Bow Tie quilt block
Two corner squares and a knot, reading as a bow tie against a plain background — a small scrappy block with a lot of personality.
Also known as Necktie, True Lover's Knot.
Bow Tie is a nineteenth-century scrap block that stayed popular through the 1930s feedsack era, when a two-fabric block that used tiny pieces was exactly what quilters needed. Traditional versions insert a small centre square set on point as the knot; simplified versions, like this one, imply the knot with the diagonal seam.
Bow Tie cutting chart
Cut sizes include a ¼″ seam allowance: ½″ on squares and rectangles, ⅞″ on half-square triangles, and 1¼″ on quarter-square triangles. Pick a finished block size:
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 1 | cut once on the diagonal → 2 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 3⅞" × 3⅞" | 1 | cut once on the diagonal → 2 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 3½" × 3½" | 2 | finishes 3" × 3" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 5⅜" × 5⅜" | 1 | cut once on the diagonal → 2 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 5⅜" × 5⅜" | 1 | cut once on the diagonal → 2 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 5" × 5" | 2 | finishes 4½" × 4½" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 5⅞" × 5⅞" | 1 | cut once on the diagonal → 2 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 5⅞" × 5⅞" | 1 | cut once on the diagonal → 2 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 5½" × 5½" | 2 | finishes 5" × 5" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 6⅞" × 6⅞" | 1 | cut once on the diagonal → 2 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 6⅞" × 6⅞" | 1 | cut once on the diagonal → 2 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 6½" × 6½" | 2 | finishes 6" × 6" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | HST square | 8⅜" × 8⅜" | 1 | cut once on the diagonal → 2 triangles |
| Dark | HST square | 8⅜" × 8⅜" | 1 | cut once on the diagonal → 2 triangles |
| Dark | Square | 8" × 8" | 2 | finishes 7½" × 7½" |
How it goes together
Two dark squares in opposite corners against two background pieces, with the diagonal doing the work. Set four blocks together with their ties pointing inward and a new circular motif appears.
Tips
- Rotate four blocks so the ties face the centre — the secondary pattern is much better than the block alone.
- It is an ideal use for very small scraps because each block needs only one fabric plus background.
- Keep the background consistent across the whole quilt or the ties stop reading as a set.
How much fabric for a Bow Tie quilt?
Yardage for a whole quilt of Bow Tie blocks, computed the way the studio does it — every piece packed across a 40″ usable width with 10% added for waste.
| Quilt size | Blocks | Finished | Top fabric | Backing | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby 36×48 | 12 | 36" × 48" | Background ¾ yd · Dark 1½ yd | 2½ yd | ⅜ yd |
| Throw 60×72 | 30 | 60" × 72" | Background 1⅜ yd · Dark 3¼ yd | 3⅞ yd | ½ yd |
| Queen 90×108 | 72 | 96" × 108" | Background 3¼ yd · Dark 8 yd | 8¾ yd | ⅞ yd |
What it looks like in a quilt
A single block only tells you half the story. Set sixteen of them together and the secondary pattern appears where the blocks touch:
Bow Tie questions
Is Bow Tie a beginner block?
Yes, in this simplified form. The traditional version with an inset knot square requires a set-in seam and is considerably harder.