Hens and Chicks Quilt: The Free Block Tutorial You'll Love

Editorial Team · 2026-10-25

There's something about the Hens and Chicks pattern that keeps quilters coming back. Maybe it's the name. Maybe it's those crisp, perfectly matched points. Or maybe it's just that this block looks a whole lot harder than it actually is. Either way, welcome back to our Classic & Vintage Quilt Series — today we're stitching up a whole flock of these beauties. If you're an intermediate quilter who gets a little thrill from a well-poked pin, this one's for you. And if points make you nervous? Take a breath. The free video tutorial walks you through every step, so you don't have to figure it out alone. ### Two Ways to Make It The Hens and Chicks Quilt Pattern comes in two sizes: a lap quilt and a table runner. The lap quilt is the crowd-pleaser here. It uses just three prints, which makes it a fantastic stash-buster if you've got unused yardage sitting around. You know the pile I mean — the one you keep meaning to use. Want to make yours exactly like ours? Grab the Hens and Chicks Quilt Kit and the matching Backing Set and you're set. We stitched ours in the Wildbriar collection by Sweetfire Road for Moda Fabrics. The palette is soft and distilled — like a glimpse of sun-dappled wonder just beyond the garden gate. It's the kind of quilt that makes a room feel warmer the second you drape it over the couch. ### About the Block The block itself is a Fat Quarter-friendly design that leans on strip piecing to do the heavy lifting. Each finished block measures 18.5" x 18.5" unfinished. You'll only need two fabrics plus a background per block, which means this is a great way to show off a favorite collection without committing to a dozen different prints. Here's what you get with the free block pattern: - A step-by-step video tutorial with Kimberly as your guide - Strip piecing techniques that keep your points sharp - A block that works beautifully as a scrappy or coordinated quilt > "Don't let all those points ruffle your feathers — strip piecing does most of the work for you." ### A Few Tips Before You Start Press as you go. It sounds obvious, but crisp seams are what make those points line up. A little starch doesn't hurt either. Also, don't rush the cutting. Strip piecing rewards accuracy upfront, so take the extra minute to square things up before you sew. And if this is your first time with the pattern, make one test block before you cut into your whole fabric pull. You'll thank yourself later. ### Share Your Flock We'd love to see what you make. Post your finished blocks with #FQSHensAndChicksQuilt on Facebook and Instagram, and tag @fatquartershop so we can cheer you on. There's nothing better than watching a roost fill up with these fun little blocks. Happy quilting!