The T Quartette Quilt Block: A Forgotten Favorite
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The T Quartette Quilt Block: A Forgotten Favorite
If you’ve never heard of the T Quartette quilt block, you’re not alone. This little-known vintage design appeared in the Ladies Art Company Catalog as early as 1895. With its bold layout and unusual name, the T Quartette block offers a fresh take on symmetry and storytelling—perfect for quilters looking to add something both classic and unexpected to their next project.
A Vintage Example of the T Quartette Quilt Block
You may or may not know that I collect vintage quilt blocks. My interest in this began when one of my husband’s friends offered me a box of orphan quilt blocks made by his mother and grandmother.
So now I look for vintage quilts, orphaned blocks, and even cutter quilts both online and whenever I visit an antique store. It’s always exciting to discover a pattern I’ve never seen before. The T Quartette pictured above is one of those patterns. I’m not sure why it delights me so much.
I found the cutter quilt piece on Etsy and decided to add it to my collection. It seemed like the perfect block for a re-make. And it is perfect for scraps, and I know how much quilters love scrap quilts.
I hope you have as much fun re-creating this block as I did. The small HST units are 2″ x 2″ unfinished. The block of four “T” units is 9″ x 9″. If you want to give it a try, you can find the instructions below.
But First a Bit of History
I can’t feature a vintage block pattern without learning a bit of history about it. This one is a hard one simply because you have to wonder why the letter “T”? There are theories as you will read below, but no one has produced any proof.
The Templates from LAC
The pattern appeared in the Ladies Art Company Catalog in 1895, and quilters could order the pattern and templates. Had you ordered the pattern from the Ladies Art Company Catalog in 1895, you would have received something similar to the pattern and templates shown below.
Templates were often traced to cardboard, such as a used cereal box, and the cardboard templates were used to trace the shapes to fabric.
What Makes the Block Unique
The T Quartette quilt block is made up of four capital “T” shapes arranged at the same angle, creating a striking visual. Look closely though and you will notice that the configuration of the four color “T” blocks creates another “T” turned at an opposite angle in the negative space!
The strong right angles in this block make it ideal for precision piecing and give it a crisp look. Whether you are a modern or traditional quilter, this block plays well with contrast—think blue and white, vintage calicos against a light background, or bold solids against a dark background.
A Nod to Temperance
So, what was so special about the letter “T” when there don’t seem to be any other alphabet letters that inspired so many patterns? All of the vintage blocks pictured below have “T” shapes in them. And these are only a few examples of block patterns that include a letter “T”.
Per some sources, the block may have origins in the Temperance Movement, which used the capital “T” as a visual emblem of abstinence from alcohol. Like many quilt blocks of its era, the T Quartette may have been more than decorative—it could have served as a quiet symbol of support for social change, especially among women. For some quilters, stitching a “T” into a quilt might have been a subtle way to voice values without saying a word.
A Perfect Block for Scraps
I love the scrappy look of the vintage cutter quilt piece that I purchased. It just seems to suit the pattern. Obviously you only need small fabric cuts to put it together.
But, if you prefer a more cohesive look and choose to use a fat quarter bundle, you should be able to create a quilt that is approximately 45″ x 63″ with 14 fat quarters and approximately 2½ yards of background fabric.
Cut each fat quarter as shown below to get five of each size square. The yardage can be cut in [9] 5″ x WOF, [7] 4″ x WOF, and [6] 3″ x WOF strips for ease.
The instructions below demonstrate how to begin with [1] 5″ x 5″ fabric square, [1] 4″x4″ and [1] 3″x 3″ to make 2 “T” units at once.
Make a T Quartette Block
Cut Fabric
From scrap fabric or fat quarters and background fabric cut:
[1] 5″x 5″ square from FQ and background
[1] 4″x 4″ square from FQ and background
[1] 3″ x 3″ square from FQ and background
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Sew Half Square Triangle Units
Draw diagonal lines on each background fabric square as shown. Lay a background square on top of a fat quarter square of the same size (RST). Then, sew 1/4″ away from the drawn diagonal lines on every square (on both sides of the drawn lines).
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Cut Half Square Triangle Units
– Make one vertical and one horizontal cut on 5″x 5″ square unit, then cut along the drawn diagonal lines.
– Cut along the drawn diagonal lines on both the 4″x 4″ and 3″x 3″ square units.
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Press and Trim HST units
– Press [5] small HST units open and trim each to 2½” x 2½”
– Press [1] large HST unit open and trim to 3½” x 3½”
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Arrange HST units as Shown & Sew
Sew HST units together as shown to create “T” unit.
1. Sew [3] HST’s at the top together
2. Sew [2] side HST’s together
3. Sew side HST unit to large HST square.
4. Sew top row to bottom half of block.
This little block behaves best when you press seams OPEN.
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Sew 4 “T” units together to form T Quartette
After completing [4] “T” units following the instructions above, sew the units together to form a T Quartette block.
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Try It Yourself
If you love giving new life to old blocks, the T Quartette is worth a second look. It’s beginner-friendly but engaging, with just enough complexity to keep things interesting. Whether you’re sewing by hand or machine, this block is a great way to celebrate quilting heritage while making something uniquely your own.
