Quilt Instructions for Blocks in a Box Quilt

Hand sew the blocks in a box quilt pattern with the help of muslin foundation fabric by the yard.

The blocks in a box quilt, also known as box in a box, is a traditional quilt pattern that can be approached with several different design options in mind. Choose a palette of scrap fabrics for a charming, old-fashioned look. Compose this quilt from contemporary cotton batik prints for a modern geometric design, or use a bold choice of black, white and red fabric for a striking wall hanging. Foundation by the yard, a pre-printed muslin fabric with a numbered method of piecing used as a base, assists greatly in the hand-sewn construction of this patchwork quilt pattern.

Things You'll Need

• Foundation-by-the-yard fabric
• 6 fat quarters of cotton quilting fabric
• Size 9 needle
• Cotton thread
• Scissors
• Straight pins

Instructions

1. Remove the plain borders from the muslin foundation by the yard.

2. Find the section of the foundation by the yard muslin that is numbered "1." Cut a piece of quilt fabric slightly larger than the section.

3. Pin the right side of the quilt fabric to the wrong side of the foundation muslin, covering the entire “1” section.

4. Cut another piece of quilt fabric slightly larger than the section labeled “2.” Place this fabric right side down next to the “2” section, over the “1” section. An arrow will point to the sewing line. Sew across that line, on the right side of the muslin base, with small, straight hand stitches.

5. Flip the base to the wrong side, and finger-press the “2” section fabric over the “2” section.

6. Continue adding additional patchwork sections in the same manner, in numerical order, until the fabric base is covered. The completed base can be used as a quilt top for a baby quilt or enlarged with one or more borders for a larger quilt.

References

• World Wide Quilting Page: Foundation Block Piecing
• Quilters Review “Foundation by the Yard” Improves on Paper Piecing