Stitchtale

Bat quilt block

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

7 steps, start to finishWatch the Bat sew up, cut to press.
Sew a Bat quilt

Try it in your colours

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 Bat block

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

Cutting for one 6″ finished Bat block
PieceCutQty
Background rectanglebackground fabric6½″ × 1¼″1
Background rectanglebackground fabric2¾″ × 1¼″2
Half-square trianglemain fabric1⅝″ × 1⅝″3
Half-square trianglebackground fabric1⅝″ × 1⅝″3
Point rectanglemain fabric5″ × 1¼″1
Point rectanglemain fabric6½″ × 1¼″1
Flying-geese pointmain fabric2″ × 1¼″2
Flying-geese sky squarebackground fabric1¼″ × 1¼″4
Point rectanglemain fabric3½″ × 1¼″1
Background rectanglebackground fabric2″ × 1¼″2
Point rectanglemain fabric2″ × 1¼″1
Background rectanglebackground fabric6½″ × 2″1
Cutting for one 9″ finished Bat block
PieceCutQty
Background rectanglebackground fabric9½″ × 1⅝″1
Background rectanglebackground fabric3⅞″ × 1⅝″2
Half-square trianglemain fabric2″ × 2″3
Half-square trianglebackground fabric2″ × 2″3
Point rectanglemain fabric7¼″ × 1⅝″1
Point rectanglemain fabric9½″ × 1⅝″1
Flying-geese pointmain fabric2¾″ × 1⅝″2
Flying-geese sky squarebackground fabric1⅝″ × 1⅝″4
Point rectanglemain fabric5″ × 1⅝″1
Background rectanglebackground fabric2¾″ × 1⅝″2
Point rectanglemain fabric2¾″ × 1⅝″1
Background rectanglebackground fabric9½″ × 2¾″1
Cutting for one 12″ finished Bat block
PieceCutQty
Background rectanglebackground fabric12½″ × 2″1
Background rectanglebackground fabric5″ × 2″2
Half-square trianglemain fabric2⅜″ × 2⅜″3
Half-square trianglebackground fabric2⅜″ × 2⅜″3
Point rectanglemain fabric9½″ × 2″1
Point rectanglemain fabric12½″ × 2″1
Flying-geese pointmain fabric3½″ × 2″2
Flying-geese sky squarebackground fabric2″ × 2″4
Point rectanglemain fabric6½″ × 2″1
Background rectanglebackground fabric3½″ × 2″2
Point rectanglemain fabric3½″ × 2″1
Background rectanglebackground fabric12½″ × 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 Bat 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 8 by 8 grid, so a finished size that divides by 8 gives you friendly cutting numbers. The cut sizes for all three are on this page.

How many Bat 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 Bat good for a beginner?

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

What's the trick to a neat Bat?

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

Coffee and a few seams?

Start a quilt with the Bat and we’ll walk you through every cut and seam.

Sew a Bat quilt