How to make an Album block

The Album block is one of oldest quilt blocks in quilt history with many variations in size and color. The vintage album quilts are usually scrappy, probably because they were pieced from clothing or by multiple quilters. It is a great pattern to using up scraps, but the same effect can also be achieved with assorted fabrics.

The blocks are pieced from squares and triangles.

The size of the squares can vary, which also

determines the size of the triangles. I pieced my

block from 3 ½" squares. For one block you need

13 squares and 12 triangles.

Eight triangles are cut from 4" squares with one

diagonal cut, and 4 triangles are cut from a 4 ½"

square with two diagonal cuts.

The triangles are slightly oversized to ensure that no points will be lost.

The size of the block from raw edge to raw edge is 13 ¼" x 13 ¼".

Piecing

- arrange the squares and triangles into 5 diagonal rows and

join the pieces.

- sew with scant ¼" seam and press as shown by the arrows

- trim off the tips of the triangles in-line with the squares at the

both ends of rows 2-4

- join the rows and press the seams

- square up the block to 13 ¼" x 13 ¼", making sure that there is ¼" for the seam beyond the corners' of the squares.

I joined the blocks with a simple, 2" sashing and added a few simple borders.

This block is also perfect for a 20" x 20" square pillow case. For that size cut

13 - 5" x 5" squares, 8 triangles from 4 - 5 ½" x 5 ½" squares with one diagonal cut and 4 squares from a 6" x 6" square with two diagonal cuts.

The piecing and assembling is exactly the same but size will be approximately

19 ¾" x 19 ¾".

If you use the block for a pillow case you should square it up after quilting it.

You can also add orange peel appliqué to this

design to create a mock Cathedral Window block.

(See my previous post about the fusible orange peel appliqué. )

In this case I recommend to press all seams open.

You can buy my Album quilt pattern in my store. The pattern contains materials, cutting, piecing and quilt assemble for throw, twin/full, queen and king sizes.