How to Make a Classic Hourglass Quilt

One of my favorite quilt motifs to play with is the classic hourglass.

The hourglass is such a versatile and fun element. Whether you're adding in a little negative space, changing the size of the hourglass shape, or playing with the number of fabrics, you've got so many options!

And bonus, it's an easy pattern to adapt so there aren’t any HSTs or QSTs (or any trimming)! In my version, all the triangles are made by “snowballing” the corners of the blocks.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Finished Size: 54" x 54"

Seam Allowance: All cutting instructions factor in a ¼" seam allowance

Yardage/WOF: Width of fabric (WOF) is assumed to be 42"

Materials

Accent Fabrics: you’ll need a total of (128) 2½" squares. Don’t have the necessary scraps? Want to use yardage? You’ll need five ¼ yds (FQs will work too) of different fabrics.

Background Fabric: 2¾ yds.

Binding: ½ yd.

Backing: I love the idea of pairing the "scrappy" stars on the front with a scrappy back, but if you’d prefer to have a single fabric back, you’ll need 3½ yds. of backing fabric.

Cutting Instructions

Cut the following pieces (total number of pieces required are in parentheses):

Accent Fabrics:

2½" x 2½" (128) total

If you’re using yardage, here's how I'd cut it:

Fabric A, B, C, D:
- 2½” x WOF (1): subcut 2½" x 2½" (16)
- 2½” x WOF (1): subcut 2½" x 2½" (9)
Fabric E:
- 2½” x WOF (1): subcut 2½" x 2½" (16)
- 2½” x WOF” (1): subcut 2½" x 2½" (12)

Background Fabric:

6½" x 6½" (81) total

Here’s how I’d cut my squares out:

6½" x WOF (14):
- subcut (13): 6½" x 6½" (6)
- subcut (1): 6½" x 6½" (3)

Binding: 2½" x WOF (6)

How to snowball your blocks

To start, you’re going to snowball your blocks. How do you snowball the corner of a block, you ask? Don't worry: it's easy!

Draw a diagonal line on the back of a 2½" square, then line it up on the corner of the background piece, pin, and sew down the diagonal line (step 1). Trim the corner (along the dotted line in step 2), leaving a ¼" seam allowance (step 3). Press. And voila (step 4)!

Quilt Block Assembly

Set (2) 6½" background fabric squares aside.

Make (30) of the following block with (30) of the 6½" squares by snowballing one corner with a 2½" accent fabric square :

Make (49) of the following block with (49) of the 6½" squares by snowballing two opposite corners with a 2½" accent fabric square:

Side note: I like to toss all my 2½” squares in a bag and draw them out randomly as I sew. But you do you and plan as much or as little as you want!

Quilt Top Assembly

Once you’ve got all your blocks ready to go, it’s time to lay them out following the diagram below, with 9 blocks to a row and to a column (the “blank” background squares go in opposite corners of the quilt).

Once you’ve got an arrangement of your scrappy (or not so scrappy) blocks that you like, sew it all together (by rows first or by columns: it doesn’t matter!).

Finishing Instructions

BASTE + QUILT

Trim the backing fabric to size. Place the backing fabric wrong side up on a flat surface, followed by the batting, and then the quilt top right side up. Baste using your preferred method and quilt as desired.

TRIM + SQUARE UP

Square up the quilt, trimming the excess batting and backing.

BIND

Make the binding tape by joining the strips right sides together on the diagonal, pressing seams open. Fold the tape in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together and iron flat. Line the raw edges of the binding tape to the edge of the quilt and sew. Fold the tape over and either whipstitch the binding by hand or machine stitch the binding to attach it.