Twelve Inch Basket Quilt Block Pattern; A Step By Step Guide
Learn how to create a simple Basket Quilt block using squares and half-square triangles with our free Basket Quilt Block Pattern.
Over the last few years, I’ve been slowly creating a Sampler quilt made with a gray background and colorful quilt blocks.
I’m sticking to mostly traditional block designs that have been around for a long time. As I create the blocks in the quilt, I’m sharing free quilt block patterns for the blocks with you!
Sampler Quilt Details
- All Blocks are 12” x 12” finished
- Background fabric is Iron by Riley Blake Designs
- Print fabrics are from my fabric collections through the years
- Most blocks are monochromatic
- I’m creating the quilt from my scrap bin, so I don’t have specific fabric requirements to share with you.
- The final layout is yet to be determined!
- Fabric for this block is from my Bluegrass Charm collection.
About Basket Quilt Blocks
Basket quilt blocks are classic patchwork designs that mimic the shape of a woven basket, often filled with flowers or created with simple triangles and squares. They date back to the 19th century and are popular in both traditional and modern quilting.
(Basket Quilt Block Pattern in the Society Sparkler Quilt Pattern)
Variations range from simple half-square triangle arrangements to more intricate appliqué or pieced versions. Basket blocks are versatile, making them a favorite choice for sampler quilts and projects that celebrate traditional quilting heritage.
The basket quilt block I’m sharing a free pattern for today is a straightforward basket block; it doesn’t contain any “extra” elements like flowers or appliqué, and is constructed using all squares and half-square triangles.
Twelve Inch Basket Quilt Block Pattern
Equipment
supplies
- 1 Fat Quarter Background Fabric
- 1 Fat Quarter Print Fabric A Green
- 1 Scrap Print Fabric B Blue; at least 4” x 4”
Instructions
Cutting:
- Background Fabric (BK): 3 pieces 4” x 4” 2 pieces 3 1/2” x 6 1/2” 4 pieces 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”
- Fabric A (Green): 2 pieces 4” x 4” 3 pieces 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”
- Fabric B (Blue): 1 piece 4” x 4”
Step One: Create Half-Square Triangles (HST)
- Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all 3 of your 4” x 4” pieces of BK fabric. Layer one 4” x 4” piece of BK fabric with one 4” x 4” piece of Fabric A, right sides facing.
- Sew 1/4” on each side of the drawn line. Cut apart along the drawn line. Flip the fabric open and press.
- Trim and square up to 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”. You should have two BK/Fabric A Half-Squares Triangles (HSTs).
- Repeat one more time with the remaining 4” x 4” fabric A piece and one more time with the 4” x 4” Fabric B piece.
Step Two: Assembly Part One
- Sew the following pieces together in order:
- Row 1:3 1/2” x 3 1/2” BK FabricBK/Fabric A HSTBK/Fabric A HST
- Row 2:BK/Fabric A HST3 1/2” x 3 1/2” BK Fabric3 1/2” x 3 1/2” Fabric A
- Row 3:BK/Fabric A HST3 1/2” x 3 1/2” Fabric A3 1/2” x 3 1/2” Fabric A
- Row 4:3 1/2” x 6 1/2” BK FabricBK/Fabric B HST
- Press all seams, then sew the rows to each other.
Step Three: Assembly Part Two
- Sew the following pieces together in order:3 1/2” x 6 1/2” BK FabricFabric B HST3 1/2” x 3 1/2” BK Fabric
- Press the seams and sew this unit to the right side of the unit created in Step Two to complete the block.
More Twelve Inch Quilt Block Patterns
If you’d like to sew along, here are the other block patterns I’ve shared for my sampler quilt.
- 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
Easy peasy.,