Block Patterns
Rail Fence
A simple block made from three or four rectangles sewn side by side, set on alternating orientations.
Rail Fence is one of the easiest blocks to make — three or four equal-width strips are sewn together side by side to create a striped square. Blocks are then arranged with alternating orientations (horizontal and vertical), creating an interlocking zigzag or woven effect across the quilt. Rail Fence strip-pieces easily and is an excellent scrap-buster because any three or four fabrics that work together can become a block. The pattern is popular for quick quilts, children's quilts, and beginners.
Related Terms
Practice makes perfect.
NiftyFifty connects quilters from all 50 states through block swaps, bees, and quilt-alongs. Great place to put new techniques to work.