Handy Andy Quilt Block

From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library

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Skill Level: Confident Beginner

The Handy Andy quilt block uses a total of 16 half square triangles (HST) which makes it the perfect place to practice a wickedly speedy method to make these basic units.

In this lesson we'll use the 8 at a time technique—perfect for when all the triangles are made from the same two fabrics.

The Handy Andy quilt block tutorial starts here

If you'd prefer a different approach, check out our Basic Quilt Blocks page for alternative techniques.

There are a bunch of blocks that go by the same name. They are shared after the tutorial.

Let's get started!

General Instructions

Abbreviations used in this tutorial:

  • SA - seam allowance
  • RST - right sides together
  • HST - half square triangle
  • QST - quarter square triangle

SAs are 1/4" and pressed to the darker fabric unless otherwise noted.

When you are instructed to press, first press the pieced unit flat to set the seam. This helps to meld the thread into the fabric. Then open the patch, pressing from the front to minimize the occurrence of tucks.

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Click the images below to see the full collection. We share any commercial and/or free patterns that showcase them, too. (For inspiration, of course!)

Step 1: Cutting for a Handy Andy block

Handy Andy patchwork designHandy Andy design

Sample Size: 7½" finished / 8" unfinished

Grid: 5x5

Attribution: Ruth Finley

Design Type: Uneven 9-patch, small center

Patches #1 and #2 are cut oversized. The HST are then trimmed to size after stitching to create perfect units which make piecing them together more accurate.

Choose fabrics with enough contrast so that the points of your HSTs show.

Select a block size from the chart below and cut the patches for your Handy Andy quilt block.

Generations Quilt Patterns logo

Cutting Chart for a
Handy Andy Quilt Block

~ Traditional Piecing ~

Patch Fabric Qty Finished Block Size
5” 7-1/2” 10”
1** D 2 4-1/4”x4-1/4” 5-1/4”x5-1/4” 6-1/4”x6-1/4”
2** L 2 4-1/4”x4-1/4” 5-1/4”x5-1/4” 6-1/4”x6-1/4”
3 D 1 1-1/2”x1-1/2” 2”x2” 2-1/2”x2-1/2”
4 L 4 1-1/2”x3-1/2” 2”x5” 2-1/2”x6-1/2”
Unfinished Block Size 5-1/2” 8” 10-1/2”
Grid Size 1” 1-1/2” 2”

**Cut oversized to be trimmed after stitching.



Step 2: Assembling the HST units

Individual HST

Make 16

On the back side of the two light #2 squares, draw an 'X' on the back that connects the diagonal corners. I use a mechanical pencil because the line always stays fine.

With right sides together (RST) layer a marked #2 with a #1 and sew a quarter inch from both sides of each line for a total of four stitching lines.

Sew a quarter inch away from both sides of both lines

Press the unit flat to set all the seams at once.

To create the HSTs we need to trim this sewn unit into 8 pieces. Refer back to the chart below and find the Center or Midpoint  Measurement.

HST Dimensions

Finished
Block Size
Center or Midpoint
Measurement
Trim HST to…
5" 2-1/8" 1-1/2"
7-1/2" 2-5/8" 2"
10" 3-1/8" 2-1/2"

For our 7-1/2" finished sample block that number is 2-5/8".

Find this mid-point line on your ruler and match it to one of the edges of the sewn squares (red arrow). The center edge of the ruler (black arrow) should touch the intersection of the lines you drew (or be very, very close).

Cut.

Use the 'Midpoint' measurement from the cutting chart to cut the unit in half, and then in half again.

Repeat for the adjacent side. The sewn square is now in four pieces (below, left). Cut each square in half along the drawn line (below, right).

Cut the sewn #1/#12 first into 4 squares and then into 8 triangle squaresAfter the first two cuts, you have 4 squares (left, above), after the second two cuts you have 8 (right, above).

Press each sewn pair of squares and trim to the 'Trim HSTs to...' size from the chart above.

For our 7-1/2" finished block, trim them to 2"x2".

Trim the half square triangles to size referring to the cutting chart for the correct size

Repeat for the second set of #1/#2 squares for a total of 16 HSTs.

Click here if you would like more detailed instructions to make Half Square Triangles 8 at a time.

HST Units

Make 4

Sew 8 pairs of HSTs together.

Sew the HSTs into 8 pairs

Press—4 pairs with the SA towards the dark and 4 pairs toward the light fabric.

Sew the pairs together, nesting the seam allowancesJoin pairs of HSTs to make 8 of these units

Sew one of each of the differently pressed units together. The SAs nest to make matching easier.

Repeat for the three remaining pairs.

To reduce bulk in the center, twirl the seams (below, right).

Give the patches on final press. Since these units can be rather lumpy, I like to use our Best Pressing Technique to tame them.

You can twirl the seam allowances to reduce bulkOur twirled seam allowance from the back (right, above)

Step 3: Assemble the Handy Andy quilt block

Lay out the pieced and cut patches into rows. You can see that even though the design is drawn on a 5x5 grid, the Handy Andy block is assembled as an uneven 9 patch.

Lay out the patches into rows

Stitch the units into rows. Press, with the SAs toward the #4 rectangles.

Sew the patches together into rows, pressing toward the #4 patch

And our Handy Andy quilt block is finished...

The finished Handy Andy quilt blockHandy Andy quilt block

Same name—different block

There are four other blocks I've found that also sometimes go by the name 'Handy Andy'. All have lots of pointy points in common...

Boxes quilt bloc design

Boxes

This 7 fabric block looks nothing like its original Handy Andy quilt block.

Corn and Beans quilt bloc design

Corn and Beans

Full of half square triangles, but drawn on a 6x6 grid.

AKA: Crazy Ann, Ducks and Ducklings, Hen and Chickens, Hen and Chicks, Shoo Fly

Duck Ducklings quilt bloc design

Duck and Ducklings

AKA:  Corn and Beans, Ducklings, Ducklings for Friendship, Fox & Geese, Hen & Chickens, Shoo-fly, Wild Goose Chase

Click here for instructions for both traditional and paper piecing this block in 5", 7-1/2" and 10" finished sizes

Foot Stool quilt bloc design

Foot Stool

Closely based on this page's block, but includes a quartet of quarter square triangles (QST).

AKA: Mrs. Jones' Favorite

Foot Stool quilt bloc design, variation 1

Foot Stool Variation 1

The QSTs of the previous Foot Stool are rotated a quarter turn to create an Ohio Star in the center.


What about a different quilt block?

For a list of all the 215+ quilt block patterns on this site, start here.

If you know the name of the block, shorten your search by using these links:

A-D

E-M

N-Z

Click here if you're looking for blocks with at least some paper piecing.

Click here if you're looking for the basic building blocks of quilting, i.e., Flying Geese, half square triangles, quarter square triangles, etc., along with several techniques to make each.

And finally, use these links to find blocks in these finished sizes:


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