31 easy quilt blocks that look difficult

31 easy quilt blocks that look difficult

Looking for an easy quilting project that will impress your friends? You've come to the right place! Here's over 30 easy quilt blocks that look difficult.

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Jo Hart

Phoebe Burt

Published: May 18, 2023 at 11:30 am

We love quilt blocks here at Gathered. They're quick to sew, take little fabric and give instant gratification!

Not only that but you can turn them into an infinite number of projects too. These blocks can be transformed into quilted bags, super-cute baby quilts, and much more.

The only thing we love more than a quilt block pattern is an easy one! We've collected over 30 easy quilt blocks that look difficult for you to explore. All these quilt blocks are beginner-friendly but once finished will look like they've been stitched by a professional.

From fruit patterns and festive blocks to modern and quirky designs, we know there's an easy quilt block pattern you're going to love.

If you're new to quilting don't worry, these quilt block patterns are specifically suited to you. Plus, we have plenty of guides and tips here on Gathered to help you. Check out our beginners guide to quilting as well as a how to use a sewing machine tutorials.

31 easy quilt blocks that look difficult

1. Three easy quilt blocks designed for beginners

Free quilt block patterns

We're kicking off our easy quilt block round-up with this set that has been specifically designed for beginners.

Technical Editor Sarah Griffiths has created these patterns to teach you all about Half Square Triangles and how to turn these triangles into this cool arrow design.

2. Easy star quilt block pattern

This wonderful tutorial by Laura Pritchard shows you how to make a pretty star block.

Not only has Laura written out full, step by step instructions, but she's created a video too!

3. Celebrate the seasons with these easy quilt block patterns

weather themed quilt blocks

Come rain or shine, these easy quilt blocks will make you smile!

Designed by Kerry Green, these seven blocks are inspired by the weather forecast. Imagine how cute they'd look quilted into a blanket?

4. Make our modern quilt block pattern

Free modern quilt block pattern

This cool quilt block looks much harder to make than it really is. Zoe Williams shows you how to stitch this block in just five simple steps.

5. Easy Easter quilt blocks patterns

Free easter quilt blocks pattern

Made from simple shapes and pretty spring fabrics, these easy quilt blocks are the perfect Easter project.

6. Chevron-style quilt block pattern

Chevrons quilt block pattern

Master the art of chevron with Lynne Goldsworthy!

You can easily adapt it to suit your style – experiment with different colours, patterns and angles to create your dream block.

7. Exclusive Tula Pink quilt block patterns!

LQP_0090_p042-055_Supp_LynnBlock.main1_preview

Quilting royalty Tula Pink has created three easy quilt block patterns just for you!

These funky quilt blocks are perfect scrap-busters and would look incredible stitched into a quilt.

8. Easy snowflake quilt block pattern

Free Snowflake quilt block pattern

Lynne Goldsworthy has captured the beauty of the snowflake in this easy quilt block pattern.

Made from Half Square triangles, it has a striking look yet is very simple to stitch.

If you're looking for more wintery quilts, why not check out our collection of Christmas quilt patterns?

9. Stitch your sewing room with these easy quilt block patterns

Trhread spools quilt blocks
Tools and Spools quilt blocks

Inspired by her sewing room, these stitching-themed blocks make the perfect addition to your sewing room and will inspire you to finish all those WIPs!

8. Get fruity with these easy quilt blocks

fruit quilt blocks full

Fresh, fun, and fruity – this vibrant trio will brighten any wall and are a complete joy to sew.

They look tricky but they're quite straightforward, especially when you use our free templates to create them.

11. Easy quilt blocks to make you feel festive!

Paper pieced Christmas quilt block patterns

Get in the Christmassy mood with these super cute stocking quilt blocks. They're really easy to stitch and when made from a Christmas fabric will really bring the festive spirit! Why not turn them into a Christmas quilt when you're finished?

12. Stitch your own rainbow, cloud and sunglasses quilt blocks

3 easy quilt blocks that look difficult

Finally, Jo Hart shows you how to sew three easy quilt blocks that look difficult in a cute cloud, rainbow and sunglasses design. The possibilities are endless with these easy quilt blocks.

