A quilt top is also called a patchwork. It forms the pretty side of your quilt using all kinds of different fabric pieces.
Most traditional quilt tops consist of several blocks and sashing. However, that is not mandatory
1. What are the different parts of a quilt?
For now, you have to know about 4 different parts of a quilt:
- Quilt top: this is the completed top part of the quilt.
- Quilt block: One part of the quilt top.
- Fabric piece: Fabric pieces together form a quilt block
- Sashing: Used to put the quilt blocks together (optional)
To summarize:
- Quilt top: this is the completed top part of the quilt.
- Quilt block: One part of the quilt top.
- Fabric piece: Fabric pieces together form a quilt block
- Sashing: Used to put the quilt blocks together (optional)
The best way to visualize all those different parts is from big to small, as shown in the diagram. The quilt top is the biggest part, consisting of quilt blocks. The quilt blocks consist of fabric pieces, which is the smallest unit of your quilt. The quilt blocks are sewn together with sashing, which are strips of fabric.

When you make a quilt, you work from the right to the left in the diagram
- First you assemble fabrics for the fabric pieces and sashing
- Secondly you create the quilt blocks
- Third step is turning the quilt blocks into a quilt top!
Would you like to know more?
Discussion points
- Do you have a nice quilt top to show? Send us an email at rianne@kickassquilts.org and maybe we’ll use the photo in an article!