Box Quilt Pieced 12 x 12 finished size Though it looks more complicated, the Box Quilt block is a simple block to make of strips, squares and halfsquare triangles. It uses light and dark values for a 3-dimentional appearance. Many quilters store their fabric stashes in boxes (also called bins and tubs). Alternate Names and History Alternate names and history of the Box Quilt block are not readily available. There are at least two different blocks by this name and a Nancy Page variation of this block, published in the Nashville Banner on March 20, 1934 (The Quilter s Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer). Above diagrams reproduced from Electric Quilt 7. I wrote all the instructions and took photographs as I completed my block. There should be no copy write issues with regard to the distribution of this material. Instructions and photographs by Karen Lindley, July, 2013 1
Fabric requirements: Background: 1 fat quarter Neutral Color1: 2 ½ x 11 Dark Blue Color 2: 2 ½ x 9 ½ Light Blue Color 3: 2 ½ x 9 ½ Red Color 4: 2 ½ x 11 Light Rose Color 5: 2 ½ x 9 ½ Dark Purple Color 6: 2 ½ x 11 Light Purple Color 7: 2 ½ x 11 Deep Burgundy Color 8: 2 ½ x 9 ½ Light Pink Cutting: Before you begin cutting, snip a small corner of each fabric and glue it to this page, next to the color in the Fabric Requirements chart. Fabric Cut Size Number to Cut Piece (see drawing) Background 2 ½ x 2 ½ 4 B 3 ½ x 3 ½ 4 D Colors 1 through 8 2 x 5 1 (each color) A 2 x 3 ½ 1 (each color) C Color 1 (Dark Blue) 2 ½ x 2 ½ 1 B Color 4 (Light Rose) 2 ½ x 2 ½ 1 B Color 6 (Light Purple) 2 ½ x 2 ½ 1 B Color 7 (Deep Burgundy) 2 ½ x 2 ½ 1 B Sew all seams with a scant ¼. Half-Square Triangles: 1. Draw a light pencil line diagonally on each of the Background (B) 2 ½ squares. 2. Right sides together, align sides and corners of one Color (B) 2 ½ squares and a Background 2 ½ (B) square. 3. Sew ¼ on both sides of the drawn diagonal line. 4. Cut on the drawn diagonal line. 5. Open and press seam toward the dark fabric. 6. Repeat steps 1 through 5, pairing one Background and one Color 2 ½ square, for a total of 8 half-square triangles. Instructions and photographs by Karen Lindley, July, 2013 2
7. Lay out the half-square triangles, strips and squares as shown. 8. Turn one of the half-square triangles over onto the nearest half-square triangle. 9. Sew, carefully matching the seams to form a point. 10. Press this seam open. 11. Repeat steps 8 through 10, until all of the half-square triangles have been joined. 12. The triangle units should each measure 2 x 3 ½. Trim if necessary, but be very careful to leave ¼ at the point. Place the 1 ¾ mark of your ruler on the center seam line and trim from both sides. 13. Place the half-square triangle units back in the layout, carefully matching fabrics. Instructions and photographs by Karen Lindley, July, 2013 3
14. Sew 2 Color 2 x 3 ½ (C) rectangles together. 15. Repeat with second set of Color 2 x 3 ½ (C) rectangles. 16. Press seams open. 17. These units should measure 3 ½ x 3 ½. 18. Sew the Color (B) strips from steps 14-17 to the triangle units as shown. Stitch with the triangle piece on top. If necessary, use a pencil to mark the triangle point. Stitch just over the triangle point. Needle is going into the fabric at the top of the point. 19. Press seams toward the rectangles. 20. Place these completed units back in the layout, matching fabrics. 21. Repeat steps 14 through 20 with the 2 x 5 Color rectangles (A) and remaining triangle units. 22. These units should measure 3 ½ x 5. Instructions and photographs by Karen Lindley, July, 2013 4
Box Centers 1. Right sides together, sew one 3 ½ Background (D) and a Color 2 x 3 ½ (C) strip. 2. Repeat for all 4 of the 3 ½ Background (D) squares. 3. Press seams away from the 3 ½ Background (D) square. 4. The Box Center unit should measure 5 x 3 ½. 5. Place the Box Center units back in the layout, matching fabric. 6. Right sides together, sew the 2 x 5 Color (A) strips to the Box Center. 7. Press seams away from the box centers. 8. This unit should measure 5 x 5. 9. Repeat for the remaining 3 Box Center units. Instructions and photographs by Karen Lindley, July, 2013 5
Assembly: 1. At this point, you should have 8 assembled units: a. 4 Box Centers and b. 4 Triangle Units Triangle Unit 2 Box Center Unit 3 Triangle Unit B Box Center Unit 4 Box Center Unit 2 Triangle Unit A Box Center Unit 1 Triangle Unit 2 2. It is important to sew these assembled units in columns, as marked above. 3. Sew Box Center Unit 1 to Triangle Unit A (see labels above). 4. Press seams toward Box Center. 5. This unit should measure 5 x 8. 6. Sew Box Center Unit 2 to Triangle Unit A. Press seam toward Box Unit Center. Instructions and photographs by Karen Lindley, July, 2013 6
7. This column should measure 5 x 12 ½. 8. Continuing to sew in columns, a. Sew Box Center Unit 3 to Triangle Unit B (see labels in the diagram above). b. Press seams toward Box Center. This unit should measure 5 x 8. c. Sew Box Center Unit 4 to Triangle Unit B. Press seam toward Box Center. 5 x 12 ½ Instructions and photographs by Karen Lindley, July, 2013 7
9. Sew Triangle Unit 2 and Triangle Unit 4, matching seams. 10. Press seams open. You may need to remove a stitch where seams cross over. The result will be a miniature four-patch at the seam intersection. 11. This column should measure 3 ½ x 12 ½. 12. Sew the columns together, matching seams. 13. Press seams away from the center. 14. The finished block should measure 12 ½ x 12 ½. Instructions and photographs by Karen Lindley, July, 2013 8