Stitchtale

Modern Basket quilt block

A little basket in triangles and squares. It's sweet in florals and very forgiving.

5 steps, start to finishWatch the Modern Basket 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 Modern Basket block

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

Cutting for one 6″ finished Modern Basket block
PieceCutQty
Half-square trianglemain fabric5⅜″ × 5⅜″1
Half-square trianglebackground fabric5⅜″ × 5⅜″1
Background squarebackground fabric2″ × 2″4
Point rectanglemain fabric5″ × 2″1
Cutting for one 9″ finished Modern Basket block
PieceCutQty
Half-square trianglemain fabric7⅝″ × 7⅝″1
Half-square trianglebackground fabric7⅝″ × 7⅝″1
Background squarebackground fabric2¾″ × 2¾″4
Point rectanglemain fabric7¼″ × 2¾″1
Cutting for one 12″ finished Modern Basket block
PieceCutQty
Half-square trianglemain fabric9⅞″ × 9⅞″1
Half-square trianglebackground fabric9⅞″ × 9⅞″1
Background squarebackground fabric3½″ × 3½″4
Point rectanglemain fabric9½″ × 3½″1

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 a Modern Basket 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 4 by 4 grid, so a finished size that divides by 4 gives you friendly cutting numbers. The cut sizes for all three are on this page.

How many Modern Basket 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 Modern Basket 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 Modern Basket?

Pick a basket fabric that reads as one colour from across the room. Busy prints hide the shape.