Bow Tie

About this block

This four-patch block is a direct nod to fashion: two fabric squares set opposite each other with contrasting triangles at their corners, echoing the shape of a man's necktie accessory. The earliest documented example dates to 1898, and by 1931, quilt designer Ruby McKim included her own version, joking that the block was "about as simple to make as a bowknot is to tie." It's also known by several other names, including Colonial Bow Tie, Peekhole, and True Lover's Knot. Oral tradition also ties this block to the Underground Railroad quilt code.