Choose Quilting Fabrics

The Card Trick block has four areas that appear to overlap—the cards. Most card tricks quilt blocks are sewn using a different fabric for each card. Choose fabrics with lots of contrast or use a selection with more subtle differences between the cards. Using high contrast in fabrics arranged side-by-side could result in blocks that resemble a swastika.

Quilt Block and Quilt Sizes

Finished Card Trick Block Size: 9 inches squareFinished Quilt Size: 63-1/2 x 84-1/2 inches

Use Quick Piecing for Some of the Patchwork

It’s nice when we can use quick piecing to assemble quarter square triangle units—like the patchwork units in all but the corner positions of the Card Trick block. But because quick piecing results in mirror-image units and all of the individual units for this quilt must be identical to create the proper flow, assemble many of them one triangle at a time.

Yardages

See the illustrated fabric positions below.

Fabric A: 7/8 yard Fabric B: 7/8 yard Fabric C: 1 yard (also used in cornerstones) Fabric D: 7/8 yard Light Background: 1-3/8 yards Sashing: 1-5/8 yards Border: 2-1/4 yards for lengthwise grain strips or 1-1/4 yards for crosswise grain strips Binding: about 315 running inches double-fold binding (binding instructions) Backing: 5-1/2 yards (backing instructions) Batting: About 75 x 95 inches

Cut Fabric for the Card Trick Quilt

Start by cutting only enough fabric to make a few test blocks.

Read through the pattern before you begin and change the cutting instructions if you plan to use different assembly techniques for quick-pieced units. Label fabrics as you work. Learn how to cut long strips of fabric and how to cut patchwork shapes.

Fabrics A, B, C and D, Cut From Each

(3) 3-7/8-inch wide strips of fabric cut from selvage to selvage and (1) 3-7/8 x 26-inch stripCut strips into (36) 3-7/8 x 3-7/8-inch squares(1) 4-1/4-inch wide strip cut from selvage to selvage—cut into (9) 4-1/4 x 4-1/4-inch squares and then cut each square in half twice diagonally

Additionally From Fabric C

(2) 1-1/2-inch wide strips cut from selvage to selvage—cut into (48) 1-1/2 x 1-1/2-inch squares (for sashing cornerstones)

Light Background

(8) 3-7/8-inch wide strips cut from selvage to selvage—cut into (72) 3-7/8 x 3-7/8-inch squares(4) 4-1/4-inch wide strips cut from selvage to selvage—cut into (35) 4-1/4 x 4-1/4-inch squares; cut each square in half twice diagonally

Sashing Strips

(3) 9-1/2-inch wide strips cut from selvage to selvage—cut into (82) 1-1/2 x 9-1/2-inch bars

Borders

Cut borders after the quilt top is assembled.

Make Card Trick Quilt Blocks

Refer to the triangle orientation if needed.

Sew a step 4 triangle to each two-triangle unit along its longest edges and configured as shown:​Background/A to DBackground/C to BBackground/D to CBackground/B to A

Make Half Square Triangle Units

Assemble the Card Trick Quilt Block

Assemble the Card Trick Quilt

Chain piece where possible to speed up assembly.

Card Trick Block and Block Schematic

This side-by-side Card Trick block and block schematic might help you visualize fabric placement.