Black Beauty Quilt Block Tutorial
See how to make a traditional Black Beauty quilt block in this quilting tutorial.
This block doesn’t look like a horse to me, but it is called the Black Beauty block. Sometimes it is also called Blackford’s Beauty.
This version has a sawtooth star in the middle of the block, but because of the shapes, there are many different options. Scroll down to see the fabric requirements for some of the other variations.
Tutorial makes a 12″ block.
Fabric Requirements
Everything you need to make this project.
Background Fabric
- eight 2″ square
- eight 2″ x 3-1/2″
- eight 2″ x 5″
Fabric 1
- one 3-1/2″ square
- eight 2″ squares
Fabric 2
- twenty 2″ squares
Video
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Tutorial
Follow these steps to make your own Black Beauty quilt block.
Chevron units
On the back of eight of the fabric 2 squares, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.
Align these squares with the ends of the background 2″ x 5″ pieces. Stitch on the line, then trim off the corner, open and press.
Make four in one direction and the other four mirror images of those.
Add the fabric 1 squares to the other end of the background piece. These seams should be parallel to the seams at the other end.
Join these two pieces in pairs to make the chevron units.
These pieces will be 3-1/2″ wide.
Corner units
Join eight fabric 2 squares with eight background 2″ squares to make four patch units.
Join these four patches to the other pieces to make the corner units. Make sure that the accent square are aligned.
These pieces will be 5″ wide.
Block Assembly
Join the pieces according to the block diagram.
The block will be 12-1/2″
Block variations
These blocks are all assembled in the same way, but the pieces are different colours. See the details for each block.
variation 1
Background Fabric
- one 3-1/2″ square
- eight 2″ x 3-1/2″
- twenty-four 2″ squares
Fabric 1
- eight 2″ x 5″ square
Fabric 2
- twelve 2″ squares
variation 2
Background Fabric
- eight 2″ x 3-1/2″
- twenty-four 2″ squares
Fabric 1
- twelve 2″ squares
- one 3-1/2″ squares
Fabric 2
- eight 2″ x 5″
variation 3
Background Fabric
- eight 2″ x 3-1/2″
- sixteen 2″ squares
Fabric 1
- twenty 2″ squares
- one 3-1/2″ squares
Fabric 2
- eight 2″ x 5″
variation 4
Background Fabric
- eight 2″ x 3-1/2″
- eight 2″ squares
Fabric 1
- eight 2″ squares
Fabric 2
- eight 2″ x 5″
- twelve 2″ squares
- one 3-1/2″ square
Want more quilt block tutorials?
I have a whole collection of quilt block tutorials.