History of the Carpenter's Block

Carpenter’s Square Block

History and Origins

As part of SPROUT 2025 Quilt Challenge with the Quilt Designers Collective, I am blogging about the history of the block I designed.

The name “Carpenter’s Square” comes from the tool carpenters use to create perfect right angles. For quilters, this tool’s symbolism of accuracy and craftsmanship fits naturally into the world of quilting. The block likely emerged in the 1800’s when geometric designs were gaining popularity in American quilting. As the art spread across rural America, the Carpenter’s Square became a favorite for its clean, symmetrical lines. It represented the balanced, sturdy designs that early quilters found both meaningful and practical. The Carpenter’s Square is known for its sharp angles and interlocking squares, which often create a sense of movement, like a maze or continuous loop. The construction requires precision, much like the careful work of a carpenter. Traditionally, this block uses two contrasting colors to emphasize its clean lines and symmetry, but modern variations often experiment with multiple colours. The layout of squares and triangles creates a mesmerizing pattern, reminiscent of the precise angles a carpenter strives for. 

The designer of this quilt block didn’t consider herself an artist, she was just making practical bedding for her family.

My quilt block design is an ‘easy’ version of the Carpenter’s Square block. The original carpenter’s square is sewn on the bias and had to be pieced carefully. My version is based on the traditional Log Cabin Block, first sewn in the 1830’s! I rotated the block 45 degrees to make it much easier. It comes together way quicker than it looks!

This complicated Carpenter's Square quilt was pieced in 1860's by Lizzie O'Dell. 

The original instructions for this block are pretty simple:

The Carpenter's Square quilt is made of nine big blocks of many shaped pieces.

(pattern illustration above)

1.Piece together pieces for triangle I. Begin with piece A, add B,C,D,E,F and G keeping straight edge even.
2.Sew strip H on to triangle I.
3.Piece together strip II using 1 piece i, 4 red J's, 6 white J's and 2 E's.
4.Sew on to strip H. Match red lines from triangle I.
5.Sew on strip K.
6.Piece strip III as strip II only use C's instead of E's for end.
7.Sew on strip L.
8.Piece strip IV using 1 M, 6 white i's and 4 red i's and 2 A 's.
9.Sew strip IV to strip L matching red blocks as before.
10.Repeat steps 1-7 for other half of block and sew halves together.
11.This is one block. The completed quilt will use 9 blocks, 3 each way.
12.Put on border as desired.

Complete quilt takes approximately 3 yards of 36" material for each color.