Ruins of Jericho Quilt Block

From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library

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Skill Level: Beginner

The Ruins of Jericho quilt block is a snap to cut. It stitches up even faster!

Simple half square triangles, a bit of strip piecing and a handful of solid squares—this block practically sews itself.

Add a bit of embroidery, by either hand or machine, or perhaps a simple applique to up the 'WOW' factor of this uncomplicated patchwork design.

Let's get started before the walls of Jericho come a-tumblin' down!

The Ruins of Jericho quilt block tutorial starts here.

📋 General Instructions

If you need help printing this tutorial, you'll find it here.

These abbreviations are used in this tutorial:

SA - seam allowance
RST - right sides together
HST - half square triangle
BAC - background fabric

Seam allowances (SA) are 1/4" and are pressed to the dark unless otherwise noted.

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Step 1: Cutting a Ruins of Jericho quilt block

Ruins of Jericho design

Sample Size: 8" finished / 8½" unfinished

Grid: 8x8

Attribution: Nancy Cabot

Design Type: Uneven 9-patch, large center

Patches #1 and #2 are used to make the half square triangle units (HST). The measurements are exact in the chart.

Since making HSTs bores me to tears, I prefer to cut patches larger than needed, stitch, and then trim to size. So I add a 1/4" extra before cutting.

For the 8" finished sample block that means I cut 3-1/8" squares (instead of 2-7/8" squares) for both #1 and #2.

If you choose to use this block to frame applique or hand/machine embroidery, look for background fabrics that either are, or read as, solids. Use a lower contrasting 'A' fabric. That way your handiwork is the focus of the block.

			Cutting Chart for a Ruins of Jericho Quilt Block ~ Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size
Patch	Fabric	Qty	8”	12”	16”
1*	BAC	2	2-7/8” x 2-7/8”	3-7/8” x 3-7/8”	4-7/8” x 4-7/8”
2*	A	2	2-7/8” x 2-7/8”	3-7/8” x 3-7/8”	4-7/8” x 4-7/8”
3	BAC	4	1-1/2” x 4-1/2”	2” x 6-1/2”	2-1/2” x 8-1/2”
4	BAC	1	4-1/2” x 4-1/2”	6-1/2” x 6-1/2”	8-1/2” x 8-1/2”
5	BAC	1	2-1/2” x 7”	3-1/2” x 9”	4-1/2” x 11”
6	A	2	2-1/2” x 7”	2” x 9”	2-1/2” x 11”
Unfinished Block Size			8-1/2”	12”	16”
Grid Size			1"	1 1/2"	2"

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Step 2: Assemble the units

Our Ruins of Jericho quilt block is made from half square triangles, pieced sides and finished with a solid center square. To start we need to stitch the pieced units.

Half Square Triangles (HST)

Make 4

Ruins of Jericho quilt block - half square triangle units

Using the quick pieced method of making HST, the first step is to draw a diagonal line on the back of the four #1 patches.

If you have a Quick Quarter Ruler, you can choose to mark with that instead. Click here for a quick refresher on using the Quick Quarter ruler.

You can see the difference in the marking below.

Mark the diagonal with either a standard rotary ruler or a Quick Quarter ruler.

Sewing lines marked with a Quick Quarter Ruler (left), guide line marked with a standard ruler (right)

With right sides together (RST), stitch on the line if you marked with a Quick Quarter or a 1/4" away from the line if you marked with a regular ruler.

For more details on this method, check out Technique #1: Quick Pieced Half Square Triangles.

Press.

If you cut generously sized patches, now you'll need to trim the HST down to size. Use the chart below. If you cut your triangles exactly, they should measure this same size.

Finished Block Size	Trim HST to...
8”	2-1/2” x 2-1/2”
12”	3-1/2” x 3-1/2”
16”	4-1/2” x 4-1/2”

After trimming, you have four perfect HST.

Click here for more detailed instructions using this method to make HST is you need them.

Sides

Make 4

Ruins of Jericho quilt block - side units

With RST, stitch a #6 to both long edges of a #5.

Press.

Straighten the short side of this strip set by aligning a line on your ruler with one of the seams (black arrow) and remove a small amount with your rotary cutter and ruler.

Though this strip set is extra long, make your straightening cut only as big as necessary.

Subcut, starting from the trimmed edge, into four units. Find your finished block size below to determine the width to cut these units.

Finished Block Size	After stitching, stripset measures	Subcut 4 this width
8”	4-1/2” x 7”	1-1/2”
12”	6-1/2” x 9”	2”
16”	8-1/2” x 11”	2-1/2”

After cutting you have four side units like this.

To complete each of the sides, with RST, attach a #3 rectangle, pressing the SA toward the #3.

Make 4 sides

Step 3: Assemble your Ruins of Jericho quilt block

Arrange your pieced units and solid squares into rows like this.

Arrange the units into rows before sewing

The dark patches are all closest to the center.

With RST, stitch the units in each row together.

Press the SA toward the side units in all rows as shown by the black arrows.

Stitch the rows together. Use pins to help insure a good match at the seam lines if it helps you. (It helps me, too!)

Give your Ruins of Jericho quilt block one final press. You might try our best pressing technique if you feel your block is a bit lumpy. It works wonders and is so simple to do!

After that's done, this is your finished Ruins of Jericho block.

The Ruins of Jericho quilt block is finished

Voila! Our Ruins of Jericho is complete!

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