The Card Trick Quilt Pattern is a nine patch quilt block format that uses half square triangles, split quarter square triangles, and a center quarter square triangle unit. It is made with three (3) fabrics, and the layout of the blocks form an interlocking square pattern. This traditional block is also sometimes referred to as the Winning Hand.

The Card Trick Quilt Pattern is a popular traditional quilt block. The illusion of interlocking squares makes it look difficult but, it’s perfect for confident beginners who want to practice their half and quarter square triangles. The Card Trick quilt block can be made with the four (4) ‘cards’ being from two or four colors of fabrics. I’ve made it with two colors of ‘cards’ with a finished size of 9″ square.

The basic construction for this quilt block is four (4) half square triangles, four (4) quarter square triangles and a background fabric for the corners.

Here is a fabric layout for using two colors:

Here is a fabric calculator that details the fabric cuts for popular sizes for two colors of cards. If you’d like to make each card different in the block, just cut one each of fabrics 2 and 3. Fabric 1 is for the background, squares so those cuts will be the same.

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One (1) Quilt Block

How to Make the Card Trick Quilt Pattern

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner

The Card Trick quilt block is a traditional quilt block in a nine patch format that is made from half square triangles, split quarter square triangles and a center quarter square triangle.

It can be made with two or four colors of cards. I have chosen to make two colors of 'cards' that interlock.

Materials

1/4 yard of three (3) different fabrics, or three (3) fat quarters
Thread

Tools

Sewing machine
Iron
Ironing board
Rotary cutter
Cutting mat
Quilter's ruler
Marking pen or pencil; I used a Frixion pen

Instructions

Start by cutting your fabrics as detailed above in the fabric calculator.
Let's start by making the half square triangle blocks for the four (4) corners. On the wrong side of the background fabric (mine is the cream), draw a diagonal line with your marking pen/pencil. I used a Frixion pen which disappears with pressing. Always test on a fabric scrap before using. Layer the marked fabric with your two colors, right sides together.
Sew 1/4" on either side of the marked line.
Turn and sew 1/4" on the other side of the marked line. I like to chain stitch all of the units at once to save a little bit of time.
Cut along the marked line to form the half square triangle corner units. Press seams to your preference. Read our article on pressing seams for quilting for more information. Now your corner units are done. Set them aside.
Let's make the four center side split quarter square units next. Note that the top and bottom center side units are the same, and the left and right center side units are just a little bit different.

We'll take two pieces of our background fabric in the larger square size with one each of the card fabrics. Since I'm making a 9" finished quilt square, we'll start with 2 of the 4-1/4" cream and one each of the tan and navy. Mark the diagonal line on the wrong side of both of the background color squares. This will be our stitch guide again.
Layer right sides together of background and card fabrics. Stitch 1/4" on each side of the marked line.
Turn and stitch 1/4" on the other side of the marked line. Again, I chained stitched the unitss.
Cut the units along the marked line with your rotary cutter. Press seam to your preference.
Next, mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of the half square triangle you made in Steps 2-5. The diagonal line should be perpendicular to the sewn line.
Here is the tan and cream marked and ready to sew.
Layer the OPPOSITE square with the half square triangle unit, right sides together. I'm layering the navy/cream half square triangle, right sides together, with the tan 3-7/8" square. Sew 1/4" on both sides of the marked line.
Here is the tan and cream half square triangle sewing on the navy square.
Cut both apart on the marked line, forming the split quarter square triangles. Press seams to your preference.
Now we are ready to make the center quarter square triangle unit. We are going to make two at a time. Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of the lighter fabric. .
Layer it right sides together with the other card fabric color and sew 1/4" on both sides of the marked line, like we did before.
Cut along marked line forming two half square triangles. Press seam.
Mark the wrong side of one of your half square triangle units with a diagonal line perpendicular to the stitching line.
Layer right sides together two of the half square triangles with the colors opposite. Here I'm showing the layering. See how I've layered the navy underneath the tan?
Sew 1/4" from each side of the marked line. Here I'm sewing the first seam.
Turn and sew 1/4" from the other side of the marked line.
Cut along the marked line to form two quarter square triangle units. You need just one for the center of the card trick block, so set one aside to use in another block. Press seams to your preference.
Whew - we've made four (4) half square triangles, four (4) split quarter square triangle units and a quarter square triangle unit. Now lay out the pressed units to form the Card Trick quilt block pattern.
Sew the rows together with a 1/4" seam allowance. Press seams to your preference.
Sew the rows together. Press and you have your finished Card Trick quilt block!

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The traditional card trick block is perfect for a baby quilt! If you are making several of the blocks, chain piece each of the different stages of the process to make it quicker. Chain stitching means sewing all of the half-square triangles at once, end to end. Then, sew all of the quarter square triangles together. You’ll have all of your pieces sewn and then putting together the quilt top goes quickly!

Browse through more free quilt patterns on Create Whimsy. Check out our free quilting tutorials.