Slice and Insert Quilt Block

Happy Telecast Thursday! This week I'm going to show you how to make another quick quilt block, but this one doesn't use the stitch and flip method. I know! Such a departure!

Rather than stitching and flipping, we are going to be slicing and inserting this week. This Slice and Insert quilt block has a real improvisational feel to it and since there are no lines to follow when slicing, you are completely free to do your own thing with it.

You'll need 3 fabrics to make this block:

1 background fabric

2 contrasting fabric strips at least 1 1/2" wide

To make this block work, you need to be sure that there is a strong contrast between the background fabric and the two fabric strips. I've chosen a black and white print for the background fabric and two solid colour fabrics (red and blue) for the strips. By choosing the solid colour fabrics, I've created a modern looking block.

This is a perfect quilt to use pre-cuts: a layer cake piece for the background and jelly roll strips for the inserted strips.

You'll be slicing the background block on a diagonal, but not corner to corner. You'll then add the first fabric strip and I've shown you a handy way to get everything lined up properly that I learned from Jacquie Gering.

The technique is easier to understand by watching the video below or on my YouTube channel to see how this block comes together.

This Slice and Insert block is a good way to use up excess fabric strips, perhaps those left over from binding pieces.

This will be the last Quick Quilt Block in the series - for now. You can find all of the other Quick Quilt Blocks in the playlist on my YouTube channel.

What has been your favourite Quick Quilt Block in this series? Do you have other blocks that you consider quick to make? Let me know in the Comments below.

Creatively,

P.S. I'd love to have you join me and hundreds of other quilters in the private Chatterbox Quilts' Facebook group. Learn and share with other quilters in this encouraging group.

Half Square Triangle Stitch and Flip Block

I've got another quick stitch and flip block for you this week. This one looks quite complicated, but it's really very easy to create.

This week I'm going to show you how to make a Half Square Triangle Stitch and Flip block. Yes, it's a mouthful, and while it's hard to say, it's quite easy to make :)

You'll need:

• a background square

• 4 half square triangles

I've shown you several ways to make half square triangles in previous videos, so refer to my Quick Quilt Blocks playlist to choose your favourite method and make four of them.

The background square that I use in my example is 4" and the half square triangles are 2½" unfinished. 

You'll need to draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the half square triangle units using a removable pen or pencil. This line will go across the stitched seam.

Next you will place a half square triangle onto one of the background square's corners. You can play around with the arrangement, but be sure that the drawn line, where you will be stitching, is oriented properly on the background square. 

Stitch on the drawn diagonal line on one of the half square triangles and then press it out to the background square's corner before proceeding to add the next half square triangle to the background square. You could stitch half square triangles to the opposite corners of the background square if you wish, but don't do adjacent corners. Trim up the excess corner fabric and square up the block. 

Click on the image below to watch the video to see exactly how this process goes.

I like how this block looks complicated, but is really quite simple to make. Which version is your favourite? Leave me a comment below to let me know.

Creatively,

I'd like to invite you to join me in my private Chatterbox Quilts Facebook group. It's where we share quilting and vintage sewing machine information. It's a friendly group which I'm sure you'll enjoy. Hope to see you there :)

Improvisational Stitch and Flip Block

Another Telecast Thursday has arrived! And another stitch and flip quick quilt block has joined it!

This week I'm going to show you how to make an Improvisational Stitch and Flip block - or as I call it "the drunken version" of the Uneven Stitch and Flip block". You'll soon see why.

To start you will need:

• 1 background block (I used a 4" square)
• 4 pieces of fabric

You have probably noticed that I didn't say "4 corner squares" as I usually do. This is because you don't actually have to use squares on the corners of the background square. Remember, this is an improvisational method, so you can just use a piece of fabric, but there is a condition: it must be large enough to go all the way across the background square at the corner and extend out over the edge of the background square when you "flip" it by at least 1/4". It's easier to understand what I mean by clicking on the image below to watch the technique video.

One important note about this method: you need to press the corner fabric out to the background square corner before adding fabric on another corner. You will also have to trim off the extra corner fabric before moving on to the next step.

Did you notice that you don't need to mark a diagonal line on the back of the corner pieces of fabric? This is truly an improvisational method :) It's also a great way to use up scrap fabric and who doesn't have scraps that they want to include in a quilt?!

Keeping with the unplanned method of making this block, you don't have to add fabric on every corner of the background square. Experiment with adding fabric on diagonal corners of the background square, or on adjacent corners or maybe just on one corner. You can play around a lot with this block, so have fun with it!

