Hens and Chicks Quilt: The Vintage Block Everyone's Piecing

Robert Johnson · 2026-10-25

There's something about a classic quilt block that never gets old. The Hens and Chicks Quilt has been around for generations, and once you piece your first block, you'll understand why. It's one of those patterns that looks impressive on the finished quilt but breaks down into simple, satisfying steps. We're working through this one as part of our Classic & Vintage Quilt Series. If you're an intermediate quilter who loves crisp points and doesn't mind a little pinning, this one's right up your alley. And yes, there's a free block tutorial to walk you through every seam. ### The Quilt Pattern: Simple, Stash-Friendly, and Just Three Prints The Hens and Chicks Quilt Pattern comes in two sizes: a lap quilt and a runner. The lap version is a great way to use up yardage you've been holding onto. It only calls for three prints, so it's a natural fit for stash-busting. A few things worth knowing before you start: - It's built for intermediate quilters comfortable with matching points. - The three-print layout keeps fabric selection simple. - A matching backing set is available if you want to skip the guesswork. - The lap quilt and runner both use the same block, just in different counts. The sample shown in the series uses the Wildbriar collection by Sweetfire Road for Moda Fabrics. The palette is soft and distilled, like sunlight filtering through a garden gate. It gives the finished quilt a calm, vintage feel without looking dated. ### The Block: Fat Quarter-Friendly and Faster Than It Looks Here's the part that surprises a lot of quilters. The Hens and Chicks block finishes at 18.5 inches by 18.5 inches unfinished, and it's fat quarter-friendly. That's a generous block size for something that comes together with strip piecing. Strip piecing is the trick here. Instead of cutting and sewing tiny pieces one at a time, you sew strips together first, then subcut. It's the kind of technique that makes you wonder why you ever did it the slow way. Each block uses just two fabrics plus a background. That's it. Which means this block is a fantastic way to showcase a favorite collection or a couple of prints you've been saving. > "Don't let all those points ruffle your feathers." That's the whole spirit of this block. Precision matters, but patience matters more. ### Watch the Step-by-Step Tutorial If you're a visual learner, the video tutorial is the place to start. Kimberly walks through the entire block, seam by seam, so you can see exactly how the units come together. Watch it once before you cut, then keep it nearby while you sew. A few habits that help with this block: - Press seams as you go instead of waiting until the end. - Pin generously at the points. It's worth the extra seconds. - Trim as you build, not after everything's assembled. - Test your quarter-inch seam before you start cutting. Get those habits down and your roost will be full of these blocks before you know it. ### Share Your Blocks We'd love to see what you make. Use #FQSHensAndChicksQuilt on Facebook and Instagram and tag @fatquartershop so your work shows up in the feed. Whether you go vintage, modern, or somewhere in between, every version teaches you something new about the block. Happy quilting, and happy piecing.