quilt blocks Archives - Page 3 of 5

Make a Churn Dash Block from Charm Squares

March 27, 2017 by Nanny 1 Comment

Today we are going to make a Churn Dash block from our charm squares. The Churn Dash is a popular block and you will see many variations of it.

WHAT YOU NEED:

DARK: 4 x 5″ squares

LIGHT: 5 x 5″ squares

LET”S SEW:

1. Trim 1 x Light to 4.5″ square

2. Take 2 light and 2 dark squares :

Take the light squares and fold in half and finger press or draw a line down the centre.
Place the light square and a dark square, right sides together and sew a scant 1/4″ either side of the centre line. (better too scant than not enough)
Cut along the line between the two rows of stitching.

NANNY TIP: If you are using a Directional fabric, you will need to join one pair of squares in one direction and the other pair in the other direction

3. Take 2 x light and 2 Dark squares and make HSTs (Half Square Triangles)

NANNY TIP: If using a directional fabric, fold the squares along the diagonal to check that you have the right direction before you mark and sew

diagonal line
scant 1/4″ either side of line
cut between the lines

4. Trim all squares to 4.5″

5. Organise your squares:

6. Sew your 9 patch and press.

That completes our Churn Dash – Block number 8 of our 9 Patch Sampler. We are now half way through and I am loving seeing your finished blocks so thanks for sharing!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Spool block from Charm Squares

March 20, 2017 by Nanny 2 Comments

Today we are going to make the 7th block in our 9 Patch Sampler. We are going to make a Spool block using our Charm Squares.

The spool is so called because it is designed to look like a spool of thread. With more experience, you will be able to vary the size and shape of the spool, but for today, we will stay with our 4.5″ squares made into a 9 patch.

WHAT YOU NEED:

The Spool is the first block where we will be introducing another fabric to our 9 patches – I have called it OTHER so I now have, DARK, LIGHT and OTHER. It is simply an accent fabric that will add to the design. I am using Black and you can see that it represents the thread on the spool.

Dark: 4 x 5″ squares – 2 are left at 5″ and the other 2 are trimmed to 4.5″

Light: 4 x 5″ squares – 2 are left at 5″ and the other 2 are trimmed to 4.5″

Other: 1 x 5″ square – trimmed to 4.5″ (this is the thread on the spool)

LET”S SEW:

Take the two 5″ Dark and Light and make 4 HST’s

diagonal line
scant 1/4″ either side of line
cut between the lines
trim to 4.5″ and press OR press and trim to 4.5″

2. Sew a 4.5″ Light either side of the 4.5″ Other

YOU NOW HAVE :

2 x 4.5″ Dark
4 x 4.5″ HSTs
Light – Other – Light

3. Organise your squares:

4. Sew your 9 Patch. Take care to match the joins carefully to finish the spool.

5. Press and add it to your growing samples.

Thank you for sharing your photos to our Facebook page Nanny Sews and Crafts – it is fun to see how different each block looks with the different fabric choices!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Contrary Wife Quilt Block from Charm Squares

March 13, 2017 by Nanny 4 Comments

For all the ‘contrary’ wives out there today we will make a Contrary Wife quilt block from charm squares.

WHAT YOU NEED:

LIGHT: 5 x 5″ squares

DARK: 4 x 5″ squares

LET’S SEW:

Nanny Note: if you need more detailed instructions just follow the links for a quick reminder!

Take 3 LIGHT and 2 Dark squares and trim them to 4.5″
Take 2 LIGHT and 2 DARK and make HST’s

diagonal line
scant 1/4″ either side of line
cut between the lines
trim to 4.5″and press OR press and trim to 4,5″

3. Organise your squares:

4. Sew your 9 patch and press.

How did you go with the Contrary wife? Are you feeling a little contrary now? I must admit when I saw the name of this block, I imagined a frustrated quilter ( maybe with little ones crying “Whats for dinner?”) trying to make sense of her squares and HSTs and getting flustered – maybe she was having problems with her corners or maybe her directional fabrics!

Whatever it was, we have been left with a fun block in her memory!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Friendship Star from Charm Squares

March 6, 2017 by Nanny 1 Comment

Today we are going to use the same combination of squares and HSTs as we did for the Shoo Fly block, to make a Friendship Star from charm squares.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Dark: 3 x 5″ squares

Light: 6 x 5″ squares

LET’S SEW:

Trim 1 Dark and 4 Lights to 4.5″ squares

2. Take the remaining 2 Dark and 2 Light and make HSTs

diagonal line
scant 1/4″ either side of line
cut between the lines
trim and press OR press and trim

3. Organise your squares

4. Sew and press your 9 patch Friendship Star.

You are a STAR, friend!

Let’s take a look at our blocks so far:

(I had to use 2 Friendship Stars to fill the space!)

Next week we will move on to more combinations of squares, strips and HSTs. I hope you are enjoying the blocks.

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Shoo Fly Block from Charm Squares

February 27, 2017 by Nanny 2 Comments

Today we are going to make a Shoo Fly Block from charm squares. Shoo Fly is a common block used in quilting.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Dark: 3 x 5″ squares

Light: 6 x 5″ squares

Nanny Note: You will notice that I have used a directional fabric here, but because it is a busy print, I wasn’t concerned that it would spoil the effect of the block.

LET’S SEW:

Trim 4 Light and 1 Dark to 4.5″ squares
Take the remaining 2 Dark and 2 Light and make Half Square Triangles

diagonal line
scant 1/4″ either side of line
cut between the lines
trim and press OR press and trim

3. Press toward the Dark

4. Organise your squares

Nanny Note: I could have turned the 4.5″ squares to make it all directional but did it this way to demonstrate the difference. If it offends you aesthetically, make sure you have them all facing the same direction!

5. Sew and press your 9 Patch

Now, as that was so easy, I am going to post another block this week using the same recipe!

Until next time

Nanny xx

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