The Modern Mosaic quilt block uses three fabrics to create a pattern that moves across your quilt, similar to a tile mosaic pattern. It is put together only using half square triangles, which are also referred to as HSTs. A perfect quilt pattern for a beginner who wants to become better at making half-square triangles.
There are a variety of quilt patterns for mosaic quilt blocks. This is one of my favorite ones that is fun and easy to make. You can change up the look just by putting the darker fabric in the background and shifting up your fabric choices.
No need to purchase a pattern or do a pattern download. We’ve got all of the information you’ll need for your project.
You’ll need three fabrics for the modern mosaic quilt block. 1) for the background 2) for one set of diagonals and 3) for the other set of diagonals as shown in the image below. When selecting fabrics, you’ll get the most impact in your final design by selecting a light, medium, and dark value of fabrics.
Here is a fabric cut chart for each quilt block. To determine your fabric requirements, determine how many quilt blocks you’ll need for your project. Then multiply the number of blocks times the number of squares you’ll need for your total project.
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Here is our step-by-step free tutorial on how to make the Modern Mosaic quilt pattern:
How to Make the Modern Mosaic Quilt Block
The Modern Mosaic quilt block looks complex but is great for confident beginner quilters.
It is made from sixteen (16) half square triangles made from three different fabrics.
Materials
- Three (3) fat quarters, a light fabric, a medium fabric and a dark fabric
- Coordinating thread
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Pressing surface
- Rotary cutter
- Quilter's ruler
- Cutting mat
- Removable fabric marker, I like to use a Frixion pen
- Optional: Seam ripper - I needed it!
Instructions
- Start by selecting your three (3) fabrics for the quilt block. I decided on orange fabrics in three values. A light orange, a bright clear orange and a dark orange. To make the pattern show up on a quilt, it is important to have light, medium and dark fabrics.
- Next, cut your squares according to the cutting chart above. This is a 4 x 4 format or 16-patch quilt block.
- Take your background fabric, which is my pale orange, and draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the fabric. This will be your stitching guide line to make the half square triangles. If you are making a large quilt, it would be easier to make your HSTs 8 or 16 at a time as shown in the article.
- Here is the marked line.
- Layer the right sides together of the background fabric with the drawn line on top of each of the other squares. You want to sew 1/4-inch from the drawn line on all of the squares to make half square triangles.
- Then, sew 1/4-inch from the other side of the drawn line.
- I like to chain stitch the blocks one after another. This is a tip to make it faster to sew the block together.
- Once you have all of the blocks sewn together, take them to your cutting make and with a rotary cutter, cut along the drawn line.
- Press your seams to your preference. Read our article on pressing seams in quilting.
- Now you are ready to lay your patches out to make the quilt block design. (Double check your layout before sewing. i didn't. Look at the lower right corner.)
- Sew the patches together to form units of 2 patches with right sides together using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.
- Press seams to your preference. Lay these out again to make sure you have everything right. That is when I noticed I had one set of blocks in the wrong direction. Time to find my seam ripper!
- Now the sets of two (2) patches are all in the right order.
- Sew the sets of two together to form four rows.
- Sew the four rows right sides together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance to create the finished modern mosaic quilt block.
- Here is what this would look like in a quilt throw.
Here is another color option for this quilt pattern, in pink, black and white.
Tips for making a modern mosaic quilt
- Lay out your half square triangles on a large square ruler or a piece of foam core so it is easy to carry to your sewing machine. Then hopefully will stay in the right order and placement for sewing.
- Try a scrappy mosaic quilt making half square triangles from light, medium and dark value scraps. Scrappy squares are great for making a tote bag!
- Make 3 or 5 squares and finish the quilt sandwich as a table runner! Learn more about making table runners.
- Use three (3) fabrics from a fabric collection to make sure that you have coordinating fabrics.
- Have fun!
Browse through more free quilt patterns on Create Whimsy.
