Create a checkered effect with strip-pieced blocks
PATCH BLOCKS
FOUR-PATCH BLOCK
NINE-PATCH BLOCK
Strip piecing is a technique where
two or more strips of fabric are sewn
together and then subcut – it’s great
for speedy piecing (see page 44 for
more ideas). Using strip piecing not only
saves time, but also gives you moreuniform results, since the units come from
the same piece of fabric. There are two
easy blocks that you can make to practise
your strip piecing – a Four-Patch and a
Nine-Patch block. Whip up a few of these
blocks, join them up and you’ll quicklySTEP ONE
For a Four-Patch block, cut two long
strips from two contrasting fabrics. Sew
the strips together along the length with
a /in seam. Press the seam to one side.STEP TWO
Cut the strip into units, so the unit
width is the same as the original strip.
Take a pair and rotate one by 180-degrees.
Sew together, matching centre seams.STEP one
For a Nine-Patch block, cut two strips of
dark and one of light fabric. With the
light strip in the middle, sew the strips
along the length with a /in seam (unit
1). Repeat with two light strips and one
dark strip (unit 2). Press.STEP two
Cut both units into segments, so the width
of the segments is equal to the width of
the original strip width. Take two unit 1
segments and one unit 2 segment and sew
together as shown, with the unit 1
segments either side. Press again.have a checker board quilt top, ready to
turn into a quilt! Once you get the hang
of strip piecing, you can use it to create
more complicated designs like Rail Fence
or Windmill blocks. You can find out more
about working with blocks on page 108.