How to make The Wisconsin State Quilt Block – Journey of US State Quilt Blocks #23

This post is going to show you how to make the Wisconsin State Quilt block, with no Y seams.

Welcome to the 23rd block in our Any Way You Want It – A 50 State Quilt Block Journey. We are introducing the Wisconsin State quilt block! To see our other State blocks (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!

This block in it’s original iteration involves Y seams. I have modified it so that there isn’t any Y seams!! My color inspiration is the Wisconsin State Flower – The Wood Violet.

, How to make The Wisconsin State Quilt Block – Journey of US State Quilt Blocks #23

Below I will show you how to put this block together and I have created a video tutorial for this block also. The video will show you how I assemble the different sections of the block and then put them all together to become the single 12 1/2″ square block.

How to make the Wisconsin State Quilt block with free templates and cutting directions

Go grab the rotary cutting directions for this block below and let’s get started!

Supplies

3 fat quarters of your choice, preferably a dark, medium and light color.. I am part of the Fat Quarter Shop Hoffman Batik of the Month club and my batik’s accumulate so that is how I got my fabrics for my blocks. I chose the colors of the State Flower – Wood Lily that has an Purple, Lavender and Green in it. Below are two of the Batik’s I used in this block, the other was from my stash and I’m not sure where I got it!

The following items are good things to have when getting ready to paper piece

Newspaper Print paper – I used this to build my template
Alphabitties – I use these to label all my pieces in the block.
6.5″ square ruler – all pieces can be cut with this small ruler.
1/4″ presser foot – great addition to a sewing machine for getting precise seams.
Thread – Aurifil 50 wt. are great because they are strong, but light so there isn’t a lot of bulk in the seams.
Block Easel – I use this to hold all my pieces in place as I build my blocks!

Step 1 – Choose your fabrics

Choose fabrics that have enough contrast that you can see the pattern in the end. I will also suggest that for the medium color (or the green in my block) to choose a fabric that doesn’t have a lot of color variation or doesn’t have a big print so that your seam will disappear. The reason this is important is because I am showing how to build this block without Y seams.

Step 2 – Cut your pieces

The rotary cutter instructions are great for getting all your pieces cut. Two of the pieces will need a template. I explain how to make the template in my video. I used Alphabitties to keep track of all my cuts, so when I put the block together I know where the pieces will go according to the letter in the pattern!

Template B

Cut a rectangle and on the top of the short side make two marks as indicated on the rotary cutting instructions. Cut from the top of each mark to the bottom corner and you will have template B.

Template C

Cut a rectangle and on the top of the 4″ side make two marks as indicated on the pattern, then make a mark on each side of the bottom of the 3 3/4″ side as indicated in the pattern. Cut from the top mark to the side mark and this will give you template C.

Cut the rest of your pieces as indicated in the pattern. Most pieces are squares or rectangles that will be cut on the diagonal to create the triangles you will need.

Step 2 – Lay out the pieces to make your block.

The pattern gives a picture of the block and a lettered legend to tell you where your pieces will go. I used my block easel to keep my pieces in place and laid out the block according to the legend on the rotary cutting instructions.

Let’s start with the corners!

I used a skant 1/4″ on all my seams because this 12″ block has a lot of seams and this keeps it from shrinking as much.

We are going to start in the corners of this block and build those, these will actually go on last, but we can build them and put them aside until the end.

Put together the two triangles in the corner, sew along the long edge, iron towards the dark side and trim the tails!

Next we will add the light color A’s in the corner and add them to the square we just made. Make sure the right angles on each are squared up together and pin the side you need to sew. Iron these seams towards the A triangles and trim the tails! Set your corner aside for now.

Build the Center Row!

First we will add the F pieces to the center G piece. Add opposite F pieces to the G and center the triangle, leave 1/4″ tails on each side of the triangle when adding to the block. Sew and iron towards the F triangle, trim tails. Repeat for the other two triangles.

Next we will build the end pieces by taking the D/E and adding them to the large C piece, there will be green tails on both sides. Sew this on, iron towards the green D/E piece, repeat for the other side and then trim your tails.

We are now ready to put the blocks together to build the center row. Match edges, sew and iron towards the outside block.

Build the Side Rows!

This row has more seams, and more bias seams, so just keep that in mind as your are ironing and sewing.

Add the side C piece to the middle C piece, line them up and sew, iron towards the center C triangle. Repeat with the C piece on the other side.

Next we will sew the D/E and B piece together. Match edges and there will be tails both ends, sew and iron towards the D/E piece and trim tails

Now we will put the sections together by adding the ends to the C section we built. Match center corners and edges, sew and iron towards the C piece. Trim tails, and repeat for the other row.

Step 3 – Assemble the block!

We can now put the block together! Add the center row to one of the side rows, matching the corners in the middle and the edges. Sew and iron towards the outer row. Repeat for the other outside row.

The center of our block is complete and we can now add the corners. Add opposite corners, lining up the two points in the middle, and there will be 1/4″ tails on the ends from the corner piece. Sew and iron towards the corner, trim tails. Repeat for all 4 corners.

Trim your block if needed to 12.5″ square.

Your Wisconsin State Block is complete!

Congratulations! Your Wisconsin State Block is now complete! Share your newly created block with your friends on Social Media! Use the #WisconsinStateQuiltBlockCC and see what other people are making!