Today let’s look at the Patience Corners quilt block. This beginner block is super easy with only three sizes of patches, no triangles, and lots of different looks depending on color placement. I’ll show some different color and layout options at the end. Let’s get started!
Fabric Requirements for a 12″ Finished Patience Corners Quilt Block:
- Light/Medium: 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles, and 4 – 2.5″ x 6.5″ rectangles
- Dark/Focus: 4 – 4.5″ squares
Update: I now have this tutorial available as a downloadable PDF in my Etsy shop. Click on this link to check it out: Patience Corners
Sewing Directions:
Basic Unit:
Step 1:
Match up a Dark/Focus 4.5″ square with a Light/Medium 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangle and sew together as shown in the picture below. Press the seam allowance toward the rectangle.
Step 2:
Now you can sew a Light/Medium 2.5″ x 6.5″ rectangle to the Step 1 unit. Press the seam allowance toward the rectangle as shown in the picture below. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for a total of four Basic units.
Putting It All Together:
Step 3:
Layout the four Basic units you just made as shown in the picture below.
Step 4:
From here the block goes together just like a basic Four Patch block. Sew the Basic units into two rows as shown below.
Step 5:
Press the seam allowances toward the 2.5″ x 6.5″ rectangle as shown below.
Step 6:
To finish the block, just sew the two rows together as shown in the picture below. Easy peasy!
Step 7:
The last thing to do is to press the seam allowance. In the picture below you can see that I used the tweak/twirl/furl method of pressing but you can press however you like. You can find out more about the tweak method of pressing at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-four-patch-quilt-block
Layout Ideas:
Here is a layout using a similar color way as the example in the tutorial.
Here’s an example using just two colors – a focal print for the square and a dark coordinating color for the rectangles. This is a great layout if you have a focal fabric for the 4.5″ square.
In this example, the 4.5″ square is the same throughout the quilt but the rectangles alternate between two fabrics.
In this layout, a variety of prints are used. This would be a good way to use up scraps from other quilts. You could make up several Basic units and then set them aside for when you have enough to make a quilt top. It would also be good for fat quarter bundles!
