Absolute beginner's guide to making your first patchwork block
Step by step, I'll take you through the easy process for making a simple patchwork block: Four Patch. This such an easy block to make, and can be used in combinations like small bocks with larger blocks, or paired with plain squares.
Fun and fast, let's make a block.
What is a quilt block?
Blocks are the pattern
A block is the basic unit for a traditional patchwork quilt and the starting point for many quilts.Blocks are composed of patches joined together to make a design.
Block designs date from the 1800s and have names like Log Cabin, Simple Star, Bear's Paw (pictured), Duck and Ducklings, Hands All Round...
There thousands of block patterns and quilters are designing new ones even today.
What is a block patch?
The smallest unit in a block.
Squares, rectangles and triangles are the most common patches, but trapezoids, diamonds and parallelograms frequently appear in block designs.
In the blocks you see below, all the unique shapes are coloured yellow.
Patches are in blocks
Four-Patch Blocks
are the easiest of all to make
Not only are they easy to sew, they are very versatile.Beginning patchworkers can learn to make one four patch block, and they can happily combine these with larger squares and rectangles to make delightful patchwork quilts.
This quilt is made entirely of Four Patch and Double Four-Patch blocks. It is one of the quilts for the Cancer Council Quilts project. The lens telling the stories of this project is featured below.
Four-Patch quilts for cancer research
on my charity quilt lens
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Charity quilts: Cancer Council quilts project
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Quilters from all walks of life are ready to help whenever the call goes out that people are in need. And the help they give? They make quilts, of course! Quilts to be raffled for fund-raising, quilts for the elderly in nursing homes, quilts for neo...
"Let's get started!
Make a Four Patch block"
What you need: Fabrics
Special quilt fabrics are not essential, but these are pretty
Two fabrics which contrast with each other.
The patterns don't matter, just that they are really visible as different.
In the example at the top of the lens, I have used a light background floral fabric, and a bright darker tone on tone fabric.
At right is an example where the contrast is not high enough.
What you need: Equipment
For making a quilt block by machine
Sewing machine
Thread to match the patches, or neutral grey or fawn
Iron and ironing pad or board
Rotary cutter
Rotary cutting board
Quilter's rotary ruler
Those are some of my old friends, my quilting tools.
Helpful rotary cutting books
on Amazon
What size do I cut the patches?
Size is easy
add ¼ inch seam allowance
to each side of the finished patch size
Our block will be 6 inches finished size, when it is sewn into a quilt. When you have sewn it, and before it is joined to anything else, it will measure 6½ inches.
This includes the ¼ inch seam allowance on all four sides.
Our 6 inch block is made by sewing four 3 inch squares together.
We need to cut the four patches :
3 inches PLUS 2 x ¼ seam allowances
So they are cut at:
3 + ¼ + ¼ = 3½
What to cut: For one Four Patch block
Matched or scrap
For a co-ordinated block (matching):Cut 3½ inch squares
2 squares in each fabric
For a scrappy (not matched) look,
use four different fabrics:
Cut 3½ inch squares
2 in each of two light fabrics
2 in each of two dark fabrics
Scrappy (non-matching) 4 Patch block
from the Cancer Council Quilts
"Psst!
I need to tell you something..."
Before you start
Follow the lessons on the lens below:
How to perfect that ¼ inch seam
and
How to press the Jan T way!
When you're ready, come back and we'll continue making our block.
Learn to make a quarter inch seam
and to press with a 'lid'
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Beginning patchwork: perfect quarter inch seams
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Because patchwork made by machine is usually based on what is known as a 'template-free' method, perfect ¼ seams are imperative for accurate piecing. It is essential to press your work as flat as possible between seams. This is a lesson on ho...
"Know how to get
your seams perfect
and flat now?
Let's go!"
Step 1: Join the patches
To join two patches together:
Place them right sides together.Sew along one side on the sewing machine, using a quarter inch seam.
Press towards the darker of the two fabrics.
Make two pairs the same
Step 2: Lay out the block
Place the two pairs of patches together:
Lay the two pairs side by side so they look like the picture.Flip one pair over onto the other pair, so they are right sides together.
Push the two sets of seams towards one another, so they butt up next to each other, with no space and no lumpy bit. That's a technical patchwork term ;>)
What you are trying to do is to have them nest together, so when they are sewn there is no gap or overlap. It's easy if you 'feel' for the gap or lump.
Step 3: Sew the patches together
to complete the block
Sew down the long sideon the sewing machine,
using a quarter inch seam.
Press to one side.
You've made your block. Well done!
Troubleshooting
How is your join?
Does the block measure 6½ inches across in both directions?
If not, can you see which seam is too big, or too narrow?
How is the seam junction?
A gap or overlap?
Does it measure 6 and a half inches?
Put your ruler on top
Not too critical of yourself please!
Be nice, you're just a beginner!
Remember this is your very first patchwork block, so be kind to yourself if it's not perfect. If it's not as good as you think it should be, leave it for a day or two and have another try.Pat yourself on the back for your effort and you'll see it will improve in no time.
My first quilt was not very good, but I love it still.
Gallery of Four Patch designs
Grandson Tyler's quilt
Take it right to the top!
My quilting lensography
There's lots for you to enjoy, lessons, gallery, quilts, quilts, quilts
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Best Patchwork and Quilting Tips from Jan T
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I know lots about patchwork and quilting that I'd love to share with you. Do you want to make better quilts? Have you got some patchwork/quilting tasks that you need help with? Let me help you. I'm Jan T (Urquhart) Baillie. I've been teaching and...
Jan T
quilter, quilt author, quilt writer, quilt teacher
Lensmaster JanTUB has been a member since April 15 2009, has rated 175 lenses, favorited 155, and has created 85 lenses from scratch. Jan T (Urquhart) Baillie donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "Electric Quilt Tutorials". See all my lenses
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Think you can make a Four Patch block now?
Give it a try!
It's as easy as I say.
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Reply
- JanTUB JanTUB Jun 27, 2009 @ 5:27 am | in reply to spirituality
- Thanks, you angel!
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Reply
- JanTUB JanTUB Jun 27, 2009 @ 5:26 am | in reply to spirituality
- The little one? It's a Sew Easy (Australian) ruler 6 1/2 inches square. Let's go!
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Reply
- spirituality spirituality Jun 27, 2009 @ 4:12 am
- OH & blessed by a squidangel :)
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Reply
- spirituality spirituality Jun 27, 2009 @ 4:12 am
- I think I can make one yes, great instruction. But where can I get that ruler ? looks darn handy :)
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