Learn to make the Duck and Ducklings Quilt Block 

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Skill Level: Beginner

Ready to spread your quilting wings? The Duck and Ducklings quilt block is your perfect launching pad!

Like a mother duck guiding her little ones, we'll navigate through every step of this classic block—from first cut to final press. Whether you're paper piecing or traditionally piecing the Birds in the Air units it is made of000, you'll be soaring with confidence before you know it.

Grab your ruler and rotary cutter. It's time to take flight! 🦆✈️

All seam allowances (SA) are 1/4" unless otherwise indicated.

To press, first press the pieced unit flat to set the seam. Then open the patch, pressing from the front. You may want to reduce or eliminate the use of steam for  paper pieced blocks. Steam tends to curl the paper.

For flatter quilt blocks, check out our favorite pressing technique. It works even with the foundation attached. Now THAT'S sweet!

✂️ Choose technique, size and then cut the patches

Sample Size: 5" finished / 5½" unfinished

Grid: 5x5

Attribution: Carrie Hall and Rose Kretsinger

AKA:   Corn and Beans (Carrie Hall and Rose Kretsinger), Ducklings (KC Star), Fox and Geese (Nancy Cabot), Handy Andy and Hen and Chickens and Shoo-fly (Carrie Hall and Rose Kretsinger), Wild Goose Chase (The Farmer's Wife and/or Carlie Sexton)

Brackman ID: 1859b

Design Type: Uneven 9-patch, small center

Cutting charts are provided for both paper (blue) and traditional (green) piecing methods.

Paper piecing patches are cut oversized to make it easy to position them properly the first time.

Navigation is key to success. Label your patches, as we'll reference them throughout your quilting journey.

Paper Piecing

To print a copy of the block design and cutting chart to use at your cutting table, click here.

			Cutting Chart for a Duck and Ducklings Quilt Block ~ Includes Paper Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size					Sub Cut
			5''	7½''	10''	12½''	15''
BitA-1	A	1	1⅞'' x 1⅞''	2⅜'' x 2⅜''	2⅞'' x 2⅞''	3⅜'' x 3⅜''	3⅞'' x 3⅞''
BitA-2, BitA-3, BitA-4	Bac	6	2⅜'' x 2⅜''	2⅞'' x 2⅞''	3⅜'' x 3⅜''	3⅞'' x 3⅞''	4⅜'' x 4⅜''
BitA-5	A	2	3⅜'' x 3⅜''	4⅜'' x 4⅜''	5⅜'' x 5⅜''	6⅜'' x 6⅜''	7⅜'' x 7⅜''
6	Bac	4	1½'' x 2½''	2'' x 3½''	2½'' x 4½''	3'' x 5½''	3½'' x 6½''	---
7	A	1	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3'' x 3''	3½'' x 3½''	---
Unfinished Block Size			5½''	8''	10½''	13''	15½''	na
Grid Size			1 ''	1½''	2''	2½''	3''	na

Traditional Piecing

To print a copy of the block design and cutting chart to use at your cutting table, click here.

			Cutting Chart for a Duck and Ducklings Quilt Block ~ Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size					Sub Cut
			5''	7½''	10''	12½''	15''
BitA-1	A	1	1⅞'' x 1⅞''	2⅜'' x 2⅜''	2⅞'' x 2⅞''	3⅜'' x 3⅜''	3⅞'' x 3⅞''
BitA-2, BitA-3, BitA-4	Bac	6	1⅞'' x 1⅞''	2⅜'' x 2⅜''	2⅞'' x 2⅞''	3⅜'' x 3⅜''	3⅞'' x 3⅞''
BitA-5	A	2	2⅞'' x 2⅞''	3⅞'' x 3⅞''	4⅞'' x 4⅞''	5⅞'' x 5⅞''	6⅞'' x 6⅞''
6	Bac	4	1½'' x 2½''	2'' x 3½''	2½'' x 4½''	3'' x 5½''	3½'' x 6½''	---
7	A	1	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3'' x 3''	3½'' x 3½''	---
Unfinished Block Size			5½''	8''	10½''	13''	15½''
Grid Size			1''	1½''	2''	2½''	3''

📥 Download and print the foundation patterns

You'll need the most current version of Adobe installed on your computer to download the pattern.

On the Adobe Print Menu page, under 'Page Size and Handling' set 'Custom Scale' to 100% before printing for accurate results. Click here to see what it looks like on the Print Menu page.

After printing, use the 1" square graphic on the printed pages to confirm they are printed accurately.

🪡 Time to Let Your Birds Take Flight!

Make 4

Let's piece 4 Birds in the Air units - the building blocks of our beautiful design! Pick the method that makes your quilting heart happy:

🦆 Paper piecing path: Soar this way to the Birds in the Air unit.

✨ Traditional technique: click here

When you are finished, click the 'Back button' on your browser to return here.

Regardless of the method you chose, after stitching you'll have four units that look something like this one.

🧩 Time for Your Block to Take Shape!

Ready to see your flock come together? Let's get those beautiful units organized:

1. 🎯 First, arrange your pieces in formation̵—just like ducks following their leader! (See layout diagram below)

Now for some smooth sailing: stitch those units into rows, following the arrow guides for pressing. (Your future self will thank you for those perfectly pressed seams!)

🦆 Time for the magic! Watch those seams nest together as you join your rows - it's like they're giving each other a perfect little hug!

Less bulk and perfect matching? Yes please!

Ta-da! Your Duck and Ducklings block is ready to spread its wings! ⭐️

Check out the back view. Those nested seams are a thing of beauty!

✨ From Duckling to High Flyer: Look How Far You've Come!

Your Duck and Ducklings block is proof that practice makes progress! 🦆 Keep reaching for those quilting stars—you've shown you have the skills to tackle any block that catches your eye. Every precise cut and careful press in this block has built your confidence for future quilting adventures. 🪡

Until we meet again, may your seams be smooth and your points precise! 🌟

📌 Don't let this Duck and Ducklings tutorial fly away!

 🦆 Like a mother duck keeping her little ones in formation, pin this now to keep all your favorite patterns safely gathered and ready for when it's time to spread your quilting wings! ✈️

Common Variations

These two blocks, while completely different from each other, are also called Duck and Ducklings.

This simple variation also goes by the name Aunt Kate's Choice. The side rectangles have been replaced with two squares. Find the complete tutorial here.

Same name, but a completely different block drawn on an 8x8 grid.

For even MORE blocks to make... 🧩🎨

...visit our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library, with over 230+ blocks to choose from in multiple sizes.

Free downloads are included in all sizes for any blocks require paper piecing patterns or templates.

This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com

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