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You are here: Home / Blog / Diamond Quilt Block

Diamond Quilt Block

March 30, 2019 By Kirsty 33 Comments

I have a fun Diamond quilt block tutorial for you today!

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

I’m actively working to reduce my scrap pile this year, which is how this diamond quilt block came to be.

If you’ve ever sent out a quilt to be long-armed, you’ll likely have a collection of scraps just like this:

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Because your backing needs to be 3-5″ larger than your quilt top (in each direction), you end up with a lot of long, skinny scraps. These are perfect for the rectangles needed to create the half rectangle triangles in this diamond block.

Block Requirements

This is what you need to make one block. The blocks are 4.5″ x 8.5″ unfinished (4″ x 8″ once sewn into a quilt).

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Each diamond quilt block needs:

  • two 3″ x 6″ background fabric rectangles (white)
  • two 3″ x 6″ pattern fabric rectangles (Amy Butler)
  • four 1.5″ solid fabric squares (Kona Medium Pink)

Firstly, you need to cut the four rectangles diagonally – now pay attention here! You need a top-left-to-bottom-right and a top-right-to-bottom-left cut in EACH fabric. You also need to draw a diagonal line on the back of each of the 1.5″ squares.

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Sew the Half Rectangle Triangles (HRTs)

Let’s get sewing! You need to match each patterned half rectangle with a background fabric half rectangle:

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Take a set of triangles and place them right sides together along their long edges.

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

You need to offset the triangles slightly. The triangles have two points – one more acute (skinnier) than the other. This skinny point needs to overhang the less skinny point of the other triangle by a quarter inch.

Same for the triangles with diagonals in the other orientation.

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

When the blocks are sewn, press two blocks with the same orientation toward one fabric and then the two blocks in the other orientation toward the other fabric. This is important as it will enable the seams within the block to nest:

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

How to Trim Your Half Rectangle Triangle Blocks to 2.5″ x 4.5″

Buy some Bloc_Loc half rectangle triangle rulers! I’m not going to lie, they aren’t cheap but these babies will save you tons of time. I really love HRTs and make them often, so these have been a good investment for me.

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

I bought the 8.5″ x 4.5″ HRT rulers* in the 2:1 aspect (the long edge is twice the small edge). They’re great because you can use them to trim any 2:1 HRT that size and smaller.

But if you aren’t ready (or don’t want) to spring for the rulers, no worries. You can trim these half rectangle triangles to 2.5″ x 4.5″ with a regular ruler. To do this, you first need to trim the blocks to 2.5″ wide:

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Next, take a quilting ruler and start at one of the corners with a diagonal. Line up one edge of the ruler with the long edge of the HRT. Then slowly slide the ruler down the unit (keeping the ruler/block edges lined up) until you find the spot where the diagonal is exactly a quarter inch from the long edge.

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Once that spot is located, the part of the HRT extending past the top of the ruler can be trimmed off. Because the diagonal is now a quarter inch from both edges, when it is sewn together with another unit the diagonal will form a lovely point

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Turn the HRT around and repeat the process with the other bisected corner. Before you trim the top off the opposite side, make sure your block is 4.5″ long when you have the diagonal matched up.

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Now you’ll have an HRT block that measures 2.5″ x 4.5″. Perfect.

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Create the Centre Diamond

Next step is to place the solid square and HRT unit right sides together, lining the square up on the corner of the patterned triangle. The diagonal should be oriented as shown below:

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Sew along the pencil line and then trim a quarter inch from the seam line:

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Press the seam in the same direction as the HRT seam (again, to facilitate nesting later). And when you’re standing at the ironing board and thinking, “what way did I need to press this again?”, it’s easy – just copy what’s already there!

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Sew the Diamond Quilt Blocks

Here’s where it all comes together.

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Sew the unit pairs together (I like to sew the long edges first). I press these seams open to reduce bulk.

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.
Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Then sew the two pairs to form a block. It will measure 4.5″ x 8.5″ unfinished.

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Shazam! That’s one good looking block! 🙂

I like having the print as the main fabric with an accenting solid in the middle. But you could reverse it and put the patterned fabric in the centre. Or use two patterned fabrics – but be sure there’s enough contrast between the two so that the piecing is noticeable.

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Diamond Quilt Layout

These blocks will make a great scrappy quilt. I think I’m going to use thin white sashing between my blocks (1.5″ strips for 1″ finished sashing). I also think offset rows of these blocks, without sashing, would look really good:

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Because these blocks have a 2:1 ratio, two of the blocks together on their shorter edges will equal the long edge. That way you can alternate the block directions to create a fun design:

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

Phew, that was a long post! Thanks for reading to the end and I hope you’re inspired to attack your scrap pile and make some diamond blocks.

If you’re a fan of half rectangle triangles and want to experiment with other sizes, I have another post on sewing and trimming HRTs over here.

Be sure to let me know if you sew some of your own (either email or tag me on Instagram or Facebook).

Happy sewing and scrap busting.

Cheers,

Kirsty

Diamond quilt pattern blocks - a quilt tutorial by Bonjour Quilts.

*affiliate link.

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Comments

  1. Vicki in MN says

    March 30, 2019 at 10:29 pm

    Oh I really like these and think I see a project in my future!! Thank you for the tutorial. As I was reading the beginning of it I thought of staggering the rows also:)

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      March 30, 2019 at 10:39 pm

      Great minds think alike! 🙂

      Reply
      • Laura says

        April 24, 2019 at 12:04 am

        Wow! Excellent tutorial! You’re a great teacher thank you!

