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Make a Square look like a Diamond with this Square in a Square Quilt Block
The trick, if one exists, is to make sure that as you sew all the bias edges to keep them from stretching and getting out of shape.
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.
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Square in a square quilt patch. The center square measures 4." |
Step 1
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Square in a square quilt patch. The center square measures 4." The triangles measure 3 1/2" on the short sides, and 4 3/4" on the bias edge. |
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" on the short sides and 4 3/4" on the long sides. 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.
Step 2
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Fold down one triangle, and then the second triangle. |
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.
Step 3
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Using a 1/4" seam allowance, stitch the triangles onto the sides of the squares. |
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.
Step 4
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Square in a square quilt patch. The center square measures 4." The triangles measure 3 1/2" on the short sides, and 4 3/4" on the bias edge. |
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.
Step 5
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Using a 1/4" seam allowance, stitch the triangles onto the sides of the squares. |
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.
Step 6
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Finished square in a square quilt patch. The center square measures 4." |
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."
This article courtesy of http://www.How-to-Quilt.com.
©2007, Penny Halgren
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