Rainbow Rail Fence Quilt Block Tutorial

Today I have another quilt block tutorial to share with you which is the rail fence quilt block. Rail Fence quilt patterns are always fun to make and a great beginner quilt block.

This easy block uses four rail fence sections for a completely different look with a small square in the center. I’ll show you how to sew the rail fence blocks to the center, it isn’t as hard as it looks.

Rainbow Rail Fence quilt block tutorial

16″ x 16″

Several years ago I made a Rainbow Rail Fence baby quilt and I thought it would be fun to remake the block. There is a tutorial for the baby quilt but I think you’ll be able to see how the block goes together better in this post.

Purchase an adfree PDF of the Rainbow Rail Fence quilt block and quilt.

Fabric

I’ve been moving things around again in my quilt room and my fabrics are a jumbled mess. I pulled all of my batiks out of my baskets and just stuffed them on the shelves. Time to do some folding and organizing!

I decided to pull out some batiks for a pink rainbow rail fence block. Normally you could cut strips the width of your fabric but I was using scraps so I just cut the individual pieces.

Cutting for one quilt block

Each block uses the following pieces:

• White or cream – 1 – 4½” x 4½” square
• Light Pink – 4 – 2½” x 10½” pieces
• Medium Pink – 4 – 2½” x 10½” pieces
• Dark Pink – 4 – 2½” x 10½” pieces

If you have Jelly Roll strips or 2½” x WOF strips, you can cut all four pieces from one strip.

When I made the baby quilt the bundle had 2 of each color and I was able to make two blocks of each color.

Use a ¼” seam allowance for your stitching

Sew the strips together, and make sure to have the medium pink in the center. Press your seams toward the darker fabric. Sew all four sections like this.

Add the center square

No set-in seams!

It is a lot easier to sew this block together than you might think.

• Place the 4½” square on top of your pink strips
• You will be sewing it to the light pink strip
• Stitch about halfway down the square
• Stop and then back-stitch
• Press toward the light pink strip

Add the next section with the light pink strip placed on top of the strip set and block that you just stitched.

Continue adding the sections to the block, always press toward the darker fabric.

Add the fourth and final section to the center square.

Final seam in the block

Now it is time for the final seam of your block.

• Place the section with the center square on the bottom
• Line up the sections as shown below
• Match the bottom dark pink to the top light pink piece
• Carefully stitch making sure the seams on the bottom piece go to the dark pieces

Do a little back-stitching to finish sewing this section.

You don’t need an expensive sewing machine when you are learning to quilt, I’m using my vintage 15-91 Singer which I have had for years. A simple sewing machine like the EverSewn Sparrow 15 would be good to start with.

Your unfinished Rainbow Rail Fence block will measure 16½” x 16½”. I hope you enjoy the Rainbow Rail Fence Quilt Block Tutorial and please share any photos of your blocks with me!

Using a 2½-inch Rainbow strip set would make it fast to make the blocks! Would you like to see what the baby quilt looks like? Take a look at my Rainbow Rail Baby Quilt tutorial.

I have several other Rail Fence tutorials that you might enjoy.

• Mini Rail Fence for Independence Day
• Three by Three Quilt block
• Easy Quilt Block Tutorials
• Crossroads Quilt Block
  

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