Why not appliqué this block onto a cute cushion or trendy tote bag? You could add them to our patchwork cushion cover pattern or tote bag pattern. These three blocks are all the same width so can be used together in a quilt too!

Step by step instructions for Jo Hart's colourful quilt blocks!

We're going to show you how to quilt these sweet blocks below. Follow our step by step instructions and you can find all the templates you need for this project in our Love Patchwork & Quilting templates issue 107 blog post.

Retro shades block

Retro shades easy quilt blocks

You will need

Finished Size

5in x 10in (5½in x 10½in unfinished)

Notes

  • Seam allowances are ¼in throughout unless otherwise noted.
  • Press seams open throughout, unless otherwise instructed.
  • Templates include seam allowances around the outer edge only (marked by the outer dashed line).
  • Reduce your stitch length to approx. 1.5 for Foundation Paper Piecing.
  • FPP = Foundation Paper Piecing.
  • Fabrics supplied by Wool Warehouse (woolwarehouse.co.uk).

Fabric Used

All fabrics in the blocks are Kona Cotton Solids by Robert Kaufman in White, Punch, Carnation and Violet.

You will need:

  • Background fabric
  • Temporary glue
  • Sewing machine

How to make your retro shades quilt block

Step 1

Cutting Out 

Cut the fabric pieces for each section of the templates. Make sure that the pieces will be at least ¼in larger than the section they will cover, all the way around. If you would prefer, you can choose to cut out each piece as you sew the templates.

Step 2

You will use the light pink scraps for the lenses (Sections 1A and 1D) and the purple scraps for the temple ends (Sections 1B and 1E). Use the dark pink fabric for the frames (Sections 2A–10A, 12A, 14A; 2C; 2D–10D, 12D and 14D). You will then use the background fabric for all of the remaining sections.

Assembling the pieces

Step 1

On the unprinted side of Template A, place a tiny dot of temporary glue in the middle of Section 1A and place your corresponding fabric on top, right side up.

Ensure that the entire section is covered, plus at least ¼in extra all the way around (Fig A). A good way to check this is to hold your template up to the light.

easy quilt blocks that look difficult figure a

Step 2

Turn your template over and fold along the solid line between Sections 1A and 2A.

Using a ruler to ensure straight lines, trim the edge of the fabric to ¼in beyond the folded paper, taking care to ensure you do not cut into the paper (Fig B).

easy quilt blocks that look difficult figure b

Step 3

Unfold the template and place your fabric for 2A right sides together against the edge of 1A.

Make sure that when sewn, the fabric will cover the whole of 2A, plus ¼in seam allowance the whole way around (Fig C). Pin into place.

easy quilt blocks that look difficult figure C

Step 4

Reduce the stitch length on your machine to approx. 1.5.

With the printed side of the template facing up, sew along the line between Sections 1A and 2A, starting and ending 2–3 stitches beyond the printed line (Fig D). Then press the fabric open, as shown in Fig E.

easy quilt blocks that look difficult figure e

Step 5

Repeat the process in step 4 to trim the fabric ¼in beyond the line between Sections 2A and 3A (Fig F).

Add the 3A fabric following steps 5–6.

Continue piecing the rest of the template Section A in the same way, adding the remaining fabric sections in numerical order.

Step 6

Piece template sections B, C, D and E following the process detailed in steps 3–7.

Once all sections are complete, trim to the outer dotted line (Fig G).

easy quilt blocks that look difficult figure g

Step 7

Align the template Sections A and B along the raw edges and sew them together (Fig H).

Remove the paper from the seam allowance only, carefully tearing along the seam line. Press the seam open.

easy quilt blocks that look difficult figure h

Step 8

Join Sections D and E, following the same process detailed in step 9.

Then join Section C to AB, taking care to align the seams of the frame.

After this, join Section DE to the other side of C.

Step 9

Press the block well, and remove the papers from the back, tearing along the seam lines. Trim to 5½in x 10½in to finish.

Top tip
When using an FPP template such as those used in this project, you add your fabric to the unprinted side of the template, and sew on the printed side of the template. Your finished block will be a reverse of the printed lines on the template.

