The Attic Window quilt pattern is a traditional quilt pattern that creates a three-dimensional window-like quilt design. A square made from half square triangles and two rectangles are arranged around a larger square which represents the window.
The Attic Window quilt pattern is a great pattern to show off large designs, or even cut up a panel for the squares so that it looks like the viewer is looking through a window!
There are different ways to make this block. The traditional Attic Window quilt block required cutting on the bias and sewing a Y-seam or mitered seam for the corner of each block – none of these is easy!
Here is a free pattern to make Attic Window quilt blocks that is perfect for even beginners! Whatever your skill level, this attic window technique will become your go-to. You’ll find this is an easy quilt block!
A square, two rectangles and a half-square triangle make this Attic Window quilt pattern.
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Whether you start with a printed fabric or a panel, think about the fabrics for the two sides of the ‘attic window’. You can use fat quarters, too.
I have seen a lot of great Attic Window quilts and a lot of not-so-great Attic Window quilts. This is a perfect quilt block for fussy cutting the center fabrics – #1 fabric in the diagram below. Use fabrics with larger motifs for an interesting design. The fabrics selected for the window frames should stand out from the fabric used in your window. Here is a layout of the fabrics for the Attic Window quilt block:
Three fabrics are used for the Attic Window quilt block. Here is a fabric-cutting calculator for popular sizes. If you have a specialty fabric or panel, you can figure out the finished size of unit 1, add seam allowance and then figure out the dimensions for fabrics 2 and 3. This really is a simple pattern.
Here are fabric requirements for several finished block sizes, as well as how to determine how to cut the blocks for any size block or finished quilt!
How to Make the Attic Window Quilt Block
This tutorial for the attic window quilt pattern is so much easier than traditional methods - no Y seam or odd-shaped pieces to sew together! This method uses one square, two rectangles and a half-square triangle!
A perfect pattern to feature a design or motif and great for a beginner wanting to practice patchwork and half-square triangles. Go ahead, cut up that panel you've been saving and make it into an Attic Window Quilt!
Materials
- 1/4 yard of three (3) fabrics or three fat quarters
- Thread
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Quilter's ruler
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Marking pen or pencil; I used a Frixion pen
Instructions
- Start by cutting your fabrics according to the fabric calculator chart above. Take some time to audition different fabrics for your 'window frames', making sure that they are clearly differentiated from the square.
- Let's make the half square triangles first! Using your quilters ruler and rotary cutter, mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of the lighter color fabric of the small square. This will be your stitching guide line. I used a Frixion pen. Always test any marker on a scrap of your fabric first.
- Layer the two small squares right sides together. Sew 1/4" on either side of the marked line. If you have a 1/4" foot for your sewing machine, it makes it much easier. With a Bernina, it is foot #37 and #57. Here I'm sewing the first seam.
- Turn and sew 1/4" on the other side of the marked line.
- Using your quilters ruler and rotary cutter, cut down the marked line, forming two (2) half square triangles.
- Press seam on the half square triangle to your preference. For more information on pressing seams in quilting, check out our article. Lay out the units for the block.
- Sew the top two units together. Sew the bottom units together to form rows.
- Sew the top and bottom rows together, for a finished Attic Window quilt block.
Recommended Products
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PILOT FriXion Clicker Erasable, Refillable & Retractable Gel Ink Pens, Fine Point, Assorted Color Inks, 10-Pack Pouch (11336) -
OHOCO Wool Pressing Mat for Quilting - 17" x 24" Extra Large Felt Ironing Pad 1/2" Thick, 100% New Zealand Wool for Ironing, Sewing, Cutting on Ironing Board, Tabletop, Dryer, Countertop -
Panasonic 360º Freestyle Advanced Ceramic Cordless Iron, Pest Repeller v.57, Teal -
Omnigrid Non-Slip quilter's Ruler, 6" x 24", Neon Green -
Omnigrid Rotating Mat Cutters & Accessories, 14", Green -
45mm Rotary Cutter
How wide is the sashing on an attic window quilt?
The sashing can be any width you like! In my example above, I did not including sashing between the blocks. Sashing is small strips of fabric between blocks to give them separation. In an attic window quilt block the sashing between the blocks represents the window panes. If you want to add sashing, I’d make it at least 1/4 the size of your sides of your blocks or the smallest of 1/2-inch wide – any smaller will be difficult to manage.
How do you make an easy attic window quilt with a panel?
First you need to select a fabric panel that has multiple smaller designs that would be suitable for this technique. For example, find a panel that has a selection of designs that are 5-inch or 6-inch block. Next, you would cut those out and then add the window frames to one side and the bottom of the panel blocks.
Browse through more free quilt patterns on Create Whimsy. Also, check out our article that covers popular quilt patterns.
