Modern House Free Quilt Pattern

Like most of the country, I spent the weekend glued to my phone watching the disaster unfold in southeast Texas. Thinking and worrying about my friends who live there along with everyone else affected by the hurricane.

If you're feeling moved to make something too, I'm sharing a quick tutorial (please excuse a few blurry photos) for this house quilt block. You'll also find instructions for a throw size quilt after the block tutorial.


I'm making a quilt for one of my closest friends who lives in Houston, but will also be contributing blocks and/or finished quilts to the quilt drive effort. There is a quilt drive being organized through the hashtag #quiltsforharvey on Instagram by Diane Bohn (@fromblankpages), and Melinda (@mel_is_a_swapaholic) is accepting quilt blocks, tops, and supplies. The Linus Connection (@thelinusconnection) in Austin is also organizing a handmade blanket drive. Check their pages for information.


I made the above quilt for Love, Patchwork and Quilting a few years ago, and I'm making a simple twist on this design. This time rather than turning the blocks into flowers I'm going to arrange them in rows, like little houses in a neighborhood. Feel free to interpret the quilt however you'd like.

(If you'd like to make larger blocks, and less of them, I'd suggest using 10" print squares along with 5.25" background squares. Would be perfect for using up a layer cake!)

House Quilt Block Tutorial:

Sewing Level: Beginner Friendly
Finished Block Size: 7”

Materials for One House Block:
- (1) 7.5" print square
- (2) 4" background squares

Seam Allowance: 1/4" unless otherwise noted

Block Instructions:

1. Using a water-soluble marker or a pencil, mark a diagonal line across the wrong side of two 4” background squares.


Place one square in the upper left-hand corner of a 7.5” print square, with right sides together.


Stitch across the corner on the marked line.


Trim off the corner, leaving a 1/4” seam. Press corner up.


2. Place remaining 4” background square in the upper right-hand corner of the block, with right sides together.


Stitch across the corner on the marked line.

Trim off the corner, leaving a 1/4” seam. Press corner up.

3. Square up block to 7.5” if necessary.

Below are the materials and cutting for a throw size quilt:

Here is the finished quilt I made for my friend! You can read all about it here: Modern House Quilt

Sewing Level: Beginner Friendly
Finished Quilt Size: 56”x70”
Finished Block Size: 7”

Materials:
- 20 fat quarters (or 1/4 yard cuts)
- 2 yards of background fabric
- 3 5/8 yards of backing fabric
- 64”x78” piece of batting
- 1/2 yard of binding fabric

Cutting:
From each fat quarter:
- Cut (4) 7.5” squares, for a total of 80.

From background fabric:
- Cut (16) 4”xWOF strips
- Subcut each strip into (10) 4” squares, for a total of 160.

Seam Allowance: 1/4" unless otherwise noted

Throw Quilt Instructions:

1. Follow the block instructions to make 80 blocks.

2. Arrange blocks into 10 rows of 8 blocks each. Sew blocks together in each row. Press seams in one direction, alternating direction every other row. Sew rows together to complete quilt top. Press seams open.

3. Cut backing yardage in half. Press. Trim off the selvedge and sew your pieces together lengthwise. Press seam open. Baste, quilt, and bind.


I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial! I have lots of other tutorials for everything from quilts, pillows, bags, and holiday items to informational series and techniques. Find all my tutorials here: Tutorials. My online shop is filled with patterns for quilts and bags. Find my patterns here: Jeni Baker Patterns

If you make something using one of my tutorials or patterns, I hope you'll tag me @jenib320 and use my hashtag #jenibaker on instagram!

Happy Quilting!