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Harmony Square Quilt Block
From our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library
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Be at peace with your inner quilter while stitching up the Harmony Square quilt block.
Both paperpiecing and traditional piecing techniques are presented. Choose the method that works best for you.
In this tutorial are:
- Cutting Charts in four sizes and a place to download the chart and block design for both traditional and paperpiecing
- Paperpiecing patterns to download for each block size
- Step-by-step illustrated instructions for both methods—choose your favorite!
- A Harmony Square coloring page to print
- No time to quilt? Pin this tutorial for later.
It's time to cut up and sew!
General Instructions
Several abbreviations are used on this page. They are:
- SA - seam allowance
- RST - right sides together
- HST - half square triangles
1/4" SA are used through this tutorial.
When instructed to press, first press the patches in the closed position just as they came off your sewing machine. This sets the seam, melding the thread into the fibers of the fabric.
In paperpiecing, SA are always pressed towards the last added patch.
Pressing instructions are highlighted in yellow throughout this tutorial.
Download and print paperpiecing units
If you prefer traditional piecing methods, omit this printing and skip to Step 1. Use the green cutting chart. Follow the traditional piecing instructions in Step 2 for the corner units.
For all you paperpiecers, follow the instructions below to download and print the patterns used to complete this block.
You'll need the most current version of Adobe installed on your computer to download the pattern.
On the Adobe Print Menu page, under 'Page Size and Handling' set 'Custom Scale' to 100% before printing for accurate results. Click here to see what it looks like on the Print Menu page.
Choose your Finished Block Size from the chart below and print the corresponding number of pages for a total of four units.
Print the Harmony Square Units | |
|---|---|
| Click on the Finished Block Size | Print this many copies for each block |
| 5" | 1 |
| 7-1/2" | 1 |
| 10" | 2 |
| 12-1/2" | 4 |
After printing, use the 1" square graphic on the printed page(s) to check that the patterns printed correctly.
Not sure which paper to use?
Take a look at my review of several of the most popular brands available to us quilters on the market.
You want a super-easy paper to tear away—less stress on the stitches.
The newest quilt fabrics to tickle your fancy...
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 your Harmony Square quilt block
Harmony Square designSample Block Size: 10" finished / 10½:" unfinished
Grid: 10x10
Attribution: Nancy Cabot
Design Type: Uneven 9-patch small center
A light, a medium and a dark fabric are needed to complete this patchwork design.
Please label all your patches. We refer to their numbers throughout this tutorial.
To print a copy of just the block design above and cutting charts below to use at your cutting table, click here.
Includes paperpiecing
 | Cutting Chart for a~Paperpiecing PLUS Traditional Piecing ~ | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patch | Fabric | Qty | Finished Block Size | Sub Cut | |||
| 5" | 7 1/2" | 10" | 12 1/2" | ||||
| 1 | Dark | 4 | 1¼" x 1¼" | 1½" x 1½" | 1¾" x 1¾" | 2" x 2" | --- |
| 2,3 | Med | 4 | 1⅞" x 1⅞" | 2⅛" x 2⅛" | 2⅜" x 2⅜" | 2⅝" x 2⅝" |  |
| 4 | Dark | 2 | 2⅜" x 2⅜" | 2⅞" x 2⅞" | 3⅜" x 3⅜" | 3⅞" x 3⅞" | |
| 5, 6 | Light | 4 | 2⅜" x 2⅜" | 2⅞" x 2⅞" | 3⅜" x 3⅜" | 3⅞" x 3⅞" | |
| 7 | Med | 2 | 3⅜" x 3⅜" | 4⅜" x 4⅜" | 5⅜" x 5⅜" | 6⅜" x 6⅜" | |
| 8 | Light | 1 | 1" x 7 | 1¼" x 9 | 1½" x 11" | 1¾" x 13" | --- |
| 9 | Dark | 1 | 1" x 7 | 1¼" x 9 | 1½" x 11" | 1¾" x 13" | --- |
| 10 | Light | 1 | 1½" x 7 | 2" x 9 | 2½" x 11" | 3" x 13" | --- |
| 11 | Med | 1 | 1½" x 1½" | 2" x 2" | 2½" x 2½" | 3" x 3" | --- |
| Unfinished Block Size | 5 1/2" | 8" | 10 1/2" | 13" | --- | ||
| Grid Size | 1/2" | 3/4" | 1 | 1 1/4" | --- | ||
Traditional piecing
 | Cutting Chart for a~Traditional Piecing ~ | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patch | Fabric | Qty | Finished Block Size | Sub Cut | |||
| 5" | 7½" | 10" | 12½" | ||||
| 1 | Dark | 4 | 1" x 1" | 1¼" x 1¼" | 1½" x 1½" | 1¾" x 1¾" | --- |
| 2, 3 | Med | 4 | 1⅜" x 1⅜" | 1⅝" x 1⅝" | 1⅞" x 1⅞" | 2⅛" x 2⅛" | |
| 4 | Dark | 2 | 1⅞" x 1⅞" | 2⅜" x 2⅜" | 2⅞" x 2⅞" | 3⅜" x 3⅜" | |
| 5, 6 | Light | 4 | 1⅞" x 1⅞" | 2⅜" x 2⅜" | 2⅞" x 2⅞" | 3⅜" x 3⅜" | |
| 7 | Med | 2 | 2⅞" x 2⅞" | 3⅞" x 3⅞" | 4⅞" x 4⅞" | 5⅞" x 5⅞" | |
| 8 | Light | 1 | 1" x 7" | 1¼" x 9" | 1½" x 11" | 1¾" x 13" | --- |
| 9 | Dark | 1 | 1" x 7" | 1¼" x 9" | 1½" x 11" | 1¾" x 13" | --- |
| 10 | Light | 1 | 1½" x 7" | 2" x 9" | 2½" x 11" | 3" x 13" | --- |
| 11 | Med | 1 | 1½" x 1½" | 2" x 2" | 2½" x 2½" | 3" x 3" | --- |
| Unfinished Block Size | 5½" | 8" | 10½" | 13" | --- | ||
| Grid Size | ½" | ¾" | 1" | 1¼" | |||
Step 2: Assemble the units for a Harmony Square
Corners
Make 4
In our sample Harmony Square this unit is paper pieced.
