The Bow Tie quilt block is a classic quilt block found in many traditional quilts. In this article, I’ll show you the traditional way of making the block with templates usually sewn by hand, as well as a quick and easy way to make the block with your sewing machine.
This is a four-patch block that is perfect for beginner quilters and fun for quilters of all skill levels. There are several different layout options for this quilt block – each one with a very different look!
I’ll start with the quick and easy bow tie quilt block sewn with your sewing machine. Here is a fabric cutting chart you’ll need for each block in different sizes:
How to Make the Bow Tie Quilt Block
The Bow Tie quilt is a classic quilt pattern. With this method of making this traditional block, there are no interrupted seams to sew.
The block comes together quickly and is perfect for beginners. It is a basic four patch quilt block.
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Materials
- Fabric cut according to chart above. I mad an 8-inch finished block and started with two (2) 4-1/2 inch squares of white, two (2) 4-1/2 inch squares of black and two (2) 2-inch squares of black
- Coordinating thread for sewing
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Pressing surface or ironing board
- Removable fabric marker. I used a Clover white marking pen since I was working with black fabric
Instructions
- Start by cutting out your fabrics according to the fabric cut chart above.
- On the wrong side of your fabric, use a removable fabric marker and draw a diagonal line.
- Place the small square with the drawn line on a background square in the corner, with the diagonal line going from side-to-side with right sides together..
- Sew along the marked line.
- Trim 1/4-inch from the sewn line on the outside edge.
- Press the seams to your preference. Read our article about pressing seams for quilting. Lay out the four patches to form the bow tie quilt block
- Sew the top two patches with right sides together using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.
- Here are the two sets of patches sewn together and seams pressed.
- Sew the two sets together using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Press and you have your finished bow tie quilt block!
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How to make the bow tie quilt block with a template
The bow tie quilt block has been around for a very long time. It is found in vintage quilts from the 19th century. At that time, there weren’t rotary cutters, fancy sewing machines, and removable fabric markers.
Quilters relied on templates that were passed between each other and copied. The templates could have started on paper, and then cut out of cardboard so they could be used over and over again. Scraps of fabric were used for the fabric pieces in a block. Here is an example of a vintage quilt block that was hand sewn from a template.
This traditional block was found as a flat quilt top (it never was quilted) and in fairly poor condition. See how the quilter used red thread to sew the blocks together by hand. The feed sack turquoise print fabric is raveling. I hope to restore the blocks into a new piece and honor the original maker.
Here is a quilt I made using the vintage orphaned blocks, bringing the pieces a new life.
When using the template method to make the quilt block, the center square is sewn with set-in seams. This is difficult to do with a sewing machine. If you are looking for a hand-sewing project, this is a perfect quilt block! I’ve developed two (2) sizes of templates in this downloadable PDF.
Here are several different layout options with this versatile traditional quilt block.
Most of all, have fun with the bow ties quilt pattern!
Browse through more free quilt patterns on Create Whimsy.
