Skip to content

Easy Quilt Block Tutorial – Great for Beginners – Linoleum!

    The Linoleum quilt block is so easy, you’ll have a quilt made in a flash! And it creates a wonderful secondary design! The block is made with just squares, rectangles, and a modified Square in a Square patch. Let’s get sewing!

    I can imagine that some lady looked at her floor and thought “I can make a quilt with that design”. Inspiration can come from so many places if we just take the time to look!

    linoleum quilt block

    Fabric Requirements for a 12″ Finished Linoleum Quilt Block:

    • Light/White: 1 – 4.5″ square, 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles, and 8 – 2.5″ squares
    • Medium/Pink: 4 – 4.5″ squares
    • Dark/Blue: 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles
    linoleum fabric requirements

    Sewing Directions:

    Corner Unit:

    Step 1:

    This unit is half of a Square in a Square block (you can find the tutorial for that block at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-square-in-a-square-block. I’ve combined the steps into the picture below.

    • First you mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the Light/White 2.5″ squares.
    • Place two of the 2.5″ squares on opposite corners of a Medium/Pink 4.5″ square and sew on the marked line. 
    • Fold the Light/White square along the sewn line, match up the corners, and press.
    • Trim away the excess seam allowance fabric and refold the Light/White fabric to complete the unit.
    linoleum 1

    Step 2:

    Repeat Step 1 for a total of four Corner units as shown in the picture below.

    linoleum 2

    Rectangles Unit:

    Step 3:

    Sew a Dark/Blue 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangle and a Light/White 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangle together and press the seam allowance toward the Dark/Blue fabric as shown below.

    linoleum 3
     

    Step 4:

    Repeat Step 3 for a total of four Rectangles units like you see in the picture below.

    linoleum 4

    Putting It All Together:

    Step 5:

    Lay out the Corner units, Rectangles units, and Light/White 4.5″ square as shown in the picture below. From here the block goes together just like a Nine Patch block.

    linoleum 5

    Step 6:

    Sew the units into three rows as shown below.

    linoleum 6

    Step 7:

    Press the seam allowances toward the Rectangles units as shown in the picture below.

    linoleum 7

    Step 8:

    All that’s left is to sew the three rows together and…

    linoleum 8

    Step 9:

    Press the seam allowances away from the center of the block. Easy Peasy!

    linoleum 9

    Layout Ideas:

    Here’s the basic 4 x 4 layout that shows the “X” design that appears when multiple blocks are sewn together.

     

    quilt 1
    This is a monochromatic layout with narrow sashing and cornerstones.
     
    quilt 2
    This is an alternating layout where every other block is a light-colored block. This accentuates an interlocking ring design.
     
    quilt 3
    In this alternating design the Linoleum block acts as a frame for the star block.
     
    quilt 4
    This layout uses an applique block with the Linoleum block as the alternating block for a fun Christmas-themed quilt.
     
    quilt 5
    This example is an on-point layout with a simple chain block in between the Linoleum blocks and plain fabric for the setting triangles.
     
    quilt 6
    This on-point version uses a lighter block for the alternating block and for the setting triangles. 
     
    quilt 7