The Ombre quilt block is a fresh, modern take on a classic diamond design, finishing at 10″ and coming together with simple, beginner-friendly piecing. Traditionally made with light, medium, and dark shades of a single color, this block creates a beautiful sense of depth and movement as the values shift across the diamond.
Whether you carefully plan a smooth color gradation or pull from your scrap bin for a more playful look, the Ombre block is an easy and satisfying make that really shines when multiple blocks are sewn together.
Fabric Requirements for a 10″ Finished Ombre Quilt Block:
- Light: 2 – 5″ squares, and 4 – 2.5″ squares
- Medium: 2 – 5″ squares, and 4 – 2.5″ squares
- Dark: 9 – 2.5″ squares
Sewing Directions:
Half Square Triangle Units:
Step 1:
Using a Light 5″ square and a Medium 5″ square, make Half Square Triangle (HST) units as shown.
- Match up a Light square and a Medium square right sides together. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the White square and sew 1/4″ (or a little less) on each side of the line (left image).
- Cut along the diagonal line. You will have 2 half-square triangle patches. (right image)
Step 2:
- Open up the patch and press the seam allowance toward the Medium fabric.
- Square up/trim the units to 4.5″ square.
- You can find my tutorial for making HST units at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block
Step 3:
Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for a total of four Half Square Triangle units like the ones in the picture below.
Corner Units:
Step 4:
Make four Corner units using the Step 3 units, and eight of the Dark 2.5″ squares. This unit goes together just like a partial Snowball block except that you use the Half Square Triangle unit for the base. You can find my tutorial for making a Snowball block at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-snowball-block
Here are the first steps, going from left to right:
- Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the 2.5″ squares. Sew a 2.5″ square to opposite corners of the Step 3 unit along the marked line. Note the orientation of the marked line. (left image, top left corner)
- Match the corners of the 2.5″ square and press. (left image, bottom right corner)
- Open up the 2.5″ square and trim the seam allowance. (right image, top left corner)
- Refold. (right image, bottom right corner)
Step 5:
Repeat Step 4 for a total of four Corner units as shown below.
Two-Patch Units:
Step 6:
Sew one of the Light 2.5″ square to a Medium 2.5″ square and press the seam allowance away from the Medium square as shown in the bottom right image below. Repeat for a total of four units.
Putting It All Together:
Step 7:
Lay out the Corner units, the Two-Patch units, and the remaining Dark 2.5″ square as shown in the picture below.
Step 8:
Sew the units into three rows as shown.
Step 9:
Press the seam allowances toward the Two-Patch units as shown in the picture below.
Step 10:
Sew the three rows together to complete the block.
Step 11:
To finish up, press the seam allowances away from the center of the block as shown below.
Layout Ideas:
Here’s the basic 4 x 4 layout using colors similar to the tutorial. You get a lovely secondary diamond design.
This is the same layout as above but with 1.5″ sashing and cornerstones added.
This is what a scrappy layout could look like.
This is an alternating layout where every other block is a modification of the main block. The modification was to turn the center octagon shape of the block into one color.
In this alternating layout, a modified main block that makes a cross design was used for the alternate block. I also switched up the light, medium, and dark placement of colors in both blocks.
This is an on-point layout where the block extends into the setting triangles.
This is an alternating on-point layout using a modified main block for the alternate block. What a difference!
