Vintage Quilt Blocks Ebook
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Introduction to the Shoo Fly Quilt Block Variation
Shoo Fly Quilt Block Variation I honestly wasn't sure what to call this quilt block, because there are at least ten traditional blocks that are very similar to it. It can be called an "O," but I'm stubborn enough to want a longer name. The Shoo Fly quilt block is a fairly close match, so let's go with that -- but we'll make a few adjustments to the Shoo Fly's standard color value arrangement. The Shoo Fly variation quilt block is assembled with a combination of squares and half-square triangle units that are arranged to create a somewhat florallike appearance. If you're making the Shoo Fly variation for a quilt block swap, be sure to follow the swap guidelines for size, color and value placement. Those elements might differ a bit from these instructions. Cutting Chart for Three Shoo Fly Variation Sizes 12-inch Square Finished Quilt Blocks Block Center (shown as yellow): • one 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" square "Floral" Elements (shown as pink): • four 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" squares • two 4-7/8" x 4-7/8" squares Neutral Background (shown as white): • two 4-7/8" x 4-7/8" squares 9-inch Square Finished Quilt Blocks Block Center (shown as yellow): • one 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" square "Floral" Elements (shown as pink): • four 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" squares • two 3-7/8" x 3-7/8" squares Neutral Background (shown as white): • two 3-7/8" x 3-7/8" squares 6-inch Square Finished Quilt Blocks
Block Center (shown as yellow): • one 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" square "Floral" Elements (shown as pink): • four 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares • two 2-7/8" x 2-7/8" squares Neutral Background (shown as white): • two 2-7/8" x 2-7/8" squares
Assemble the Shoo Fly Variation Quilt Block
Make the Half Square Triangle Units Half square triangle units, also called triangle squares, are used in each of the Shoo Fly variation's four corners. 1. Use my easy sandwich method to create four triangle square units by pairing the two neutral background squares and the "floral" squares of the same size. Assemble the Shoo Fly Variation Quilt Block Refer to the illustration above to assemble the quilt block. Use /4" seam allowances throughout. 1. Sew a triangle square unit to each side of a "floral" square as shown in the top left row of the illustration. Press seam allowances towards the center square. 2. Repeat to make a second identical unit. 3. Sew a "floral" square to each side of the block center as shown above in the second illustration from the top. Press seam allowances towards the outer squares. 4. Arrange the rows as shown lower left in the
illustration. Sew rows together, butting lofts where patches meet to form a perfect match at seam intersections. 5. Press the quilt block and check its measurements: • 12-inch finished block should measure 12-1/2" x 12-1/2" • 9-inch finished block should measure 91/2" x 9-1/2" • 6-inch finished block should measure 61/2" x 6-1/2" If your block is smaller than it should be, or skewed, press again and recheck. If it still isn't quite right, use my easy squaring-up method before sewing it to other blocks. Shoo Fly Variation Quilt Block Layouts
Shoo Fly Variation Layout Options The drawing above illustrates two simple ways to arrange your Shoo Fly variation quilt blocks. • The layout on top alternates the blocks with Snowball blocks, forming star tips around the outer edges of the Shoo Fly. • The lower layout shows blocks arranged side by side. Like any quilt block, the Shoo Fly variation can be arranged in many ways, and combined with other blocks as you wish.
Churn Dash Quilt Block
Churn Dash Quilt Block Pattern This floral quilt block finishes at 4-1/2-inches or 9inches square, your choice. A large Floral / Whiteon-White (WoW) half-square triangle unit sits at each block corner, separated by a strip pieced rectangle made from a contrasting fabric and more of the WoW background. Center squares are cut from a third fabric. Use any technique you like to construct the halfsquare triangle units. I like the sandwich method, but you can sew them on a rectangular or long grid if you like. The cutting chart assume you'll use sandwiched squares; alter the instructions to suit the method you choose. I nearly always make my half-square triangle units larger than necessary, and then cut them back to the exact unfinished size before sewing them into a block. That's especially helpful when working with small units, where even small variations in a seam allowance can result in an incorrectly sized unit. Use larger parent squares to sew oversize units. Trim them back using a ruler with a 45-degree line (such as Martingale's Bias Square) that allows you to center the diagonal seam to ensure that each half of the block is identically sized. You'll find yardages and cutting instructions on page 2.
