Sew the Quilt Block
Although the illustration shows a scrappy quilt block, you can make the sixteen-patch as scrappy or orderly as you desire. For an orderly block, choose as few as two contrasting fabrics and alternate them from row to row.
Or, assemble strip sets as shown above and then cut segments from them to create ready-made rows for the block. Strip pieced scrap quilts are doable -- instead of using long, selvage-width strips, construct more sets from shorter strips, varying fabrics as much as possible in each set.
Patch-by-Patch Assembly of the Center Unit
- Cut sixteen 2-5/8" x 2-5/8" squares (use at least two different fabrics, or go as scrappy as you like).
- Sew the squares into four rows, each row with four squares.
- Press seam allowances in adjoining rows in opposite directions and join the rows. Press again.
Or, Assemble Several Blocks Strip Piecing Techniques
Think about your needs:- You will need four rows for each quilt block
- Each row has four squares (four strips of fabric required)
- Each strip in a strip set should be 2-5/8" wide
- You'll cut 2-5/8" segments from the completed strip set
So let's do a what if example for four strip sets, each producing four segments. Use 16 different fabrics, or repeat fabrics here and there. Place contrasting fabrics side by side if you like, or let the arrangement be totally random.
- Cut sixteen strips of fabric, each 2-5/8" x 11".
- Sew four strips together lengthwise as illustrated. Press seam allowances one direction.
- Square up one end of the strip set, trimming off as little of the leading edge as possible. Beginning at the squared up edge, cut (4) 2-5/8" segments from the strip set.
- Repeat, making four more strip sets and cutting four segments from each for a total of 16 segments.
- Choose four different segments and sew them together into rows to create a patchwork center for the quilt block. If necessary, gently re-press seam allowances in a row to help make seam alignment easier.
- Press the 16-patch unit. It should measure 11" x 11" (don't panic if it is slightly off).
- Make three more block centers from the remaining row segments.
Sew Corner Triangles to Center Patchwork
- Cut two 6-7/8" x 6-7/8" squares of background fabric.
- Cut each square in half once diagonally.
- Fold each resulting triangle in half to find the center point along its longest edge (or trim triangle tips to make match-ups a breeze).
- Center and sew a triangle to each of the four sides of the patchwork center.
- Cut additional backgrounds and repeat to finish remaining quilt blocks.
Use longer strip sets to make larger batches of identical row segments.