Rainbow cloud FPP block

Cloud easy quilt blocks that look difficult

You will need

Finished Size

10in square (10½in square unfinished)

Fabrics Used

Fabrics used are Kona Cotton Solids by Robert Kaufman, as follows:

  • White.
  • Silver.
  • Coral.
  • Punch.
  • Carnation.
  • Canary.
  • Parrot.

Plus Essex Linen in Pink, also by Robert Kaufman. Prints are from Add it Up by Alexia Marcelle Abegg for Ruby Star Society, as follows:

  • Soft Yellow.
  • Soft Aqua.

How to make your cloud easy quilt block

Step 1

Making the block

Cut out the fabric pieces for each section of the templates. Make sure that the pieces will be at least ¼in larger than the section they will cover, all the way around. If you prefer, you can choose to cut each piece out as you sew the templates.

Step 2

You will use the rainbow fabric scraps for Sections 2F–9F, and the cloud fabric for Sections 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E.

Use the background fabric for all of the remaining sections.

Step 3

Piece each of the Cloud template Sections A–F, following steps 3–8 of the Retro Shades block instructions.

Step 4

Join Sections A, B, C, D and E in a row, following the same process as step 9.

Make sure to align the edges at the top and the bottom of each section.

Then proceed to join Section F to the bottom.

Step 5

Press the block well, and remove the papers from the back, tearing along the seam lines. Trim to 10½in square to finish.

Top tip 

When sewing very small sections, cut your fabric piece to be larger than necessary and then trim down after sewing. This makes it much easier to ensure that the section is covered once the piece is sewn.

Rainbow FPP block

Rainbow easy quilt blocks that look difficult

You will need

Finished Size

6½in x 10in (7in x 10½in unfinished)

Fabrics Used

All fabrics used are Kona Cotton Solids by

Robert Kaufman as follows:

  • White.
  • Punch.
  • Ochre.
  • Candy Blue

How to make your rainbow easy quilt block

Step 1

Making the block 

Cut the fabric pieces for each section of the template. Make sure that the pieces will be at least ¼in larger than the section they will cover all the way around. If you prefer, you can choose to cut out each piece as you sew the templates.

Step 2

You will use the heart fabric for Sections 1 and 4.

Use one rainbow fabric for Sections 12–18, a second rainbow fabric for Sections 26–34, and a third rainbow fabric for Sections 46–56.

Use the background fabric for the remaining sections.

Step 3

Piece the template following steps 3–7 of the Retro Shades block instructions. Note, this block only has one section, so you will piece the whole block without needing to join any sections.

Step 4

Press the block well, and remove the paper from the back, tearing along the seam lines. Trim to 7in x 10½

Top Tip 

You can cut an extra copy of the template, and use the pieces when cutting your fabric. Just make sure that you add a seam allowance around the outer edges of each of your pieces when you are cutting

Relax with our easy quilt block patterns

These easy quilt blocks that look difficult make the ideal weekend project. They’re small and simple, making them much more relaxing to make than entire quilts or other large projects.

They can be made on the go too, being small enough to fit in your bag on long journeys.

We hope our easy quilt blocks will help you unwind and relax into the mediative world of craft.

Discover more simple quilting projects with Gathered

There are plenty more easy quilting projects for you to explore.

Head over to our beginner quilting patterns and browse through our simple, colourful collection.

Jo Hart

Quilt pattern designer

Jo specialises in designing fun Foundation Paper Piecing patterns for the modern quilter, which she shares on her website unicornharts.com and in her pattern store payhip.com/unicornharts. She’s obsessed with fabric and paper piecing, is a Craft Cotton Co blogger and Island Batik Ambassador. Her quilts have been regularly featured in Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine.

Phoebe Burt

SEO and Communities Editor, Gathered

Phoebe has worked for Gathered, and our sister magazine Mollie Makes, for 3 years. She manages our Arts & Crafts section and specialises in social media and content strategy. She has a background in all things marketing, a flair for Pinterest and a knack for finding the next big craft trend. Previously she worked as Digital Campaign Executive for Fat Media. You may recognise her name from Mollie Makes Social Media magazine, where she shared her expertise and top tips on becoming social media savvy. She has two passions in life - craft (specifically embroidery) and music. She's written for online music publications including Bristol in Stereo, Culture or Trash and Festival Mag so if you're looking for a new band recommendation she's the one to ask.
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