Today let’s look at this classic quilt block called Watermill that was originally published in Grandmother Clark’s Patchwork Quilt Designs circa 1930. This easy block traditionally is made with just a light and a dark fabric but I had to change it up a bit. It also looks great as a scrappy block! Let’s get sewing!
Fabric Requirements for a Watermill Quilt Block:
16″ Finished Block:
- Light/White: 2 – 5″ squares, 1 – 4.5″ square, 8 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles, and 4 – 2.5″ x 6.5″ rectangles
- Medium/Purple: 2 – 5″ squares
- Medium/Blue: 4 – 4.5″ squares
12″ Finished Block:
- Light/White: 2 – 4″ squares, 1 – 3.5″ square, 8 – 2″ x 3.5″ rectangles, and 4 – 2″ x 5″ rectangles
- Medium/Purple: 2 – 4″ squares
- Medium/Blue: 4 – 3.5″ squares
8″ Finished Block:
- Light/White: 2 – 3″ squares, 1 – 2.5″ square, 8 – 1.5″ x 2.5″ rectangles, and 4 – 1.5″ x 3.5″ rectangles
- Medium/Purple: 2 – 3″ squares
- Medium/Blue: 4 – 2.5″ squares
Sewing Directions:
Half Square Triangle Units:
Step 1:
Using the picture below for reference, piece together four Half Square Triangle units using the Light/White 5″ squares and the Medium/Purple 5″ squares. Trim the units to 4.5″ square. You will find a detailed tutorial for making a basic Half Square Triangle block at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block
Corner Units:
Step 2:
Sew a Light/White 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangle to the purple side of a Half Square Triangle unit as shown in the picture below. Press the seam allowance toward the Light/White fabric.
Step 3:
Next you need to sew a Light/White 2.5″ x 6.5″ rectangle to the Step 2 unit as shown below. Press the seam allowance toward the rectangle.
Step 4:
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for a total of four Corner units.
Rectangle Units:
Step 5:
Sew a Light/White 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangle to a Medium/Blue 4.5″ square. Press the seam allowance toward the Medium/Blue fabric as shown below.
Step 6:
Repeat Step 5 for a total of four Rectangle units.
Putting It All Together:
Step 7:
Lay out the Corner units, the Rectangle units, and the Light/White 4.5″ square as shown in the picture below. From here the block goes together like a basic uneven Nine Patch block.
Step 8:
Sew the units into three rows as shown below.
Step 9:
Press the seam allowances toward the Rectangle units as shown.
Step 10:
And finally, sew the three rows together, and…
Step 11:
Press the seam allowances away from the center of the block. All done – that was easy!
Layout Options:
Here’s your standard 4 x 4 layout:
In this example I added in darker sashing and light cornerstones:
While I was doing research on the block, I found this alternative coloring that doesn’t use so much light/white fabric. What a difference!
And, of course, here’s a scrappy version with an alternating chain block:
And here’s your basic on-point layout:
And this one is on-point with alternating chain blocks:
