
RECTANGLES

To make as a 6” x 6” finished block
The units are 2” x 2” finished units

To make as a 9” x 9” finished block
The units are 3” x 3” finished units

To make as a 15” x 15” finished block
The units are 5” x 5” finished units

Here are just a few of the block that can be made using the SIXTEEN PATCH grid
and QUARTER SQUARE TRIANGLE with HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE unit

To make as a 8” x 8” finished block
The units are 2” x 2” finished units

To make as a 12” x 12” finished block
The units are 3” x 3” finished units

To make as a 16” x 16” finished block
The units are 4” x 4” finished units

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