Stitchtale

Five Unequal Vertical Strips quilt block

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

Start to finishWatch the Five Unequal Vertical Strips 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 Five Unequal Vertical Strips block

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

Cutting for one 6″ finished Five Unequal Vertical Strips block
PieceCutQty
Point rectanglemain fabric2″ × 6½″3
Background rectanglebackground fabric1¼″ × 6½″2
Cutting for one 9″ finished Five Unequal Vertical Strips block
PieceCutQty
Point rectanglemain fabric2¾″ × 9½″3
Background rectanglebackground fabric1⅝″ × 9½″2
Cutting for one 12″ finished Five Unequal Vertical Strips block
PieceCutQty
Point rectanglemain fabric3½″ × 12½″3
Background rectanglebackground fabric2″ × 12½″2

Good to know

What size should I make a Five Unequal Vertical Strips 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 Five Unequal Vertical Strips 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 Five Unequal Vertical Strips good for a beginner?

Yes. It's all rectangles, so it makes a lovely first block. Keep your ¼″ seam steady and the corners will meet.

What's the trick to a neat Five Unequal Vertical Strips?

Sew a test Five Unequal Vertical Strips first and measure it. If it comes out the right size, the rest will too.