Lady of the Lake Quilt Block

From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library

Skill Level: Confident Beginner

Type: 5 patch

Master the Lady of the Lake quilt block and you'll be the Queen of Half Square Triangles in no time!

In this lesson, we'll use two different techniques to sew our HSTs—no specialty rulers—no paper piecing.

Just simple, accurate methods that'll have you whipping out these two-fabric blocks in no time.

Let's get to the piecing!

General Instructions

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All seam allowances (SA) are 1/4".

When you are instructed to press, first press the pieced unit flat to set the seam. Then open the patches, pressing from the front to ensure there are no tucks in the SA.

You may notice I don't trim the thread tails while making the HSTs. There's no need for that extra step because those units are trimmed to size. The tails are automatically removed.

Step 1: Cut fabric patches for a Lady of the Lake

A Lady of the Lake quilt block is symmetrical along the diagonal, except where one side is light, the other is dark.

It's also all about the 'points'.

When making your fabric selections, choose two high contrasting fabrics. Save the big prints for another quilt.

I lucked out in the 7-1/2" finished sample block in the photos below. A large blue polka dot never fell exactly on a point.

If I'd made the 5" block, that would most certainly have happened and points would've been harmed in the making of this block.

All the patches are cut a bit larger, with the units being trimmed to size after stitching. If you are making a single block, two triangle shapes are leftover.

It's time to choose a finished size and cut your patches.

			Cutting Chart for a Lady of the Lake Quilt Block ~ Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size
			5”	7-1/2”	10”
1	L	1	4” x 4”	5-1/2” x 5-1/2”	7” x 7”
2	D	1	4” x 4”	5-1/2” x 5-1/2”	7” x 7”
3	D	2	4-1/4” x 4-1/4”	5-1/4” x 5-1/4”	6-1/4” x 6-1/4”
4	L	2	4-1/4” x 4-1/4”	5-1/4” x 5-1/4”	6-1/4” x 6-1/4”
Unfinished Block Size			5-1/2”	8"	10-1/2”
Trim #1/#2 HST to...			3-1/2” x 3-1/2”	5” x 5”	6-1/2” x 6-1/2”
Midpoint			2-1/8”	2-5/8”	3-1/8”
Trim #4/#3 HSTs to...			1-1/2” x 1-1/2”	2” x 2”	2-1/2” x 2-1/2”
Grid Size			1”	1-1/2”	2”

Step 2: Assemble the Lady of the Lake HST units

We'll use the quick pieced method for the larger triangle square and the 8-at-a-time technique for the smaller ones.

Let's get the stitching for both methods out of the way first...

Draw one diagonal line on the back of the #1 patch and two diagonal lines on the back of each #4 as shown below.

With right sides together, layer the marked #1 with a #2 patch. Sew 1/4" from one side of the line because we only need one large HST for our Lady of the Lake quilt block.

With RST, layer a marked #4 and #3. Sew a 1/4" from both sides of both lines. Repeat for the second #4/#3 pair. You can just barely make out the first two lines of stitching (in a contrasting thread to help you see it).

Press the sewn units flat to set the seams.

For the #1/#2 unit, cut along the drawn line. You will have one HST and two loose triangle patches.

On the cutting chart locate the row "Trim #1/#2 HSTs to..." and the corresponding measurement in the column under the Finished Block size you are making. In this example  with a 7-1/2" finished block, trim to 5" square.

For more detailed instruction on using the above half square triangle method of making  two at a time, click here.

On to the second technique...

Lay your #4/#3 patches marked side up on a small or rotating mat—it's easier to move the mat than the patches.

Find the 'Midpoint' row in the cutting chart and the corresponding measurement under the Finished Block size. Again, in the 7-1/2" column that number is 2-5/8".

Align the 2-5/8" line on your ruler with the edge of the squares (gray arrow) and cut. Ideally this cut goes directly through the center of the drawn 'X'. Since these patches are cut oversize you do have a bit of wiggle room.

Turn the mat a quarter turn, being careful not to disturb your patches. Align the 2-5/8" mark on the ruler with the edge of the square and cut again.

You now have four squares. Cut each apart on the drawn diagonal line.

Press. Trim to the size noted in the cutting chart for the #4/#3 HSTs. Repeat for the second pair.

For more detailed instruction to make half square triangles 8 at a time, click here.

You now have 16 small HSTs and 1 large one.

Step 3: Assemble your Lady of the Lake quilt block

Lay out your triangles as shown in the Lady of the Lake design.

It's a bit confusing until you realize that ALL the small ones are oriented in the same direction with the dark corner in the lower left.

Starting with the sides, with RST sew three small HSTs together to make two sets.

For the top and bottom, with RST sew two sets of 5 HSTs together. If you find  you're having trouble keeping your 1/4" seam even (especially at the ends) for these small units, try pinning them as shown below. (red arrows)

The first pin is perpendicular to the presser foot. The second is parallel to it.

Press, with the SA in the direction of the arrows. On the top and bottom row one unit's SA is pressed in the opposite direction. This is so that the seams will nest. (If you'll be setting your blocks edge to edge, click here for additional pressing instructions.)

Stitch the side 3-HST subunits to the center. Press with SA toward the center to reduce bulk.

Sew the rows together. Especially with all the points to watch out for, I find pinning saves a lot of time.

After a final press, this is your finished Lady of the Lake quilt block.

For a truly flat block, click here to learn about our Best Technique for pressing. I use it on all my blocks.

More about pressing your Lady of the Lake quilt block

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The pressing instructions on this page are for Lady of the Lake blocks that are set together with sashing strips in between. With no seams to match to the sashing, we were only concerned with reducing bulk and making it easier for our seams within the block to nest.

If your blocks are set edge-to-edge, you'll need to adjust the pressing direction of the SAs  so that they'll nest and lay flat after stitching. Since this block is all about points, it's well worth the extra time to help the points at the edge just kiss each other.

Your other option is to press all SAs open. No nesting to bother with then.

It is well worth your time to spend a few minutes planning out how the blocks join together so you don't find (after they are all made) that all the SAs are going in the same direction. That would be one lumpy quilt. Totally not fun to put together!

For even more blocks to make...

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These are my go-to resources for quilt block ideas. 

Maggie Malone's 5500 Quilt Block Designs is my all-time favorite quilt block resource!

Can you tell?

It's in color.

It's got a ton of blocks.

What's not to love?

Next on my 'must-have' list is Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns.

Unlike the Maggie Malone book, the blocks in this volume are hand-drawn and in black and white—no color—personally, I prefer colored drawings to work with.

This book is no longer in print.

If you can come by a copy expect it to be wickedly expensive. Once in awhile you can find it here on Amazon.com.

UPDATE: Electric Quilt, in cooperation with Barbara Brackman has announced they plan to republish the Encyclopedia sometime in 2020. 

However, all is not lost if you can't find a hard copy.

BlockBase is the computerized version of the Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns.

It contains designs for over 4300 blocks—pretty much every block published from the 1830's through the 1970's.

It can be used with Electric Quilt and is a Windows based program.

In fact, there are instructions included so that you can pull up the digital patterns within Electric Quilt (PC version for now) without having to open up BB program.

UPDATE: Electric Quilt has announced that they will be rereleasing the standalone BlockBase software for BOTH PC and MAC in 2020.

This is terrific news.

Finally there's The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer.

Lots of detail and in color, it is a beautiful volume. That said, I check it out of my local library on a regular basis instead of purchasing it—can you see the library sticker on it's spine. Yep, it's from the Plainfield Public Library.

Why?

Simply because I own the previous three references and find this the least user-friendly of the group.

And it does make a fabulous coffee table book!

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