Saturday, April 9, 2022

2022 Block of the Month Sampler - April

 

        

Welcome to Month Four of the St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild 2022 Block of the Month Sampler!

Remember to post your block to Instagram with the hashtag #stlmqgbom before the May meeting to be entered to win this month's prize. If you don't use Instagram, you may email a photo to the guild email. 

(We're not meeting in person in May because of our Zoom program and workshops with Paper, Sax, Sten. Be sure to check your email and this blog next month for the May blocks!)

This month we will be making FIVE 6-inch square-in-a-square blocks, or variations on that block. Easy peasy! You can make five of the same or mix and match as you see fit. In the whole quilt mock-up, you will see them all as small "x blocks" if you want to use that to plan. The whole quilt mock up can be found in the Block of the Month Introduction post

The square-in-a-square block is a quick and easy block that uses a center square, set on point, and two smaller squares, each cut on the diagonal, and sewn to the center square. 

The x-block variation uses a plus as the center block. The economy block variation add an additional layer, so it is essentially a square-in-a-square in another square. Both the square-in-a-square an the economy block are great places to try some fussy cutting if you are using prints in your quilt. 

You could certainly do the math to figure out how to make any size square-in-a-square using the Pythagorean Theorem (a² + b² = c²) but I highly recommend skipping all that and using this Square in a Square Calculator from Quilter's Paradise. 

When I input the finished size of 6-inches into the calculator, the result is that I will cut my center square at 4¾ and my two corner squares at 3-7/8. I prefer to round up and will cut those corner squares at 4-inches and then trim the finished block. 

CUTTING DIRECTIONS

These directions are for a single block. You should decide how many of each variation you want to make and adjust your cutting accordingly. 


Square in a square

Inside: (1) 4-3/4 inch square
Outside: (2) 4 inch squares, cut on the diagonal

X-block

Inside (x fabric): (1) 2" x 5" rectangle
                            (2) 2-inch squares

Background: (4) 2-inch squares
                     (2) 
4 inch squares, cut on the diagonal

Economy block

Inside: (1) 3-1/2" square

Middle: (2) 3 inch squares, cut on the diagonal

Outside: (2) 4 inch squares, cut on the diagonal

SEWING DIRECTIONS

Square in a square

1. Line up the long side of each triangle with one side of your center square. 

2. Sew together using a ¼ inch seam allowance. 

3. Press open. Trim to 6½ inches. 

X-block

Make the X

1. Sew a 2-inch background square to two opposite sides of a 2-inch square of x fabric. 


2. Add the 2" x 5" rectangle to the middle to finish the x. 

**this center section will finish at 5". Trim to 4¾ by lining up the center of the x at the 2-3/8 mark on your ruler.**


3. Line up the long side of each background triangle with one side of your center x. 


4. Sew together using a ¼ inch seam allowance. 

5. Press open. Trim to 6½ inches. 


Economy block

1. Line up the long side of each small triangle with one side of your center square. 

2. Sew together using a ¼ inch seam allowance. 

3. Press open. Trim to 4¾ inches. 

4. Line up the long side of each larger triangle with one side of your small square-in-a-square. 


5. Sew together using a ¼ inch seam allowance. 

6. Press open. Trim to 6½ inches. 



Choose your block, and make five total, or mix and match!





No comments: