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Rolling Square Quilt Block Tutorial
From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library
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Skill Level: Beginner
The Rolling Square quilt block is made from 2 fabrics. It's quite similar to the Broken Wheel block—only the grid it's drawn on is different.
Its 5x5 grid is sometimes referred to as an uneven nine patch and is made with Square in a Square and strip pieced units.
Rolling Square designIn this tutorial you'll find:
- Free paper piecing patterns to download
- Related blocks based on the same 9-patch grid
Let's begin our Rolling Square block!
📋 General Instructions
These abbreviations are used on this page:
- SA - seam allowance
- RST - right sides together
- SiaS - square in a square unit
SA are 1/4" unless otherwise indicated.
When you are instructed to press, first press the pieced unit flat to set the seam. Then open the patch, pressing from the front. Seam allowances are pressed to the dark fabric unless otherwise noted.
Step 1: Download paper piecing patterns
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.
Print your chosen block size from the table below.
Print the SiaS Units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Finished Block Size | # of copies | Link to PDF Download |
| 5" | 1 | 2" |
| 7-1/2" | 1 | 3" |
| 10" | 2 | 4" |
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 2: Cut patches for a Rolling Square
Rolling Square designSample Size: 5" finished / 5½" unfinished
Grid: 5x5
Attribution: Mrs. Danner
AKA: Home Circle, Mrs. Anderson's Quilt (Mrs. Danner), Garden of Eden (Mrs. Danner), Rolling Squares (Nancy Cabot)
Design Type: Uneven 9-patch
Patches #2 thru #5 are generously cut to make placement foolproof.
After making a couple of blocks, make any needed adjustments to the measurements and note for future reference.
The strip piecing strips are cut a bit longer than needed to allow for some straightening cuts.
 | Cutting Chart for a~PaperPiecing ~ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patch | Fabric | Qty | Finished Block Size | Sub Cut | ||
| 5" | 7½" | 10" | ||||
| 1 | D | 4 | 1⅞" x 1⅞" | 2⅝" x 2⅝" | 3⅜" x 3⅜" | -- |
| 2, 3, 4, 5 | L | 8 | 2⅜" x 2⅜" | 2⅞" x 2⅞" | 3⅜" x 3⅜" |  |
| 6 | D | 1 | 1½" x 7" | 2" x 9" | 2½" x 11" | -- |
| 7 | L | 1 | 1½" x 7" | 2" x 9" | 2½" x 11" | -- |
| 8 | D | 1 | 1½" x 1½" | 2" x 2" | 2½" x 2½" | -- |
| Unfinished Block Size | 5½" | 8" | 10½" | -- | ||
| Grid Size | 1" | 1½" | 2" | -- | ||
Step 3: Assemble the units
SiaS
Make 4
Cut four patterns from the downloaded pattern sheet. A rough cut it good enough; no need to spend time cutting on the dotted line.
Reduce your stitch length to 15-20 stitches per inch for paper piecing.
With a dab of Elmer's Glue Stick—the kind that goes on purple and dries clear—stick the wrong side of a Patch Center.1 to the unprinted side of the pattern, centering it as shown below.
The center square is quite dark with much lighter corners.
To prevent the darker fabric from 'shadowing through' to the top of the block, position your Corners.2-5 so that their edge extends just a wee bit past that of the Center.1. That way you won't need to go back and trim the darker seam allowance.
Stitch a light Corner.2 and Corner.3 to two opposite sides of #1, starting before and stopping after the solid stitching line.
Press.
Stitch the Corner.4 and Corner.5 to the two remaining sides. Remember to start before and stop after the black stitching line for secure seams.
To reduce unnecessary bulk trim away any dog ears and then press.
Repeat for the three remaining SiaSs.
In this pre-trim photo notice that the outside thread tails are still intact. There was no need to cut them off during construction because they'll be addressed when the blocks are trimmed to size.
No duplication of effort!
Trim the patches with your rotary cutter and ruler.
For a more detailed description of paper piecing this Square in a Square unit, click here.
Strip Pieced Sides
Make 4
With right sides together, sew the light and dark 7" x 1-1/2" strips together along the long side.
Press with the SA toward the darker fabric. This stripset for the sample Rolling Square is 2-1/2" wide. Use the chart below to check your stripset for accuracy.
StripSet Widths | ||
|---|---|---|
| Finished Block Size | Stripset Width after stitching | SubCut Width |
| 5" | 2½" | 1½" |
| 7½" | 3½" | 2" |
| 10" | 4½" | 2½" |
Straighten one short edge with your rotary cutter and ruler.
Subcut as directed.
Step 4: Assemble the Rolling Square quilt block
Remove the paper from the SiaS units. Arrange the cut and pieced units into the Rolling Square design.
Stitch the units in each row together. Press SA in the direction of the arrows below to reduce bulk.
Stitch the rows together. The SA nest to make matching them easier.
It is helpful to use pins particularly where the point of the SiaS unit meets the seam line of the strip pieced one.
Press with the SAs away from the SiaS to reduce bulk.
Your finished Rolling Square quilt block will look like this.
Our Rolling Square quilt block—ready for a quilt!Common Variations
More often you'll see the Rolling Square quilt block design drawn on a 6x6 (aka Nine Patch) grid like the patchwork designs below.
Broken Wheel
A two fabric block. Notice that the dark center is gone. This version is drawn on a 6x6 grid.
Other names include: Block Circle, Johnnie Round the Corner, Single Wedding Ring, Squirrel in a Cage and plain ol' Wheel
Click here for instructions to make this block.
Squirrel in a Cage
The dark center is back!
Mrs. Miller's Favorite
All color placement is reversed.
This variation is also know as Broken Wheel.
Rolling Stone
Different fabric placement really changes the look.
Other names include: Letter O and Wedding Ring
Click here for instructions to make this block.
Ready for More Blocks?
Now that you're Rolling Square quilt block is finished, check our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library for more hip-to-be-square blocks to make!
What about a different quilt block?
For a list of all the 220+ quilt block patterns on this site, start here.
If you know the name of the block, shorten your search by using these 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:
For even more blocks to make...
For you, are quilt block designs like potato chips...
...you can't have just one?!!
Check the amazing resources I rely on for all the quilt block designs you see on this website.
To see if they're worthy of a spot in YOUR quilting library, CLICK HERE.
Yummy fabrics
to drool over
Click any image below to see the full collection and find pricing and ordering information.
By Julie Baird
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