Twelve Inch Bow Tie Quilt Block Pattern
Learn how to make a Bow Tie Quilt Blocks with our free quilt block pattern. These blocks are a unique take on a traditional four patch block.
I’ve been slowly working on a sampler quilt made from twelve-inch quilt blocks. All of the blocks feature a monochromatic color scheme with gray background. I plan to turn them into a really fun and scrappy Sampler quilt!
The next block in my quilt is a Bow Tie Quilt block, and I’m happy to share a free pattern for the block with you if you’d like to sew along with me!
What is a Bow Tie Quilt Block?
A bow tie quilt block is a traditional block variation of a simple 4-patch quilt block.
It features a technique that many quilters call “snowballing.” It is also referred to as “clipping corners”.
This technique has you layer a small piece of fabric on a larger piece. A diagonal line is drawn on the smaller piece of fabric.
When stitched and trimmed, it produces the effect of “clipping” the corner of the block. It’s a straightforward technique that allows you to create quilt blocks that are more complex since you don’t have to worry about lining up seams at 45-degree angles.
Quilting Tip
Since this block features two large squares of fabric, it’s the perfect quilt block to show off some of your favorite novelty fabrics! You can easily fussy-cut the fabric to show off a unique illustration or portion of your fabric.
How to Make a Full Quilt Top with Bow Tie Blocks
I’ve included instructions in the printable pattern below to make an entire quilt top from bow tie quilt blocks. If you want to make a large quilt (72″ x 96″), you’ll need:
- 3 Yards Background Fabric
- 24 Fat Quarters of Fabric
The blocks can be arranged in one of two ways, all going the same direction.
You can also rotate some of the blocks to make a secondary pattern.
Twelve Inch Bow Tie Quilt Block Pattern
Equipment
supplies
- 1 Fat Quarter Print Fabric
- 1 Fat Quarter Solid Fabric
Instructions
Cutting:
- From Fabric A (Print Fabric) Cut:2 pieces 6 1/2” x 6 1/2”2 pieces 3” x 3”
- From Fabric B (Solid Fabric) Cut:2 pieces 6 1/2” x 6 1/2”
Step One: Snowball Corners
- Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the 3” x 3” pieces of Fabric A.
- Layer one 3” x 3” piece of Fabric A on top of one 6 1/2” x 6 1/2” piece of Fabric B as shown.
- Sew on the drawn line,
- Trim 1/4” on the OUTSIDE of the sewn line.
- Flip the fabric piece up and press it in place.
- Repeat
Step Two: Assemble
- Sew one unit created in Step One with one 6 1/2” x 6 1/2” piece of Fabric A as shown.
- Repeat.
- Sew the two units together to complete your block.
To Make a Whole Quilt
- If you would like to make an entire quilt with Bow Tie Blocks, use the following as a guide. Quilt Top: 72" x 96"Number of Blocks to Sew: 48Fat Quarters of Print Fabric Needed: 24 (you can get two blocks from one Fat Quarter).Solid Fabric Yardage: 3 yards
- Blocks set all the same direction.
- Blocks rotated.
More Bow Tie Quilt Block Ideas
This bright and cheerful Bow Tie block was made by Bev from Flamingo Toes.
Additional Types of Bow Tie Quilt Blocks & Quilt Patterns
The bow tie quilt blocks shared in this tutorial are traditional bow tie blocks.
If you’d like something that looks more like a bow tie, then you might like my Dad’s bow tie quilt pattern.
The pattern comes in two sizes. A twin quilt and a baby quilt. My daughter had this quilt on her dorm bed for many years. She used it so much that it’s now a bit worn. Even though it’s showing its age it’s still comforting to cuddle up underneath at night.
The pattern is all traditionally pieced. The circles in the center of the bow ties are appliqued on. You do not have to applique them by hand if you don’t want to. The pattern includes instructions to machine applique them as well.
You can find the pattern in the shop. It’s available in both print and pdf format.
Free 12″ Quilt Block Patterns
- Churn Dash Quilt Block
- Log Cabin Quilt Block
- Friendship Star Quilt Block
- Economy Block
- Shoo-Fly Quilt Block
- Bear Paw Quilt Block
- Maple Leaf Quilt Block
- Maple Star Quilt Block
- Nine Patch Quilt Block
- Turnstile Quilt Block
- Sawtooth Star Quilt Block
- Bow Tie Quilt Block
- Ohio Star Quilt Block
- Pinwheel Star Quilt Block
- Basket Quilt Block
- Heart Quilt Block
- Rail Fence Quilt Block
- Annie’s Choice Quilt Block
- Butterfly Cross Quilt Block
Can we talk about the fabric you used? So cute! Mermaids and tropical islands. I like!!
Hi, It’s Finding Neverland by Jill Howarth for Riley Blake. It’s out of print but she has another line coming out called Forever Neverland which has a very similar vibe!
Melissa – So glad you’re feeling better! Say, do you remember the name of the fabric with the mermaids and islands? (From the bow tie at the top of the article.) LOVE it – and getting your weekly updates. Thank you, Jeanie
Hi, It’s by Jill Howarth, it is out of print (i’m sewing from my scraps for this project) but she has another line called Forever Neverland coming out this year with a similar vibe.
It’s amazing this Block. Thank U XOXO
LOVE these simple blocks for teaching my 8 year old how to sew! She is doing one other Block of the Week with me with basic blocks and now SHE found this group by looking at my emails – smarty pants that she is! We will be starting this series in the next day or two – her sewing machine is going to have a work out but it keeps her busy when she can’t be out in the heat! Thank you SO much for providing patterns that learners can do and feel good about accomplishing – her dolls will have more quilts than they know what to do with – she thinks she needs ANOTHER American Girl doll since she has a new quilt to make – not happening!
Love the sew along. Thank you.