However, I realize that not everyone cares for that technique, so you can choose traditional piecing instructions instead. For those instructions, click here.
Otherwise, for all you paper piecers continue here.
General Sewing Machine Setup for Paperpiecing
- Reduce your stitch length to 16–20 stitches per inch (1.3-1.6 mm). This perforates the paper. It also stabilizes the seam when you remove the pattern. [Learn more about stitch length here.]
- Reduce your machine's speed or just plain slow down when you stitch. Sew only as fast as you can stay on the stitching lines.
- Install an open toe appliqué foot (sometimes called an 'embroidery' or 'satin stitch' foot) if you have one (it's easier to see where you're stitching with one installed).
- Use a larger needle (90/14) if you have problems removing the pattern.
- If your machine has a needle stop up, use it. The stitching goes faster when you don't have to lift the presser foot with every seam.
- As you stitch each seam, start and stop a generous 1/4” before and after the solid stitching lines. ALWAYS. Future lines of stitching secure the ends.
After adding each patch, press the unit as it was sewn to set the seam and then open. The SA is automatically pressed towards the last patch added.
Before adding the next patch, take a look to make sure the one you just added covers the space plus seam allowance that it is supposed to.
Steam is optional and usually curls the pattern.
If that bothers you, don't use steam. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't.
It truly depends on my mood.
Remember, as you follow this paper piecing tutorial, the printed and the fabric sides of this block are mirror-images of each other.
At last!
Let's sew!
Trim away the excess paper from each unit just outside the dashed lines. There's no benefit to being neat, a rough trim will do here.
On to the piecing!
Using the tiniest dab of Elmer's Washable Glue stick stick the wrong side of a #1 to the unprinted side of the pattern. Use the dashed placement guides for fast and accurate positioning.
That was quick and easy to position!With RST align the short side of a #2 with the #1.
Stitch on the solid line between #1 and #2 starting and stopping a generous 1/4" from the beginning and ending of the line. Each line you stitch is stitched in this same manner to insure secure seams.
Press.
Repeat this same process for #3.
That long straggly thread tail peaking out from the printed side will get trimmed away.Time to trim the SA of #2 and #3. At the cutting mat, lay the unit printing up.
You'll need to pull the fabric away from the pattern a little...it will tear a bit (pink arrow). That's normal.
Align the edge of your ruler with the solid line between #2/#3 and #4. Use your thumbnail to crease the paper on the solid line.
Remove the ruler and fold the pattern back on itself on this line.
Position the ruler with its 1/4" marks (pink arrow below) on the fold of the pattern and trim away the excess fabric.
Some quilters find this job easier with an Add-A-Quarter PLUS Ruler.
Use this same technique every time you need to trim a seam while piecing this corner unit.
With RST, align the long bias edge of #4 with the trimmed #2/#3 edges.
For quick placement, the point of the #4 patch should be opposite the point on the pattern (white arrows). You can just barely make out the printing on the other side of the pattern.Stitch the seam. Since it runs from edge-to-edge, you can chain piece this step.
Press.
Our Harmony Square quilt block is coming along nicely!Trim the seam allowance as you did before for #2/#3 for both unstitched sides of #4.
After trimming, with RST position the short side of a #5 with the edge of #4.
The fold lines in the paper are from the creasing I did to trim the #4 patch to sizeStitch and press.
Repeat for #6.
Adding #6Press.
Trim the #5/#6 SA as you did before.
The 1/4" line on your ruler is right on top of the folded edge of the pattern(pink arrow).With RST align the long bias edge of #7 with the freshly trimmed edges of #5/#6.
Position the point opposite the corner of the pattern.Stitch and press.
All that's left is do is trim the unit to size.
At your cutting mat, paper side up, place the 1/4" mark on your ruler directly on the solid outside line of the pieced corner unit.
Trim the excess away with your rotary cutter.
Match the 1/4" mark on your ruler with the solid outline of the corner(pink arrow)Repeat for all four sides of all four units.
This is what they look like after all is said and done.
Don't forget to remove the paper from your Harmony Square corner units.Return your sewing machine to your everyday settings.
We stitch the remainder of the block with traditional techniques.
Install your favorite quarter inch presser foot. Adjust the needle position if needed. Increase to your normal piecing stitch length.
Click here to go directly to the Side units for this Harmony Square quilt block...
Or...
...click here to see how the Corners are pieced using traditional methods.
If you've enjoyed making this unit, there's another block that uses it. Only the fabric placements have changed.
Take a look at the Blacks and Whites quilt block tutorial here.
Looking for a different quilt block?
For a list of all the quilt block patterns on this site, start here.
If you know the name of the block, you can shorten your search by using these alphabetical links:
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:
- Home
- Free Paper Piecing Patterns
- Harmony Square Quilt Block
My
Favorite Paper
Piecing Tools
For a complete list of all the tools I personally use, click here to read 'The Right Tools Make Your Job Easier', part of my series called, "Essential Paper Piecing Skills".
The serrated edge on this short-bladed scissor make it easy to trim seam allowances—my all-time favorite scissor.
