I recently stumbled upon a fun version of a quilt using an Alabama block from Scribbly Gum Quilt Co. The colors were so fun and I LOVED how big the block was! I wanted to make it even more scrap friendly and swap out the center nine-patch for something else. This tutorial walks you through exactly how I made this block so you can make your own, or even sew up enough for a whole quilt. (Don’t worry I included some of the block info for a full quilt towards the end of the blog post!)
Materials Needed to Make an 18" x 18" Modern Alabama Quilt Block
- (8) 2″ x 2″ red squares for center star
- (21) 2 ½” x 2 ½” white squares for chain and center star block
- (4) 6 ½” x 2 ½” black strips
- (4) 10 ½” x 2 ½” grey strips
- (4) 14 ½” x 2 ½” black strips
- Self Healing Cutting mat
- Rotary cutter
- Sewing Machine
- All Purpose thread
- Iron
- Quilting Ruler
How to Make a Modern Alabama Quilt Block
Make the Center Star Block
1. Place (1) 2″ x 2″ red square in the upper right corner of (1) 2 ½” x 2 ½” white square. Sew from corner to corner of the red block. (It may help to draw a line if you don’t use diagonal seam tape.) Trim off the excess fabric, leaving a ¼” seam allowance and press.
2. Repeat step 1, but place the 2″ x 2″ red square in the upper left corner. If needed, trim the block to 2 ½” x 2 ½” once complete. Make (4) of these blocks.
3. Gather the (4) blocks from step 3 along with (5) 2 ½” x 2 ½” white squares. Arrange them as shown below and sew together the block.
Add the Outer Black and Grey Strips
4. Add (1) 6 ½” x 2 ½” black strip to the top and bottom of the center star block.
5. Sew (1) 2 ½” x 2 ½” white square to the left and right sides of the remaining (2) 6 ½” x 2 ½” black strips. Then attach these to the right and left of the center star block as shown below.
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 using the 10 ½” x 2 ½” grey strips
7. Repeat steps 4 & 5 using the 14 ½” x 2 ½” black strips.
Your finished block should measure 18 ½” x 18 ½”. You can make more or you can quilt this one as a wall hanging!
How many Alabama Quilt Blocks do you need to make a quilt top?
If you are wanting to make a quilt with these modern Alabama blocks, here are some general quilt sizes and number of blocks needed.
- Baby Size 36″ x 36″ – 4 blocks (2 rows and 2 columns)
- Lap Size 54″ x 54″ – 9 Blocks (3 rows and 3 columns)
- Throw Size 54″ x 72″ – 12 Blocks (3 rows and 4 columns)
- XL Square Throw 72″ x 72″ – 16 Blocks (4 rows and 4 columns)
- Bed 90″ x 90″ – 25 Blocks (5 rows and 5 columns)
Thanks so much for this block pattern! It’s perfect for me as a novice – large and not too challenging! Thanks as well for the recipes. That chocolate chip cookie made with cornstarch is intriguing and looks delicious!! My mom’s recipe is a favorite with our family, but it’s always fun to try a new one. Blessings on you as you prepare for a new move this summer!
I’m so glad you love it! My goal is to have more of these easy patterns on the blog this year. And yes, those cookies are amazing; the first ones I had ever tried with cornstarch and we are obsessed!