Prairie Queen Quilt Block

Simple is best for a Prairie Queen quilt block.

Quick pieced HST.

Strip pieced four patches.

Easy Peasy. 

On this page you'll find instructions to make this as a 4-1/2", 6", 9" or 12" finished block.

You may also know this patchwork design as 'True Blue'.

It's time to cut up and sew!

With RST, layer the #1 and #2 squares. Sew a 1/4" away from the center marked line. Repeat for the second pair.

Press flat to set the seam.

Cut both pairs apart along the center line (pink arrow).

Press with the SA toward the darker #2.

Here one pair of squares is cut in half and pressed.

Now check that your HST are the correct size using the chart below. If they're not (either because your stitching was a bit off or you cut larger patches as I did) trim them to the size shown in the chart below.

If your stitching is perfect, simply trim off the dog ears for neater patchwork.

HST Dimensions
Finished Block Size	Trim HST to…
4½"	2"
6"	2½"
9"	3½"
12"	4½"

After trimming, your HST look something like this.

Press, first flat to set the seam and then open with SA to the dark #4.

StripSet Widths
Finished Block Size	Stripset Width after stitching	SubCut Width Cut 8
4½"	2"	1¼"
6"	2½"	1½"
9"	3½"	2"
12"	4½"	2½"

Using the chart just above, check that your stripset is the correct width after stitching. Make any necessary adjustments now.

Straighten one short edge of the stripset by aligning a line on your ruler with the seamline (pink arrow). Cut off no more than a 1/4".

Subcut eight units from it at the width that corresponds to chosen block's finished size.

For the 4½" finished sample block, the subcuts are 1¼" wide. There's approximately 1" of scrap leftover.

With RST, sew each pair together. Feed them all through the sewing machine the same way—dark #4 patch on top through the machine first. 

You get a better match if the cut edge of the SA on the top patch feeds into your sewing machine first. It tends to push the seams together.

After chain stitching them together...

Press the four patches flat to set the seam.

Then twirl or spin the seam allowance. This reduces the bulk in the center of the patch.

If you feed all your units into the machine the same way, the seams all twirl exactly the same.

The 'twirl' direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) doesn't make much difference in a single block like our sample.

It's a whole other story if you choose to make a quilt of nothing but Prairie Queen blocks and set them edge to edge.

In that scenario, seams that twirl all in the same direction will all nest. Putting that quilt top together is so much quicker. So much easier.

With RST, stitch the HST and four patches in each row together, pressing SA in the direction of the arrows—away from your four patches.

To finish the block, stitch the rows together. Use pins to help match the seams if you need them.

From the front our Prairie Queen quilt block looks like this...

...and like this from the back. See how all the SAs nest.

The immediate result of twirling or fanning the SA is reduced bulk in the center of the four patches. 

An additional benefit reveals itself if you choose to make a quilt of only Prairie Queen blocks. The SA of the four patches automatically nest with adjacent ones when blocks are set edge-to-edge.

Nested SA make assembling the quilt top a breeze!