Do you see why I call it a "drunken version" of the Uneven Stitch and Flip block? It definitely has an unplanned, wonky look to it!

Truth: I am not really an improvisational type of gal and have a really hard time using this kind of a technique, but I'm working on it. I'm curious: leave me a Comment below or on my YouTube channel to tell me if you are comfortable with improvisational quilting, and if so, if you have any tips to make it easier for me.

Creatively,

P.S. I hope you'll join me in my private Chatterbox Quilts Facebook group for more quilting information and chats. The group loves to help each other and share information. I look forward to seeing you there :)

Uneven Stitch and Flip Block

Welcome to the second Telecast Thursday in July. I hope you're enjoying some summer fun and maybe doing a bit of quilting too.

I'm continuing with my stitch and flip quick quilt blocks this week. We're going to learn how to make an Uneven Stitch and Flip block. I think you could also call this a lozenge block as that's what it looks like to me.

Let's start! You'll need:

• 1 background square
• 4 corner squares - see the information below about the sizes of these squares

I've created 2 examples of this Uneven block:

• In the first example I used a 4" background square and 2 - 1½" squares and 2 - 2½" squares. I placed the similar sized squares opposite/diagonal to each other on the background square. 
• In the second example I used a 4" background square and all of the corner squares differ in size from one another: 1½" 2" 2½" and 3" squares

You'll use a similar construction technique to the other stitch and flip blocks: drawing a diagonal line on the back of the corner squares and then placing the corner squares on the corners of the background square. You will then stitch on the drawn diagonal lines on each of the corner squares.

Important: You will need to be careful when stitching down the corner squares in this block and I would suggest that you stitch one down and then press it out to the corner of the background square before stitching on the next corner square. If this sounds a bit confusing, just click on the image below to watch the video where it will all be made clear :)

The Uneven Stitch and Flip block is a great way to use up small pieces of fabric as the corner squares don't need to be the same size at all. Just be sure to choose contrasting fabrics for the corner squares - and these don't even have to be the same fabric either.

Have you come up with ideas on how to combine some of the stitch and flip blocks that you've learned? I'd love to hear your ideas, so post them in the Comments below or on my YouTube channel.

Creatively,

Are you a member of my private Chatterbox Quilts Facebook group? If not, please join me there to discuss quilting topics and vintage sewing machines. 

Gemstone Stitch and Flip Block

Happy Telecast Thursday!

I'm enjoying my looong summer vacation since I'm done work until the end of August. Yeah! There is definitely an advantage for a quilter to be free for a few months before returning to work/school in the fall. It's a great time to catch up on projects!

Teaser: I am gearing up for not just one, but two online quilt alongs! One is starting very soon (the Potion Quilt Along) and the other one will be running in September. Keep watching your inbox for more details soon.

Okay, now back to Telecast Thursday. This week I have another stitch and flip block to share with you. I love all the different combinations and hope that you are enjoying them too.

They say that "diamonds are a girl's best friend" and sticking with that theme, I'm showing you how to create a Gemstone block. Create this in your favourite gem colour (mine would be green for emeralds) and you can have a whole quilt full of sparklies.

Now to get down to the construction method. To create one block you'll need:

• 1 background rectangle
• 4 corner squares

Did you notice the difference from the other stitch and flip blocks? Yes, we are using a rectangle, not a square, for the background. So daring!

In my example, my background rectangle is 3 1/2 x 6 1/2" and my corner squares are 2" square. Choose contrasting fabric for the corner squares to get that gemstone effect.

Like the previous stitch and flip blocks, you will be drawing a diagonal line on the back of all the 2" corner squares. Be sure to use a removable marker so you won't have these lines hanging around after you've created the block.

Arrange the corner squares on the corners of the background rectangle and stitch on the diagonal lines. Click on the image below to watch exactly how to arrange these to be sure your Gemstone block turns out okay.

After you've finished stitching, you will need to trim off the excess fabric on all corners and press the corner squares out to the corners of the rectangle - or where they were before you trimmed them off :)

For more information, click on the image below to watch the video.

I really like the look of this Gemstone block and can see using it in lots of projects. Let me know in the Comments below or on my YouTube channel how you would use these blocks in a quilt project: make a lot and combine them, combine them with other stitch and flip blocks?

Creatively,

P.S. Join me in my private Chatterbox Quilts Facebook group to chat about vintage sewing machines and quilting topics. I'd love to see you there :)