How to Make the Bluegrass State Block – Journey of US State Quilt Blocks #3 Kentucky

Welcome to the 3rd block in our Any Way You Want It – A 50 State Quilt Block Journey. We are introducing the Kentucky block! To see our first two blocks (Florida and Michigan click here – State Quilt Block Journey)

In 1912 Hearth and Home solicited quilters to submit a quilt block that they thought represented their State, and they then published them and I am recreating these blocks for us to make!

I chose Kentucky as my 3rd block because my maternal and paternal side of the family is from Kentucky. I have very fond memories of family reunions, visiting my grandparents, and my grandfathers tobacco farm where he raised cattle. Kentucky is near and dear to my heart. The colors I chose for the block give me a bluegrass vibe!

Below is a picture of the pattern that I have to work from, and I was able to reconstruct this block pattern in EQ8. The difference between my block and the block below is the size. The original block was 11″ tall and 12 3/4″ wide, and I made mine to be a 12 1/2″ square. Fundamentally they are the same block.

, How to Make the Bluegrass State Block – Journey of US State Quilt Blocks #3 Kentucky

Below I will give you tips on building this block and also lay out the steps to build this block. Follow my tips and you will get a beautiful 12 1/2″ block.

Go grab the templates for this block below and let’s get started! The pattern includes cutting the templates and instructions on cutting the strips for your templates.

I have done an extensive video on how to put this block together and I have embedded it at the end of this post.

To Begin With

Unlike the Florida and Michigan, this block will be constructed as one large block and not several smaller pieces. There are only two templates to use and cut your pieces.

Choose fabrics that contrast each other so that the pattern will stand out. I chose colors that represented the state, but you can choose colors of your choice.

I used the legend provided with the templates to mark where my colors would go, so I would make sure they were in the right spots while constructing my block.

If you are not using batiks, you will need to cut two of template A and two template B to make sure your corners are oriented in the right directions.

Tips for this block before we start

Use a skant 1/4″.
Cut your strips with the grain of the fabric. This will help prevent stretching the fabrics when sewing. We want the fabrics to keep their shape.
Use a smaller stitch like a 2.0 stitch. This will help keep your fabrics from moving after sewing them.
The notches on the side of the template need to be cut from the fabric. This will be very important to line up your pieces.

Step 1 – Choose and Cut your Templates

There is only one size strip you will need to cut for all the templates. The pattern tells you what size to cut your strips!

I used fat quarters and needed 3 strips for the light color and 1 strip for the dark color. You will need 16 light triangles and 8 dark triangles, 2 light left corners and 2 light right corners.

Take your fabric and square it up with the grain and cut your strips to the width needed according the pattern. The number of strips will depend on the width of your fabric.

Next up will be to cut your templates out of the strips that you just cut.

For the triangles I laid both my light and dark strips together, lined them up and cut my triangles for both colors. Your last strip will be for the corners templates.

Now that you have your pieces cut we will go onto Step 2.

Step 2 – Layout your Block Pieces and Sew the Rows of Triangles

Layout out all your pieces in the order they go to make the block. Use your handy legend to help you lay it out!

Next we will start sewing the triangles together. Grab your first and second triangles in a row and clip the edge that needs the seam. Line up the rounded corners and sew a skant 1/4″. Iron the seams open.

Next lay your newly sewn piece back in place and grab the next triangle and sew it on just like the first. Iron open, lay it back down to make sure you have it in the right direction and add the next triangle.

Do this until you reach the last triangle. Move to the next row and do the same thing.

Now that your second row is complete we will join the two rows together by lining up the tips of the triangles. Take a pin and put it through the back of the top piece where the two seams meet at the tip of the triangle. It should come out the other side right at the point of the triangle. (See below)

Next put your pin through the tip of the bottom triangle. Hold your pin so it is straight (this keeps the tips of the triangles together) and pin or clip the two strips together. Do this for the other triangle, match the edges up at the rounded corners and sew a skant 1/4″ seam.

This seam doesn’t need to be ironed open. Press the seam to one side.

Next up we will add the corner pieces. Lay your newly sew strips back down and line up the corner pieces so they make 1/2 of the block. Make sure the rounded corners match and sew at a skant 1/4″. These seams can be ironed to one side also.

You now have 1/2 of the block finished, the other half will be constructed just like the instructions above.

Now you should have two 1/2 blocks ready to be put together.

Step 3 – Complete your block

Now that we have both halves of the block completed, we will put the two halves together. They will go together just like the triangle strips in Step 2 by matching the points with the pin method and then lining up the corner seams on either end.

Sew at a skant 1/4″ and iron the seam to one side!

Next we need to trim your block to 12 1/2″! Lay your block on a cutting mat and put your 12 1/2″ ruler over it and line up the 6 1/4″ marker on the 45 degree line with the center of your block. (See below) Then make sure that the 6 1/4″ lines, line up with the center seam and this will square up your block.

Once you are lined up, you can trim the edges of your block!

Congratulations, you have completed your Kentucky State Quilt block.