From our Free Quilt Block Patterns 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:
It's time to cut up and sew!
Several abbreviations are used on this page. They are:
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.
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?
Check out my review of several of the most popular brands available to us quilters on the market.
Which one will you choose?
Sample Block Size:
Grid: 10x10, uneven 9-patch construction
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.
![]() | 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" | --- |
![]() | 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" |
Corners
Make 4
In our sample Harmony Square this unit is paperpieced.
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 paperpiecers continue here.
General Sewing Machine Setup for Paperpiecing
After adding each patch, press the unit as it came off the sewing machine to set the seam. Then press it open. It is automatically pressed towards the last patch added.
Steam is optional and usually curls the paper. If that bothers you, don't use steam.
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.
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.
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.
Stitch the seam. Since it runs from edge-to-edge, you can chain piece this step.
Press.
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.
Stitch and press.
Repeat for #6.
Press.
Trim the #5/#6 SA as you did before.
With RST align the long bias edge of #7 with the freshly trimmed edges of #5/#6.
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.
Repeat for all four sides of all four units.
This is what they look like after all is said and done.
Return your sewing machine to your everyday settings.
The remainder of the block is stitched with traditional techniques.
Install your favorite quarter inch presser foot. Adjust the needle position if needed. Increase the 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.
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For you, are quilt block patterns like potato chips...
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Check the amazing resources I rely on for the majority of the quilt block designs you see on this website.
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