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How to Quilt>Square in a Square Quilt Block
Make a Square look like a Diamond
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Why Settle for a Ho-Hum Quilt as You Go Project
Are you secretly looking for some out of the ordinary way to finish your quilt that will impress your family and friends so they will finally know that you really have some quilting skills - and that this isn't some trial and error thing that you are still trying to figure out? Learn 7 different ways to bind your quilts with perfection – you'll have smooth and square mitered corners and even edges all the way around your quilt. Techniques include finishing one block at a time as well as binding quilts with odd-shaped sides, including hexagons. |
m. mouse here -
i love it when penny finds a quilt or quilt block that is easy to make and she can put a picture of me in the middle.
penny, on the other hand, likes quilt designs and quilt blocks that are easy to make yet look complicated (whatever that word means).
it makes her friends a little envious wondering how she got all that talent and creativity while they are still stuck sewing blocks with squares and half-square triangles that are all lined up like little soldiers.
the first time p saw this simple, yet stunning quilt pattern was on the cover of a quilt book featuring Amish quilts.
the quilt had a large square in the center, set on point, and surrounded by triangles, so it looked like a diamond. as she looked at the quilt, she realized that it would be quite simple to make.
the trick, if any exists, is to make sure that as you sew all of those bias edges, you keep them from stretching and getting out of shape.
the best part is that it didn't take her long to discover that she could put a picture of me in the center square and then sew all of those little triangles around the outside - so i looked like the star i am!
pictured below is one quilt patch of the square in a square. And following are the instructions, including measurements, of how to make this patch, using a 4" square as a starting point.
This design is great for a quilt, and also is used in many quilt blocks, such as Storm at Sea, Rolling Star, Butterfly quilt block, and Cats and Mice. Visit www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com for these and other quilt block patterns.
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Cats and Mice quilt block using the Square in a Square patch design. |
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To make this square in a square quilt patch, cut 1 square that is 4" on each side. Cut the fabric as you would cut any square piece, with the sides on the lengthwise grain and the cross grain of the fabric. This will reduce the stretching as you begin to sew the patch together. Each triangle should measure 3 1/2" in the short sides and 4 3/4" on the long side. The triangle should be cut so that the short sides are on the straight grain and the cross grain of the fabric, and the long side is on the bias. (For more information about fabric grainlines, read the article, Defining Fabric Grainlines. It includes pictures and a diagram showing exactly which is which.)
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One at at time. fold both of the triangles down onto the square, so that the right sides are facing together. Line up the edges of the square with the bias edges of the triangles. It may help to pin the triangle in place.
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Step 2
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Step 3
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Using a 1/4" seam allowance, stitch one triangle onto the side of the square. Make sure you line up the triangle with the corners of the square. This can be somewhat tricky since the tips of your triangle may stick out past the edge of the square. Many new patterns show how to cut the tips of the triangles off, making this matching easier. Without cutting the tips off, you can estimate that a tip of triangle a tiny bit less than 1/4" will stick out past the square. |
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Once the sewing is complete, remove the patch (or patches, if you are making more than one and using the chain sewing technique) from your machine. Open the triangles just sewn and finger press the seam allowances. I generally press my seam allowances facing toward the darker fabric. In this particular instance, I decided to press the seam allowances facing toward the lighter fabric because I wanted the center to stand out in the patch. (Check out the article about sewing Isosceles Triangles to see what happens when a patch is recessed because the seam allowances are facing away from it.) |
Step 4
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Step 5
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Again, using a 1/4" seam allowance, stitch one triangle onto the side of the square. Make sure you line up the triangle with the corners of the square. |
Open the triangles you just attached, and see the completed Square in a Square quilt block. This patch measures 6" square, and would be 5 1/2" finished size. You can use the same process to attach additional triangles on the outside to make this Square in a Square in a Square! Continuing with the above quilt patch, the long side of the triangle measures 6 3/4" from tip to tip. Each of the square sides of the triangle measures 4 3/4." |
Step 6
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The picture on the right is the back of the finished block. You will want to fold your seam allowances away from the center to reduce the bulk of the patch or block. |
While the instructions above are for making a patch, it is equally easy to make a quilt using the same technique.
Just begin with a fairly large center square, which means you just need to add a few triangles and you'll have a good size quilt.
Of course, it will be a square quilt - perfect for a double, queen or king size bed, or a great throw for a couch.
Often these quilts are made using solid colors with high contrast, and the quilting designs are quite elaborate - since the fabric is solid.
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren
©2009, Penny Halgren
Penny is a quilter of more than 27 years who seeks to interest new
quilters and provide them with the resources necessary to create
beautiful quilts.
This article courtesy of http://www.How-To-Quilt.com. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.
Hundreds of quilt block patterns to choose from. Patterns include full size templates and rotary cutting layouts. Click Here
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