Stripes quilt block
Alternating bands across the block. Structurally the simplest thing in the library, and useful as a quiet field between busier blocks.
Also known as Strip Block, Roman Stripe.
Strip-pieced bands are the oldest and most economical form of patchwork — a way of joining usable lengths of cloth without cutting them into shapes. Roman Stripe and Chinese Coins are named quilt settings built from nothing else.
Stripes 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 | Rectangle | 6½" × 2" | 2 | finishes 6" × 1½" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 6½" × 2" | 2 | finishes 6" × 1½" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Rectangle | 9½" × 2¾" | 2 | finishes 9" × 2¼" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 9½" × 2¾" | 2 | finishes 9" × 2¼" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Rectangle | 10½" × 3" | 2 | finishes 10" × 2½" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 10½" × 3" | 2 | finishes 10" × 2½" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Rectangle | 12½" × 3½" | 2 | finishes 12" × 3" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 12½" × 3½" | 2 | finishes 12" × 3" |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Rectangle | 15½" × 4¼" | 2 | finishes 15" × 3¾" |
| Dark | Rectangle | 15½" × 4¼" | 2 | finishes 15" × 3¾" |
How it goes together
Strips sewn along their length and crosscut to size. Press seams consistently in one direction so blocks nest when joined.
Tips
- Alternate the direction you sew each strip onto the set, or the whole set will bow into a curve.
- Rotating alternate blocks ninety degrees turns plain stripes into a basketweave.
- Useful as a resting place in a sampler quilt, between blocks that are working hard.
How much fabric for a Stripes quilt?
Yardage for a whole quilt of Stripes 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 ⅞ yd · Dark ⅞ yd | 2½ yd | ⅜ yd |
| Throw 60×72 | 30 | 60" × 72" | Background 2¼ yd · Dark 2¼ yd | 3⅞ yd | ½ yd |
| Queen 90×108 | 72 | 96" × 108" | Background 5¼ yd · Dark 5¼ 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:
Stripes questions
How do I stop my strip set from curving?
Sew each successive strip in the opposite direction from the last. Sewing every seam the same way is what bows the set.