Hour Glass Quilt Block Instructions

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These abbreviations are used on this page:

• SA - seam allowance
• RST - right sides together
• HST - half square triangles
• SiaS - square in a square
• BAC - background fabric

SA are 1/4" and pressed toward the darker fabric unless noted.

Step 1: Choose the size, technique and cut the patches

Hour Glass design

Sample Size: 6" finished / 6½" unfinished

Grid: 4x4

Attribution: Nancy Page

Design Type: Uneven 9-patch, large center

The blue chart is for paper pieced blocks. The dimensions in that chart are cut generously to make the assembling the units almost foolproof.

The pink one is for traditional methods that include Folded corners and a no waste technique for Flying Geese.

Choose one or the other. Each is a complete cutting chart for the block.

HSTs are quick pieced for both alternatives and the cutting dimensions are exact.

My preference is to add an additional 1/4" to shown dimensions for Patch #1 and #1 (they are marked with '**') to make them oversized, stitch the units and cut them down to the 'Trim HSTs to...' size listed in the chart.

Perfectly sized units make for blocks that nearly put themselves together on their own.

Now that's MY KIND of quilting!

			Cutting Chart for an Hour Glass Quilt Block ~ Paper Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size			Sub Cut
			4”	6”	8”
1**	A	2	1⅞" x 1⅞"	2⅜" x 2⅜"	2⅞" x 2⅞"	---
2**	BAC	2	1⅞" x 1⅞"	2⅜" x 2⅜"	2⅞" x 2⅞"	---
Center	BAC	1	1⅞" x 1⅞"	2⅝" x 2⅝"	3⅜" x 3⅜"	---
Corner	A	2	2⅜" x 2⅜"	2⅞" x 2⅞"	3⅜" x 3⅜"
Goose	B	1	3⅝" x 3⅝"	4⅝" x 4⅝"	5⅝" x 5⅝"
Sky	BAC	4	2⅜" x 2⅜"	2⅞" x 2⅞"	3⅜" x 3⅜"
Unfinished Block Size			4½"	6½"	8½"	--
Grid Size			1"	1½"	2"	---
Trim HSTs to...			1½"	2”	2½"	---
Trim Flying Geese to...			1½" x 2½"	2” x 3½"	2½" x 4½"	---
Trim Square in a Square to...			2½"	3½"	4½"	---
**I prefer to cut my patches extra large for HST, stitch, and then trim them to size. If you prefer to do the same, add a bit extra to the measurements for Patches #1 and #2 above.

For the 8" finished Hour Glass above, the 'Center' and 'Corner' are both cut 3-3/8" x 3-3/8", that is not a typo.

Step 2: Download foundation patterns

If you cut from the pink chart, skip this step. Otherwise print the foundation patterns from the chart below.

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.

Measure the 1" square on the printed pattern to confirm it is the correct size.

Chart for Printing Paperpiecing

Step 3: Assemble the units for your Hour Glass

Flying Geese

Make 4

Click the link below for detailed instructions to make these units based on the patches you cut:

• Paperpiecing

• No Waste Flying Geese

Hit the 'Back" button on your computer's browser bar to return here when you are finished.

Use the Cutting Chart in Step 1 to check that your Flying Geese are the correct size—the rows are highlighted in yellow. Trim as needed.

Irrespective of the technique you used, you will end up with four Flying Geese like this...

HSTs

Make 4

Draw a diagonal line on the back of the two #2 squares. (I switch fabrics around all the time. So...if these are not the lighter of your #1 and #2 patches, then mark the backs of the lightest fabric so it's easiest to see the line.)

With RST, layer a #1 and #2 patch. Sew a 1/4" away from the drawn line on both sides.

Square in a Square

Make 1

Choose the method to match the patches you cut for detailed instructions:

• Paperpiecing

• Folded Corners

Hit the 'Back" button on your computer's browser bar to return here when you are finished.

Use the Cutting Chart in Step 1 to check that your SiaS is the correct size—the rows are highlighted in yellow. Trim as needed.

This finished unit looks like this.

Step 4: Assemble your Hour Glass quilt block

Arrange the pieced patches into the Hour Glass design.

You've noticed, of course, that even though this Hour Glass is drawn on a 4x4 grid, we put it together like an uneven 9-patch.

Variations on the Hour Glass design

The following blocks are all based on this basic Hour Glass quilt block design, though none are called an 'hour glass'.

Connecticut

A two color block with some of the lights and darks reversed.

AKA: Mosaic #16

Signature

The SIAS is swapped out of the center for another unit, the perfect place to put, what else?

A signature!

The Cypress

The SIAS is replaced with a solid patch. As an 8" block, this would be the perfect place to showcase some of your 4" machine embroidery designs.

Canadian Gardens

A fourth color is added to the original patchwork design.

Same name, different block

'Hourglass' is a unbelievably common name for quilt blocks. The ones shown below are know as Hourglass quilt blocks, too.

Use your cursor to click on the colored illustrations to go to instructions on how to make that particular version of the Hourglass or additional names for the block.

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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