Churn Dash Quilt Block Yardages & Cutting Chart
Eight Floral Monkey Wrench Quilt Blocks - 9" Generous yardages allow for shrinkage. The notation for 42" strips refers to fabric cut across the crosswise grain, from selvage to selvage. Do not trim-back long strips. Floral Print 3/8 yard: • cut two 4-3/8" x 42" strips; cut (16) 4-3/8" x 43/8" squares from strips White on White Print 1/2 yard: • cut two 4-3/8" x 42" strips; cut (16) 4-3/8" x 43/8" squares from strips • cut (2) 2-3/4" x 42" strips Contrasting Fabric to Sew Between Triangle Units 1/8 yards: • cut (2) 1-3/4" x 42" strips Third Contrasting Fabric for Block Centers • cut (1) 2-1/2" x 22" strip; cut (8) 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares from strip Eight 4-1/2" Monkey Wrench Blocks Floral Print • cut one 2-5/8" x 42" strip; cut (16) 2-5/8" x 2-5/8" squares from strip (if your strip cuts only 15, cut another square from additional yardage) White on White Print 1/2 yard: • cut one 2-5/8" x 42" strip; cut (16) 2-5/8" x 2-5/8" squares from strip (if your strip cuts only 15, cut another square from additional yardage) • cut (1) 1-5/8" x 42" strip and (1) 1-5/8" x 7" strip Contrasting Fabric to Sew Between Triangle Units
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cut (1) 1-1/8" x 42" strip and one 1-1/8" x 7" strip
Contrasting Fabric for Block Centers • cut (1) 1-1/2" x 13" strip; cut (8) 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" squares from strip.
Make the Churn Dash Quilt Block
Assemble the Half-Square Triangle Units Use my easy sandwich method (or the method of your choice) to combine the 16 floral and WoW squares, making a total of 32 half-square triangle units. After assembly, units should measure: • 4" square for the 9-inch block, or • 2-1/4" square for the 4-1/2" block Make Strip-Pieced Rectangles to Sew Between Half-Square Triangle Units 1. Gather the long WoW and contrasting strips. Sew strips of matching lengths together lengthwise. Press seam allowances towards the darker fabric. 2. Square up one end of the strip sets and cut a total of 32 segments. Segment widths depend on your block size: • 2-1/2" wide segments for 9" block • 1-1/2" wide segments for 4-1/2" block Assemble the Quilt Block 1. Gather four half-square triangle units, four strip pieced segments and one square block center. 2. Arrange the components in three rows, taking care to position darker areas of units as shown. 3. Sew components of each row together. Press seam allowances in top and bottom rows
towards the center. Press seam allowances in middle row away from the center. 4. Sew the rows together, butting seam intersections for a perfect match. Press. 5. Repeat to assemble a total of eight patchwork quilt blocks. 6. Make as many more sets of eight blocks as desired for your quilt.
Introduction to the Churn Dash Variation Quilt Block
The design is the traditional Churn Dash, but with a quarter-square triangle unit at its center instead of a single square. The Churn Dash variation block finishes at 12-inches square. Churn Dash Fabrics & Cutting Chart Black Print • Cut two 4-7/8" x 4-7/8" squares • Cut one 5-1/4" x 5-1/4" square (same or different black print) • Cut one 2-1/2" x 19" strip Dark Red Print • Cut two 4-7/8" x 4-7/8" squares • Cut one 5-1/4" x 5-1/4" square Gold Print • Cut one 2-1/2" x 19" strip
Make the Churn Dash Variation Quilt Block
Assemble Half Square Triangle Units 1. Draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner on each side of your red squares. 2. Pair a red 4-7/8" square with a black square of the same size. Pair the red 5-1/4" square with the black square of the same size. Use my quick sandwich method to make halfsquare triangle units from the pairs. 3. You should now have four red/black 4-1/2" x 41/2" half-square triangle units for block corners and two red/black 4-7/8" x 4-7/8" half-square triangle units that will be used as starter units for the block's center. Make Quarter Square Triangle Unit for Block Center You'll turn the larger, 4-7/8" red/black half-square triangle units into quarter square triangle units. 1. Draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other on the reverse side of one of your larger red/black units. 2. Align the two larger red/black units right sides together, placing unlike colors on top of each other. 3. Sew a seam 1/4" on each side of the marked line -- just as you did to make the original halfsquare triangle units. Trim on the center line, cut apart and press. The resulting units should
measure 4-1/2" square. One will not be used, set it aside for another project or make a second block to use in a throw pillow cover. Also see: Quick Pieced Quarter Square Triangle Units Make Strip Pieced Units 1. Sew the two 19" strips together lengthwise. Press seam towards the darker strip. 2. Square up one end of the strip set and then cut four 4-1/2" long segments from it. Assemble the Churn Dash Twist Block 1. Arrange the components into three rows as shown. Sew units in each row together, pressing seam allowances towards the black/gold units. 2. Sew the rows together to complete the block. It should measure 12-1/2" x 12-1/2".
Steps to the Altar Quilt Block Pattern
This traditional quilt block sometimes has slightly different components, and there are other blocks that use the same name or similar names, even though they have a completely different appearance. That's common in the world of quilting, where we tend to change designs to suit our own needs. The quilt block finishes at 12-inches square. Steps to the Altar Quilt Block These instructions assume you will use the same
green fabric and gold fabric for all of the small squares. Dark Green Print • One 2-1/2" x 16" strip • Three 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares Gold Print • One 2-1/2" x 16" strip • Cut two 4-1/8" x 4-1/8" squares; cut each in half twice diagonally to create eight quarter-square triangles (two will not be used) Dark Brown Print • One 4-7/8"" x 4-7/8" square, cut in half once diagonally to create two half-square triangles Neutral Background • One 4-7/8"" x 4-7/8" square, cut in half once diagonally (one resulting triangle will not be used) • Two 4-1/2" x 9" strips Alternate Cutting from a Scrappy Assortment of Fabrics • Cut nine green 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares • Cut six gold 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares • Cut two 4-1/8" x 4-1/8" squares; cut each in half twice diagonally.
