Basket Quilt Block Pattern

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How to Sew a Basket Quilt Block

The Basket quilt block is a classic design featuring a basket filled with flowers. It’s a charming and traditional block that adds warmth to any quilt project.

Materials:

• Basket fabric (brown or tan)
• Handle fabric (brown or tan)
• Flower fabric (various colors)
• Background fabric (white or cream)
• Quilting ruler, cutting mat & rotary cutter
• Sewing machine, thread & pins
• Iron and ironing board

Cut your fabric:

• Basket fabric: one 3½" × 6½" rectangle and two 1½" × 6½" strips
• Handle fabric: one 1½" × 6½" strip
• Flower fabric: four 2½" squares
• Background fabric: one 6½" square

Instructions:

1. Sew the two 1½" × 6½" basket strips to either side of the 3½" × 6½" basket rectangle. Press seams open.
2. Sew the 1½" × 6½" handle strip to the top of the basket. Press seam open.
3. Sew two flower squares together along one side, right sides facing. Repeat with the other two. Press seams open.
4. Sew the two sets of flower squares together along one side. Press seam open.
5. Cut the flower block in half diagonally, from corner to corner.
6. Place the flower triangles on either side of the basket handle, right sides facing. Pin and sew. Press seams open.
7. Trim the block to 6½" square.
8. Sew the basket block to the 6½" background square, right sides facing. Sew around all four sides. Press seams open.

Repeat to make as many Basket blocks as needed. Arrange them in any pattern to create a beautiful traditional quilt!

Making Half-Square Triangles

This technique eliminates the need to directly manipulate the stretchy bias of the triangle. It uses two easy-to-cut squares to produce two half-square triangles.

On the back of the lighter fabric, draw a pencil line diagonally from corner to corner.

Stack a pair of light and dark squares right sides together. Sew a ¼" seam allowance on each side of the line.

You will end up with something like this:

Now cut along the diagonal line.

Press the seam to set it, then press toward the darkest fabric.

To trim to the exact size, line up the 45° diagonal on your ruler with the seam.

Then carefully trim your block with a rotary cutter.

Four Patch Piecing

The secret to a perfect four patch is pressing seams so they butt together when joined.

Cut two A squares and two B squares in your required size. Using chain piecing, join an A square to a B square, right sides together, with a scant ¼" seam allowance. Press toward the dark fabric. Your result:

Press all seams toward the dark fabric so they butt up. Place the two A/B units right sides together with butted seams, pin if needed, and join with a scant ¼" seam allowance. Press.

Wider Application

This technique applies to all kinds of four patch blocks. As long as a block has a 4×4 grid, the basic principles apply. Keep pressing seams in pairs of opposite directions and piecing will be smooth sailing.

Hidden Squares Technique

Sew the squares together.

Mark the wrong side of the unit with a pencil line aligning the corners of the squares and the intersection of the seams.

Line up the corner of the square or triangle you will add to the corner of the unit:

Sew a seam one thread’s width from the marked line — this tiny allowance makes room for the fold of the fabric so the point isn’t cut off the triangle. Then fold the triangle into position using the squares to assist alignment, and press.

Trim away excess fabric to reduce bulk, leaving a ¼" seam, and trim the ears.

How to Resize Quilt Blocks

The first step in modifying any quilt block is to decide on the finished size. You can base this on doubling a pattern, cutting it in half, or working with your available fabric.

Important: Always remove the seam allowance before doubling or tripling the size. For example, if your pattern calls for 3½" squares, subtract the seam allowances (½"), double the finished block size (3" → 6"), then add the seam allowance back (½"). You’ll end up cutting a 6½" piece of fabric.

Resizing Square Blocks

Add ½" to your desired finished block measurement. For a 4" finished square, cut a 4½" square of fabric.

Resizing Rectangular Blocks

Add ½" to both the length and width. To double a block that measures 3" × 4", cut a 6½" × 8½" rectangle of fabric.

Resizing Half-Square Triangle Blocks

Add ⅞" to the desired finished block size. For a 4" finished block, cut 4⅞" squares.

Resizing Quarter-Square Triangle Blocks

Add 1¼" to the desired finished block size. For a 4" finished block, cut your squares 5¼".