Rail Fence Quilt Block Pattern

The Rail Fence quilt block (aka Fence Post quilt block) is classically simple—strips are sewn together into blocks which are then alternated.

If you can sew a good quarter inch seam, you're ready to go.

If you can't, this is the place to build your skill set because the block is so forgiving.

Make a Rail Fence Quilt Block

To start, choose either a finished block size or a finished strip size.

The great thing about a Rail Fence quilt is that you are in charge of the complexity, simple though it may be!

You need to watch out for one thing.

Divide the finished block size by the number of strips you plan to use. If that number is in whole numbers or fourths or eighths, you're ready to start cutting.

Now let's get busy.

Using the information on the chart, a 5" block (5-1/2" unfinished) can be made from the following rotary-friendly combinations of quantity/finished strip width.

• Ten  /  1/2"
  
• Five  /  1"
  
• Four  /  1-1/4"
  
• Two  /  2-1/2"
  

Let's use the five 1" finished strips.

Cut two 1-1/2" segments from both the dark and medium fabrics and one at 1-1/2" from the lightest fabric. Remember we need to add seam allowances—¼" to both sides of the strip.

Rarely will a quilt block require just one Rail Fence unit.

To economize on fabric cut your strips to a length equal to the unfinished block size times the number of units you need. Then add an extra 1/2" to 1" for squaring up the strip set.

In our example, we'll make four 5-1/2" unfinished Rail Fence blocks. We will cut our pieces:

Press each of the strip sets (SS) in the closed position to set the seam. Then press the seam allowance (SA) towards the darker fabric.

Since the only seams to match are at the intersection of the blocks—it really doesn't matter which direction they are pressed in.

However, here pressing to the dark means there's no chance one fabric will shadow through the other.

By pressing as you go, there's less tendency to press a tuck into the strip set. It's much easier to get at the seam with your iron.

Step 3

With RST, stitch the light strip to the medium fabric of one of the SS.

As you did in Step 2 press first to set the seam and then with the SA towards the medium fabric to avoid shadowing.

With RST, stitch the medium fabric of the second strip set to the other side of the light strip, pressing as before.

At this point, the pieced unit is 5-1/2" wide (the medium and light strips are 1", and the dark strips are 1-1/4").

If it's just a wee bit wider than 5-1/2" you can trim it down with your rotary cutter. If it is significantly larger or smaller, use your ruler to identify the problem and resolve it.

If your seam allowance is too small, your block will be too big. If it is to big, your Rail Fence quilt block will be too small.

Now cut the unit into four 5-1/2" wide blocks.

The four Rail Fence quilt blocks are finished and look like this.