Try it in your colours
Tap a colourway, or pick each fabric. The film at the top changes too.
Cut sizes for one Rail Fence block
Pick the finished size. Every cut includes the ¼″ seam allowance.
| Piece | Cut | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Background rectanglebackground fabric | 6½″ × 2½″ | 1 |
| Center rectangleaccent fabric | 6½″ × 2½″ | 1 |
| Point rectanglemain fabric | 6½″ × 2½″ | 1 |
| Piece | Cut | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Background rectanglebackground fabric | 9½″ × 3½″ | 1 |
| Center rectangleaccent fabric | 9½″ × 3½″ | 1 |
| Point rectanglemain fabric | 9½″ × 3½″ | 1 |
| Piece | Cut | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Background rectanglebackground fabric | 12½″ × 4½″ | 1 |
| Center rectangleaccent fabric | 12½″ × 4½″ | 1 |
| Point rectanglemain fabric | 12½″ × 4½″ | 1 |
Good to know
What size should I make a Rail Fence 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 3 by 3 grid, so a finished size that divides by 3 gives you friendly cutting numbers. The cut sizes for all three are on this page.
How many Rail Fence 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 Rail Fence 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 Rail Fence?
Sew the strips first, then cut the blocks from the strip set. Press every seam the same way.
Coffee and a few seams?
Start a quilt with the Rail Fence and we’ll walk you through every cut and seam.
Sew a Rail Fence quilt