Windy Days – Quilt Block Tutorial

Windy Days
8" finished quilt block

Step 1: Cutting the Fabric

Fabric A: background fabric

• A1 - cut sixteen 2 1/2" squares

Fabric B: grey (medium color)

• B - cut four 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares

Fabric C: blue (dark color)

• C - cut four 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares

This is how I like to draw the diagonal line on my fabric squares (link). It eliminates the problem of stretching the fabric on the bias.

Draw a diagonal line through each A (background) 2 1/2" square.

Step 2: Sewing the Parallelogram Units

Pin right sides together, one A square to each B and C rectangle. Make sure the diagonal lines are all going the same direction (see photo).
Pin squares in place.

Sew one thread towards the outside of the drawn line. In the photo you can see that the seam is to the right side of the pencil line.

Trim all the corners 1/4" from the line.

Sorry about the fuzzy photo!
Press the seam open (or to the side if that's what you prefer).

Place right sides together, an A (2 1/2" background square) on the other end of each B and C rectangle.
Make sure the diagonal line runs parallel to the first seam! If you don't, you'll end up with a Flying Geese unit, not a parallelogram unit!

Sew a seam one thread to the outside of the drawn line.
Cut 1/4" from the drawn line to cut off the extra fabric triangle.

Press the seam open (or to the side). Each rectangle should still measure 2 1/2" x 4 1/2".

Step 3: Sewing the Block together

I like to lay all the units out to see how the block is turning out. I can see any mistakes and fix them if I take the time to lay the pieces out.

Stack the four red rectangles on top of each other, and the four grey rectangles on top of each other. Using a scant 1/4" seam, sew one grey to one red rectangle.

Press seams open (or to the side)

Arrange your block. Your small blocks should measure 4 1/2" square.

Sew each small block into a column.
Next, sew the two columns together.

If you look closely my points don't all match up. If I can see a mistake in the block from six feet away I rip and re-sew the seam. If the seam is off by only a tiny amount I leave it because it won't be noticeable in the finished quilt, unless a judge is looking at it.

Everyone loves "Show and Tell!" Please feel free to send me a photo of your block. I'd love to see what colors you are using, so would everyone else!

Drawing Diagonal Lines on Fabric

Sometimes I have a hard time drawing the diagonal line on squares. The line doesn't end up straight because the fabric shifts under the ruler as a use the pencil to draw the line.

Here's what I came up with:

I use a sheet of 220 grit Wet or Dry sandpaper.

The grit is very fine and holds the fabric so that it doesn't shift.
I use a ruler and a mechanical pencil. The mechanical pencil makes a very fine line and it is easy to get the line right on the edge of the ruler.

The lines are all straight, the fabric hasn't shifted and it hasn't stretched along the bias.

It works for me. If you have another way of drawing the diagonal line on your squares please leave a comment and let me know!

Double Quartet (aka Turned Around) — Quilt Block Tutorial

Double Quartet (aka Turned Around)
8" finished quilt block

This is an easy block! I love the way it looks.

Step 1: Cutting the Fabric

Fabric A: background fabric

• A1 - cut four 3" squares
• A2 - cut four 2 1/2" squares

Fabric B: grey (medium color)

• B - cut four 2 1/2" squares

Fabric C: blue (dark color)

• C - cut four 3" squares

Step 2: Half-square Triangle Units
Hopefully half-square triangle units are getting easier to sew!

Draw a diagonal line on the back of each A1 (3" square background fabric) from one corner to another.
 Place each A1 (background fabric) right sides together with a C (blue or dark fabric).
Pin the pieces together so they don't shift while sewing.

Sew a scant 1/4" seam on either side of the drawn diagonal line. I used black so you could see the stitching line easily.

Cut along the drawn line to make eight half-square triangle units.

I pressed my seams open. This time I put the half-square triangle unit on top of a sleeve form and ironed it. It was much easier and faster to press it open.

All eight half-square triangle units pressed open.
Not shown: trim each unit to 2 1/2" using whatever ruler you prefer. 

I like using both Marsha McCloskey's 6" Precession Trimmer and Quilt in a Day 6 1/2" Square Up Ruler. I grab whichever one is on the top of my stack of rulers.

Step 3: Sewing the Block Together

Lay out the half-square triangle units, the A2 (2 1/2" background squares),  and the B (grey or medium 2 1/2" squares).
See how fast this block is?  

Press the seams open.

There is no way to nest the seams if they are pressed open so make sure you pin the rows together before you sew them! If you click on the photo below you will see that even with pinning, sewing with pressed open seams takes practice. My corners don't match up exactly.

I don't worry too much unless the seams are off a lot. By 'a lot' I mean that I could see the problem from 9 feet away! Sometimes I rip a seam out and sew it again to improve the block, but sometimes it's good enough because no one will notice the mistake.

If your cutting and sewing is accurate you shouldn't have to trim much more than loose threads when you are done sewing the rows together.

8 1/2" Double Quartet (aka Turned Around) block ready to be sewn into a quilt.

Do you want a coloring page to try out different colors?
Click on the image, then print to your printer.
We use colored pencils,

Everyone loves "Show and Tell!" Please feel free to send me a photo of your block. I'd love to see what colors you are using, so would everyone else!

Update: Reader photos!

Jaime's block: I love the colors! Notice how she was careful about the directional prints she chose for the corners. Thanks for sharing!

If you have a question, please ask it in the comments section and I'll do my best to answer.