Royalty: Structure & Design Tutorial

Calling all kings and queens of quilting! Today we are making a Royalty quilt block, and this version is one of my favorites. There are several variations of the Royalty block, but I love this one because, once it is sewn together, you can see four bold black crown shapes around the center.

This block may look fancy at first glance, but when you break it down, it is very doable. It is made with a center square, four mini four-patch units, and four hourglass units. Once those pieces are arranged correctly, the crown design comes to life.

What You Need

To make one Royalty quilt block, you will need:

One center square measuring 4 1/2" x 4 1/2"
Two light plaid fabric strips measuring 2 1/2" x 11"
One corner plaid fabric strip measuring 2 1/2" x 11"
One black background fabric strip measuring 2 1/2" x 11"
Two plaid squares measuring 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"
Two black squares measuring 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

The 2 1/2" strips are used to make the mini four-patch units for the corners. The 5 1/2" squares are used to make the hourglass units.

Step 1: Make the Mini Four-Patch Units

The corners of this block are made with mini four-patch units. You will need one mini four-patch for each corner, for a total of four.

Use your 2 1/2" x 11" strips to create these units. For this block, I used a lighter plaid, a brighter corner plaid, and black for the background fabric.

A quick note on fabric choice: I originally chose a different plaid for the corners, but once I saw it on camera, there was not enough contrast. I swapped it for a more vibrant blue plaid so the design would stand out better. Contrast makes a big difference in this block, especially if you want the crown shapes to show clearly.

Step 2: Make the Hourglass Units

Next, you will make four hourglass units. If you have made half-square triangles before, this process will feel very familiar.

Start with:

Two plaid squares measuring 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"
Two black squares measuring 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Pair one plaid square with one black square. Make half-square triangles from each pair. Once your half-square triangles are made, rotate them so the matching fabrics are not stacked directly on top of each other. The plaid sections should be opposite each other, and the black sections should be opposite each other.

Draw a diagonal line, sew 1/4" away from both sides of the line, and cut on the drawn line. When you open the pieces, you will have hourglass units.

You will need four hourglass units total.

Step 3: Lay Out the Block

Once your units are made, lay the block out in three rows.

Top Row

Place a mini four-patch unit in each corner position, with one hourglass unit in the center.

The hourglass in the top row should be turned sideways so it looks a bit like a bow tie. Make sure your corner four-patch units are turned so the design points into the corners of the block.

Middle Row

The middle row is simple. Place one hourglass unit on the left, the 4 1/2" center square in the middle, and one hourglass unit on the right.

These hourglass units should be upright, just like a traditional hourglass shape.

Bottom Row

The bottom row repeats the top row. Place a mini four-patch unit in each corner and one hourglass unit in the center.

Be careful with the direction of the bottom hourglass. It should be turned sideways, just like the top one. If it is twisted the wrong way, the crown shapes will not appear correctly in the finished block.

Step 4: Sew the Rows Together

After everything is laid out correctly, sew the units together into rows. Then sew the three rows together to complete the block.

Take a moment before stitching to double-check the direction of each hourglass unit and each corner four-patch. This is one of those blocks where placement really matters. A rotated unit can change the entire look of the design.

Helpful Tip

Don’t worry if you have to pull out a seam and fix a piece. It happens to all of us! When I first stitched this block together, my bottom hourglass was facing the wrong way. Once I fixed it, the crown shapes appeared beautifully.

Final Thoughts

The Royalty quilt block is a little different from the norm, but that is what makes it so fun. With four mini four-patch units, four hourglass units, and one center square, you can create a block that looks much more detailed than it actually is.

Choose fabrics with good contrast so the crown shapes stand out, take your time with the layout, and enjoy watching this regal quilt block come together.

Happy sewing!