Make the Base of the Steps to the Altar Quilt Block
1. Place your 4-1/2" x 9" background strips on a rotary mat, all edges aligned and right sides together. Cut a 45-degree angle in the end of the strip sandwich as shown, beginning the
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angle's tip 8-7/8" from the bottom left edge. The ruler's 45-degree line should be aligned with the bottom of the strip. Don't worry if your length is not exact -- as long as it's longer than required, not shorter. You should now have two mirror image trapezoids as shown. Find one brown and one background halfsquare triangle created by cutting 4-7/8" squares in half once diagonally. Sew together along their long edges and press the seam allowance towards the dark half. (Step not illustrated) Referring to the illustration as guide, sew the unit you just created to the bottom edge of a trapezoid. Double check placement before you sew. Press the seam allowance towards the background unless it is very sheer. Sew your remaining large brown triangle to the second trapezoid as shown in the illustration, matching their 90-degree angle sides (shown as the bottom edge) for sewing. Press the seam allowance towards the background unless it is very sheer. Sew the two base units together, matching seam intersections carefully. Press.
Finish Making the Steps to the Altar Quilt Block
1. Sew the 16" long green strip lengthwise to the 16" long gold strip. Press the seam allowance towards the darker strip. 2. Square up one end of the strip set and cut six 2-1/2" long segments from it.
3. Arrange the segments from step 2 with green squares and gold triangles to create six horizontal rows as shown. Sew components of each row together, pressing seam allowances towards the darker units. 4. Join the rows, aligning seams carefully. Press. The unit should measure 12-7/8" along its two shorter edges. 5. Align the top and bottom halves of the block, right sides together and edges matched, particularly the right-angle block corners. 6. Inspect the long edge where seam will be sewn. Ideally, the edges of each unit should match. Realistically, they might not. If you think pressing the units will help, re-press and match again. If edges still do not match exactly, align them as well as possible and adjust your seam allowance if necessary to make it flow through the intersections where side triangles meet squares. 7. Press. The block should measure 12-1/2" x 121/2".
Introduction to the Cracker Quilt Block Pattern
Cracker Quilt Block Pattern Each 6-inch (finished) Cracker quilt block is made with two fabrics. Use these fabric guidelines, or change them entirely to suit your needs. Choose a
bright fabric for the focal area of the quilt block and surround it with a white-on-white or neutral. Cutting for One Cracker Quilt Block To make the cracker quilt block, three bars are sewn together to create a square center unit, and then triangles are added to each side of the bar group. One caution: the bars are cut 1-15/16" wide, halfway between the 1-7/8" and 2" lines on our rotary rulers. You can manage the cut in different ways: • Estimate the distance when you cut strips • Use a metal ruler with accurate markings to draw a 1-15/16" wide strip on copier paper; cut it out (recheck width along its length) and tape it to your rotary ruler to help make cuts • Use masking tape to mark a line on your rotary ruler • Download my pdf file, cut out the strip and then tape it to your rotary ruler From bright fabric, cut: • One 3-7/8" square • Two 1-15/16" x 4-3/4" strips From the white on white fabric, cut: • One 3-7/8" square • One 1-15/16" x 4-3/4" strip
Assemble the Cracker Quilt Block
Cracker Quilt Block Pattern Assembly Before we get started -- wouldn't this make a cute
baby quilt or kid's quilt? The quilt block is a nice size (not too big and not too small) and it lets you showcase all sorts of scrappy fabrics. A finished Cracker quilt has all sorts of visual movement across its surface. 1. Cut each of the 3-7/8" squares in half once diagonally to produce two triangles each. 2. Sew the three bars together lengthwise, with the white on white strip in the middle. Press the seam allowances towards the bright bars. The finished unit should measure 4.5 inches square. 3. Center and sew a bright triangle to the bar unit, arranging it to flow across a side with seams as shown. Press the seam allowance towards the triangle. Repeat on the opposite side. 4. Center and sew a white triangle to the remaining sides. Press the seam allowances towards the pieced bar unit. 5. Your Cracker quilt block should measure 6-1/2" x 6-1/2". If it doesn't, check to make sure your strips were cut to the correct width. If your block is slightly smaller, try sewing the next block with a scant 1/4" seam allowance.
Group of Four Cracker Quilt Blocks
Here is a group of four Cracker quilt blocks.
Group of Eight Cracker Quilt Blocks
Eight Cracker Quilt Blocks
Cracker Quilt Layout Example
Example of a Cracker Quilt Layout This Cracker quilt layout is created by arranging quilt blocks in groups of four to create an "O" shape, and then sewing the groups side by side in horizontal rows.
Cracker Quilt Layout Example
This Cracker quilt layout differs slightly from the block arrangement you saw on page 5. Here, blocks are still arranged in groups of four, but some groups create an "O" and others create an "X."