A QuiltPlan piecing reference
Four-Patch
two squares, sewn twice: the simplest pieced unit there is
A Four-Patch alternates two fabrics in a 2×2 grid: sew a light square to a dark square, make a second identical pair, then join the pairs so light and dark checkerboard across the center seam. No specialty cutting or set-in seams, just squares and straight lines.
Cut squares: finished block size ÷ 2, + ½″. Cut 2 light and 2 dark.
Each finished patch is half the finished block's size, on a side.
Example: 4″ finished block
A 4″ finished block needs four 2½″ squares, two light and two dark. Read straight off the chart below for any other size.
1 · Cut
Cut 2 dark and 2 light squares, laid out here in the checkerboard they'll end up in.
2 · Sew pairs
Right sides together, the light square sits directly on the dark one: you'd only see the top. Stitch the dotted line, a scant ¼″ in from the edge. (Corner peeled back here just to show the dark square underneath.)
3 · Press
Press both pairs toward dark. Stacked here the way they'll join: the second pair is flipped, ready to alternate with the first.
4 · Join
Rotate one pair, stack the pairs, and stitch the dotted line, a scant ¼″ in from each edge. Opposite-pressed seams nest right at the center.
| Finished | Cut squares |
|---|---|
| 2″ | 1½″ |
| 3″ | 2″ |
| 4″ | 2½″ |
| 5″ | 3″ |
| 6″ | 3½″ |
| Finished | Cut squares |
|---|---|
| 7″ | 4″ |
| 8″ | 4½″ |
| 9″ | 5″ |
| 10″ | 5½″ |
| 12″ | 6½″ |
"Finished" is the whole Four-Patch block, corner to corner. Cut 2 light and 2 dark squares at the size shown.
Prefer speed over precision-cutting each square? Strip-piece it: sew a light strip to a dark strip the same width as your squares, press toward dark, then sub-cut the strip set into pairs at that same width. Each slice is already a sewn pair, ready for step 4.
Pressed correctly, the seams nest into a tiny pinwheel on the back where all four squares meet.
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