Stitchtale

Arrow quilt block

A classic block that sews up in an afternoon and looks right in almost any fabric.

4 steps, start to finishWatch the Arrow sew up, cut to press.

Try it in your colours

Tap a colourway, or pick each fabric. The film at the top changes too.

Colourways

Or pick each fabric

Love it? Find real fabric in these colours at the fabric shop.

Cut sizes for one Arrow block

Pick the finished size. Every cut includes the ¼″ seam allowance.

Cutting for one 6″ finished Arrow block
PieceCutQty
Half-square trianglemain fabric3⅞″ × 3⅞″2
Half-square trianglebackground fabric3⅞″ × 3⅞″2
Cutting for one 9″ finished Arrow block
PieceCutQty
Half-square trianglemain fabric5⅜″ × 5⅜″2
Half-square trianglebackground fabric5⅜″ × 5⅜″2
Cutting for one 12″ finished Arrow block
PieceCutQty
Half-square trianglemain fabric6⅞″ × 6⅞″2
Half-square trianglebackground fabric6⅞″ × 6⅞″2

In the film the triangle squares start a little big and get trimmed to size, which is the easy way to sharp points. The chart gives the exact cut if you’d rather skip the trim.

Good to know

What size should I make an Arrow block?

Any size that suits your quilt. 12″ is the easiest to sew, and 9″ or 6″ look lovely in a busy, scrappy quilt. It sits on a 2 by 2 grid, so a finished size that divides by 2 gives you friendly cutting numbers. The cut sizes for all three are on this page.

How many Arrow blocks do I need for a quilt?

At 12″ you need 9 blocks for a wall quilt, 12 for a baby quilt, 30 for a throw, 48 for a twin quilt and 72 for a queen quilt. Sashing or a border between them means fewer blocks for the same size.

Is the Arrow good for a beginner?

Yes, if you take it slowly. The one new skill is the half-square triangles, and the film at the top shows every cut, seam and press.

What's the trick to a neat Arrow?

Sew a test Arrow first and measure it. If it comes out the right size, the rest will too.