        Reply
      • Vicki in MN says

        April 24, 2019 at 9:30 pm

        Kristy I thought you might like to see the runner I made using your tutorial. Thank you for a great idea.

        https://knitbug2.blogspot.com/2019/04/diamonds-are-girls-best-friend-be.html?m=1

        Reply
        • Kirsty says

          April 24, 2019 at 9:57 pm

          I love your version, Vicki! Your quilting is fantastic, too 🙂

          Reply
  2. Martha O. says

    March 31, 2019 at 12:01 am

    Thanks so much for this ~ LOVE the look of these blocks!

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      March 31, 2019 at 12:08 am

      Thank you, Martha – so glad you like them!

      Reply
  3. Bernie says

    March 31, 2019 at 10:28 am

    Very nice tutorial!! These blocks look like a lot of fun. Thanks a bunch for writing this up for all of us.

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      April 1, 2019 at 6:54 am

      You’re most welcome, Bernie 🙂

      Reply
  4. Peta says

    March 31, 2019 at 6:10 pm

    Now that a pretty block Miss Kirsty and I just happen to have a whole heap of quilt sides left too!

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      April 1, 2019 at 6:54 am

      I’m hearing you Peta. They’re good for string quilts, but I thought I’d offer an alternative as well x

      Reply
  5. Sue H says

    March 31, 2019 at 10:18 pm

    Beautiful block with so much potential. Would absolutely make a wonderful scrappy quilt!

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      April 1, 2019 at 6:53 am

      Thank you, Sue!

      Reply
  6. wandapachura says

    March 31, 2019 at 10:44 pm

    Świetny pomysł podsunęłaś mi Kirsty. Mam sporo resztek tkanin i już mi brakło pomysłu jak je wykorzystać. Jak coś uszyję to Ci pokażę. Pozdrawiam

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      April 1, 2019 at 6:50 am

      Thank you Wanda, I hope you get the chance to reduce your scraps too. I’d love to see your blocks if you do get the chance to make any!

      Reply
  7. Claudia W says

    April 1, 2019 at 2:24 am

    Cute blocks! I kept imagining some made with my scraps…maybe enough to cover the state of Washington! Thank you so much for the tutorial.

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      April 1, 2019 at 6:48 am

      Ha, yes the scrap struggle is real! I hope you get the chance to bring yours back under control 🙂

      Reply
  8. Stephanie says

    April 2, 2019 at 5:24 am

    The yellow one looks like a chicken’s face from straight on. Just needs some eyes. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      April 2, 2019 at 6:59 am

      Yes – with an open beak! Great idea 🙂

      Cheers,
      Kirsty

      Reply
  9. Julie @ The Crafty Quilter says

    April 8, 2019 at 12:27 am

    I love this! Wonderful tutorial and a great idea for using up rectangle scraps.

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      April 10, 2019 at 1:18 pm

      Thanks Julie, so glad you liked it!

      Reply
  10. Brenda says

    April 8, 2019 at 4:51 am

    Thanks for the tutorial! This looks like a lot of fun to use up scraps!

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      April 10, 2019 at 1:19 pm

      Thanks Brenda, I think it’s helpful to have a variety of patterns for scraps for all the different shapes they come in. Skinnier strips have been on my list for a while.

      Reply
  11. Andrea Porter says

    April 8, 2019 at 9:46 am

    Happened by and saw these happy blocks. They look like great fun with good possibilities. Thank you for sharing the tutorial!

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      April 10, 2019 at 1:24 pm

      Thanks for dropping by, I’m glad to hear you like tutorial. Best of luck battling your scraps!

      Reply
  12. Shirley says

    April 12, 2019 at 7:42 am

    I can’t believe I found a blog that’s current; I’m usually year late. I love these triangles with the easier way to get a pretty center. Thank you.

    Reply
  13. Pam Hedlund says

    April 21, 2019 at 6:19 am

    This is a great idea for scraps – something a little different than what I usually think of when thinking scrappy! Thanks – looking forward to the pattern.

    Reply
  14. Diane says

    April 25, 2019 at 6:37 am

    I found that when trimming the half rectangle triangle blocks they should be trimmed to 2.5″ x 5″. This would give it that 2:1 ratio. This creates the perfect diamond shape.

    Reply
    • Kirsty says

      April 25, 2019 at 7:32 am

      Hi Diane, the 2.5″ x 4.5″ is the unfinished HRT size, so that when it’s sewn together (finished) it will be 2″ x 4″, giving the 2:1 ratio. You can certainly trim to 2.5″ x 5″ if you like, it will just give a 2″ x 4.5″ rectangle when sewn into a quilt.

      Reply
  15. Pam B. says

    May 8, 2019 at 1:46 am

    Just found your blog. Very interesting!! Thanks so much for such a and visual tutorial!! Great instructions!! I too have a literal mountain of scraps, what a great way to begin to whittle!! Quick question. Is there an economic way to print out your tutorial, so I can have it as I sew for reference? I do not see a print button. Thanks for your help and your blog.

    Reply
    • Pam B. says

      May 8, 2019 at 1:49 am

      HAHA I hit send before I proof read!! Should read: …such a complete and visual…

      Reply
  16. Pet says

    January 6, 2020 at 6:17 pm

    Lovely tutorial ..will be trying this in the near future ..thank you !

    Reply
  17. Sandy Hozian says

    April 1, 2020 at 9:47 am

    Love this. Thank you dor posting. Can’t wait to try it.

    Reply

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