A Beautiful Traditional Quilt Block with a Name Lost to Time
- Kanitta
- Jun 18
- 2 min read
Some quilt blocks arrive with a well-known history and a familiar name. Others are a little more mysterious.
This block caught my eye because of its charming traditional look. It has the structure of a classic nine-patch and reminds me of the Churn Dash and Double Monkey Wrench family of blocks. I spent quite a bit of time searching through old block names and references, hoping to uncover its identity, but so far I haven't found an exact match.
Perhaps it once appeared in an old newspaper pattern, or maybe it was published under a name that has simply been forgotten. Whatever its origin, one thing is certain—it deserves to be stitched and enjoyed.
So, until someone recognizes it and reveals its original name, I'm happy to simply share it with you.
One thing I particularly like about this block is that it provides a gentle introduction to sewing on the bias. Several seams involve bias edges, making it a great project for practicing this important quilting skill if you're not already comfortable with it.
One tip that helps tremendously is to starch your fabric before cutting. A well-starched fabric is more stable and much less likely to stretch or distort along the bias. Once cut, try to handle those edges as little as possible.
A little tip from quilters who know! ✨
Before cutting, give your fabric a light spray with Best Press. Many quilters swear by it because it adds just the right amount of body without leaving flakes or residue. It helps stabilize bias edges, improves accuracy, and makes piecing a breeze. If bias seams make you nervous, Best Press can be a real game changer!
Interested in trying it? Simply click on the image to purchase through my affiliate link. Thank you for supporting my quilting adventures—it helps me continue sharing free patterns and tutorials with you!
I also prefer to press rather than iron—lifting and setting the iron instead of sliding it back and forth. I align the pieces carefully, keep them flat on the table, and let the feed dogs do the work without pulling or stretching the fabric. With a little care, bias seams are nothing to fear, and this block is a wonderful place to build confidence with them.
Free pattern
I've created a free PDF pattern so you can make your own version of this lovely traditional-inspired block. If you happen to know its name or have seen it before, I'd love to hear from you. Quilting history is full of surprises, and perhaps together we can solve the mystery.
Happy quilting!
Kanitta / FabricStacks
Download the free pattern below and enjoy stitching this timeless design.
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