Beginner's Guide To Quilting - UK (2020-04)

All about...

BLOCKS

O

nce you’ve mastered the

basics of cutting and piecing

fabric, you can now combine

shapes to create hundreds (if not

thousands!) of small patchwork

patterns, or ‘blocks’. Gather up a

bunch of blocks and you’re ready

to combine them into a great quilt

design. Most blocks are based on

geometric shapes and with our help

you’ll soon be a block-building pro

in no time!

A ‘block’ refers to the finished,

patchworked element (usually square)

that is made up of different shapes, with

a recognisable finished pattern. A ‘unit’ is

what we call the smaller shapes that

make up the block. For example, Half

Square Triangle units can be used to

make Pinwheel blocks (see page 117).

Start simply with one-patch blocks

(where you repeat a single shape in an

all-over pattern), and then play with

multi-patch groups, using a mixture of

shapes. Experienced quilters combine

shapes to create all sorts of intricate

blocks, from stars to fans to complete

pictures! Two of best blocks to start with

are the Four Patch and Nine Patch. Find

out how to make these, along with a few

other beginner blocks, on page 124.

BLOCK SIZES

A block can be any size you choose, as

long as you can work out the maths. If

you’re following block instructions in

books, magazines and online, they’ll have

already worked out the measurements for

you. In this chapter, we’ll show you how

to make 8in (20.3cm) square blocks.

When following instructions, the block’s

finished size is usually provided. That

said, if you’re planning a quilt with

blocks, it’s worth checking whether the

instructions you’re following describe the

finished size of the individual blocks

(with seams) or the size the block will be

once it’s been sewn into a quilt. An 8in

(20.3cm) block, once sewn into a quilt,

will end up being 7½in (19cm) because

two ¼in (6mm) seams have been sewn.

ADDING BORDERS & SASHING

The arrangement and pattern of the

blocks in your quilt design can be as

simple or as intricate as you like! There

are some easy ways to vary the finished

effect, all you need is a bit of planning

and measuring. For a beginner planning

a quilt top made from easy Four Patch

blocks or plain fabric squares, try adding

strips of fabric in between the blocks

(sashing) or around the edges (borders) to

frame your patchwork and help the fabric

patterns to stand out from each other. It

will give you the chance to practise basic

cutting and piecing skills and you get to

play with lovely fabrics!

Quilt borders come in all shapes and

sizes, some with straight edges, some

with mitred corners, some plain and

some pieced. A border can really set off

the blocks beautifully and is a great

chance to show off that favourite fabric of

yours or have a plain section of your quilt

top that you can then dress up with a spot

of free motion quilting (see page 147).

PLANNING YOUR QUILT SETTING

You’ll be surprised how intricate quilt

designs can look once they simple

blocksare pieced together. It’s best to

start easy and work your way up. Choose

a block design that you like that’s within

You’ve played with patchwork and created quilt tops,

now have more fabric fun by making simple blocks. We’ll

show you how to arrange them with borders and sashing

Working with Blocks

104 Beginner’s Guide to Quilting

HOW TO ARRANGE BLOCKS IN A QUILT TOP

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