Category Archives: Techniques

This blog post relates to this tutorial I did for continuous seams…

Look at these pillows I made!  These are for the Halloween season.

Not sure if this block has another name, but I’m calling it Square-in-a-Star!  Lyrical, poetic block-naming talent just flows through my veins, what can I say?

So here’s the block:

If you would like a 12inch finished block, here are the measurements for one block: (16inch block measurements below).

A – One square 3 1/2 inches (3 inches finished)

B – Cut two 5 3/8inch squares into 4 triangles.

C-  Cut one 5 3/4inch square into 4 triangles**

D – Cut one 5 3/4inch square into 4 triangles**

** Do not do a short cut for assembling quick QST (quarter square triangle) blocks.  It won’t work – I tried.  It won’t work because you will always need the C unit to be on ONE side of the D unit.  If you do the shortcut you’ll have mirror imaged blocks like a FOOL.  Just cut out the triangles and sew them together to make the two QSTs into one HST (half square triangle).

E – Four 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch rectangles in the same fabric as unit D.

And here are the measurements for a 16-inch finished sized block.

A – One square 4 1/2 inches (3 inches finished)

B – Cut two 6 7/8inch squares into 4 triangles.

C-  Cut one 7 1/4inch square into 4 triangles**

D – Cut one 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch square into 4 triangles**

** Do not do a short cut for assembling quick QST (quarter square triangle) blocks.  It won’t work – I tried.  It won’t work because you will always need the C unit to be on ONE side of the D unit.  If you do the shortcut you’ll have mirror imaged blocks like a FOOL.  Just cut out the triangles and sew them together to make the two QSTs into one HST (half square triangle).

E – Four 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch rectangles in the same fabric as unit D.

If you would like to adjust these measurements to make a different sized finished block, just remember… whatever finished size you would like this unit:

…you’ll need to take that number and add  1 1/4 for the QST units.  For example, if I’d like the square to finish to a 4 1/2 square, then I will need to cut make my C and D units from a (4 1/2 + 1 1/4) 5 3/4 inch square.

and you’ll need to add 7/8 inches for the HST units.  For example, if I’d like the square to finish to a 4 1/2 square, then I will need to cut make my B units from a (4 1/2 + 7/8) 5 3/8inch square.

If you’d like, you could make the A square be of the same fabric as the D and E units.  Just another option!

Assembly Instructions:

Sew triangles C and D together, always making sure you keep C on the same side of the D unit.  (Always to the left if you look at the block this way…)

Sew the C/D HST unit the the B unit.

Sew E to the C/D/B unit.

To finish the rest of this block, refer to this blog post.  (Sorry to make you jump posts, but it’s just easiest this way.  I’m not digging for blog hits or anything, I don’t make money off of this blog).

There you go, dears!  Enjoy!

Take a look at these block patterns:

Looks like you’d have to do a Right-Angle seam, doesn’t it? You don’t!

Here’s how you can make these blocks (and many more) with continuous, straight seams.

Continuous Seam Tutorial:

In the images below I highlight the seams you need to sew with a red rectangle.   To clarify, you sew these blocks by placing the units on top of each other, right sides together, then open and press the seam as you like (whether that be by pressing the seams open or in one consistent direction).

Step One: Sew your center square unit to a rectangle unit, but not the whole way. Sew only the length of the red rectangle, but not inside the green circle. The key here is to sew more than 1/4inch long, and to leave more than 1/4inch of free space.

Step Two: Sew on the next rectangle unit, this time for the whole length (highlighted by the red rectangle). This is similar to sewing log cabin blocks, if you're familiar.

Step Three: Sew on the next rectangle, again for the entire length (highlighted by the red rectangle)

Step Four: To sew on the next rectangle unit, you'll have to scootch the first rectangle unit you attached out of the way. This will be easy to do because you did not sew within the green circle back in Step One. Attach the rectangle unit.

Step Five: You now need to finish the seam you started in Step One. Fold the first rectangle unit over the square, right sides together, and finish the seam you started, making sure to reinforce the start of this new seam by going backwards and forwards first. You're done!

Here are some pictures showing that last step…

Ready to continue this seam!

Can you see the white thread? That's the seam I started in Step One. I am pinning my units together and am going to sew, continuing that first seam to the edge of the unit.

I did it!

Do you like the block featured above?  I will do another post soon with some more tips on assembling that block.  Stay tuned!