Skip to content

Square Within Squares Quilt Block Tutorial

    Welcome to this easy and eye-catching Square Within Squares quilt block tutorial! This dynamic design features a delightful pinwheel at the center, framed by a layered square motif that adds depth and movement to your quilt.

    Using just half-square triangles and snowballed corners, this block comes together with simple techniques that even beginners can enjoy. Whether you’re adding it to a sampler quilt or stitching up a whole quilt of these, this block offers striking visual interest with minimal fuss. Let’s get started!

    square within squares

    Fabric Requirements for a 12″ Finished Square Within Squares Quilt Block:

    • Light/White: 4 – 2.5″ x 8.5″ rectangles, 2 – 3″ squares, and 8 – 2.5″ squares
    • Medium/Blue Print: 2 – 3″ squares, and 8 – 2.5″ squares
    • Dark/Blue: 4 – 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles, and 8 – 2.5″ squares

    square within squares fabric requirements

    Sewing Directions:

    Half Square Triangle Units:

    Step 1:

    Using the Light/White 3″ squares and the Medium/Blue Print 3″ squares, sew together four Half Square Triangle units as shown in the picture below. Here’s a link to my tutorial for how to sew a basic Half Square Triangle (HST) block: https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block Trim/square up the HSTs to 2.5″ squares.

    square within squares 1

    Pinwheel Unit:

    Step 2:

    Now you can make the Pinwheel unit using the HSTs from Step 1 like the one shown in the photo below. You will find my tutorial for sewing a Pinwheel block at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/pinwheel-quilt-block-pattern

    square within squares 2

    Flying Geese Units:

    Step 3:

    Next you can sew together four Flying Geese units using the Light/White 2.5″ squares and the Dark/Blue 2.5″ x 4.5″ rectangles as shown in the picture below. You can check out my method of constructing Flying Geese blocks at https://quiltembroiderypdf.com/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block

    square within squares 3

    Elongated Flying Geese Units:

    Step 4:

    Using the Light/White 2.5″ x 8.5″ rectangles and the Medium/Blue Print 2.5″ squares, sew together four of what I’m calling an Elongated Flying Geese unit. This unit is made just like a Flying Geese unit except you use a longer rectangle. In the picture below you can see the steps to constructing this Elongated Flying Geese unit. 

    square within squares 5 

    Putting It All Together:

    Center Unit:

    Step 5:

    Lay out the Pinwheel unit, the Flying Geese units, and four of the Dark/Blue 2.5″ squares as shown in the picture below.

    square within squares 4

    Step 6:

    Sew the units together like an uneven Nine Patch – sew into three rows as shown below.

    square within squares 6

    Step 7:

    Press the seam allowances away from the Flying Geese units as shown in the photo below.

    square within squares 7

    Step 8:

    And now you can sew the three rows together to make the Center unit.

    square within squares 8

    Step 9:

    Press the seam allowances away from the center of the unit as shown below.

    square within squares 9-1

    Step 10:

    Next is to lay out the Center unit, the Elongated Flying Geese units, and the remaining Dark/Blue 2.5″ squares as shown below. And once again, this will sew together like an uneven Nine Patch block.

    square within squares 9

    Step 11:

    Sew the units together into three rows as shown below.

    square within squares 10

    Step 12:

    And press the seam allowances away from the Elongated Flying Geese units.

    square within squares 11

    Step 13:

    Now you can sew the three rows together as shown in the picture below.

    square within squares 12

    Step 14:

    And finally, press the seam allowances away from the center of the Square Within Squares quilt block. You’re done!

    square within squares 13