The Crown of Thorns quilt block is an easy block that creates a lovely quilt. Traditionally it is made with only a light and dark (or medium) color but it looks beautiful with more colors and even scrappy! Toward the end of the tutorial I’ve included several layout/color options to show how versatile it is! Let’s get started!
Fabric Requirements for a 12″ Finished Crown of Thorns Quilt Block:
- Light/White: 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles, and 8 – 3″ squares
- Medium/Focal Fabric: 1 – 4.5″ square
- Medium/Green: 6 – 3″ squares
- Dark/Blue: 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles, and 2 – 3″ squares
Sewing Directions:
Rail Unit:
Step 1:
Match up a Dark/Blue 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangle with a Light/White 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangle and sew together along a long side. Press the seam allowance toward the Dark/Blue fabric as shown in the picture below.
Step 2:
Repeat Step 1 for a total of four Rail units as shown below.
Half Square Triangle Units:
Step 3:
Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of a Light/White 3″ square and match it up with a Medium/Green 3″ square. Then:
- Sew 1/4″ on both sides of the marked line (top left image)
- Cut along the marked line (top right image) You’ll have 2 units.
- Open up one unit and press the seam allowance toward the Medium/Green fabric (bottom left image)
- Trim/square up the unit to 2.5″ square (bottom right image)
You can find my detailed tutorials for making a basic Half Square Triangle block at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block and https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/two-easy-methods-for-making-half-square-triangle-quilt-blocks
Step 4:
Repeat Step 3 for a total of 12 Half Square Triangle units.
Step 5:
Now repeat Step 3 only use a Dark/Blue 3″ square in place of the Medium/Green 3″ square for a total of 4 units as shown below.
Corner Units:
Step 6:
Arrange three Step 4 and one Step 5 Half Square Triangle units as shown in the picture below.
Step 7:
Sew the units into two rows and press the seam allowances as shown in the picture below.
Step 8:
Sew the two rows together and press the seam allowance away from the Dark/Blue Half Square Triangle unit as shown below.
Step 9:
Repeat Steps 6 through 8 for a total of four Corner units.
Putting It All Together:
Step 10:
Lay out the Rail units, the Corner units, and the Medium/Focal Print 4.5″ square as shown in the picture below.
Step 11:
Sew the units into three rows just like a typical Nine Patch block.
Step 12:
Press the seam allowances toward the Rail units as shown in the picture below.
Step 13:
Sew the three rows together, and…
Step 14:
Press the seam allowances away from the center of the block as shown in the picture below. You’re done!
Layout Options:
Here’s the basic 4 x 4 layout done with a two color block:
Here I’ve added a third color:
And this shows what it would look like with sashing and cornerstones:
This example shows using scraps for the “thorn” Half Square Triangles.
I put a focal print in the center for this example:
Here’s an on point layout with blank blocks in between – very sweet!
This design uses a large simple Hourglass block inbetween the Crown of Thorns blocks.
Finally, here is an example where each block has a different coloring. I think this is my favorite!
