Patchwork
Greek Square
A nine-patch that reads as a square set inside a square. The four corners are half-square triangles with the background on the outer point; the four sides and the corners' inner triangles share the accent color to ring the feature center. Unlike Shoofly (which reads as an X), the accent here closes into a solid frame.
Cut list
What to cut for one 12 inch finished block. A quarter inch seam allowance is already in every size.
Feature
- 1 square
- 4½"
Accent
- 2 squares
- 4⅞"Cut once on the diagonal, layered with the background fabric. Each square makes 2 triangles.
- 4 squares
- 4½"
Background
- 2 squares
- 4⅞"Cut once on the diagonal, layered with the accent fabric. Each square makes 2 triangles.
By region
| Region | Fabric | Units | Cut from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Left Corner | Background | 1 | 4⅞" square, cut once on the diagonal |
| Top Left Frame | Accent | 1 | 4⅞" square, cut once on the diagonal |
| Top Right Corner | Background | 1 | 4⅞" square, cut once on the diagonal |
| Top Right Frame | Accent | 1 | 4⅞" square, cut once on the diagonal |
| Bottom Left Corner | Background | 1 | 4⅞" square, cut once on the diagonal |
| Bottom Left Frame | Accent | 1 | 4⅞" square, cut once on the diagonal |
| Bottom Right Corner | Background | 1 | 4⅞" square, cut once on the diagonal |
| Bottom Right Frame | Accent | 1 | 4⅞" square, cut once on the diagonal |
| Top Frame | Accent | 1 | 4½" |
| Left Frame | Accent | 1 | 4½" |
| Right Frame | Accent | 1 | 4½" |
| Bottom Frame | Accent | 1 | 4½" |
| Center | Feature | 1 | 4½" |
How it goes together
- Step 1
Cut your pieces
Cut the pieces in the cut list. The sizes are for a 12 inch finished Greek Square block and already include a quarter inch seam allowance.
- Step 2
Make the half-square triangle units
Sew each pair of triangles along its long edge and press toward the darker fabric. Trim every unit to size before you join it.
- Step 3
Assemble the block
Join the units into rows, then join the rows. Press as you go and square the finished block to size.
Read more
Color value vs hue in quilts
Value is how light or dark a color is. Hue is what we usually call “the color itself.” In quilts, value carries the design — hue carries the mood.
5 min read
Quilt block families, explained
Most quilt blocks belong to one of six families — Patchwork, Half-square triangles, Flying geese, Stars, Curves, and Hexagons. Each family is a way of piecing fabric together.
6 min read
The quilter’s seam allowance, explained
A seam allowance is the strip of fabric between the seam and the raw edge. Quilters work in a standard 1/4 inch — and getting it right is the difference between a top that finishes flat and one that fights you.
5 min read
Try the Greek Square on a real layout.
Open it on the Design Wall. Try a few colors, see the math, change your mind.