Quilting Affection Designs: Tuckerize Your Quilt - Guest Blogger

Well folks, it is Day 4 of “Tuckerize Your Quilt Blog Hop”! I am guest blogging for Tina Dillard or Quilting Affection Designs and my name is Debbie Chiarelli of Quilts by Debbie. I have been a Certified Instructor for Studio 180 Design since 2016. When asked about participating in the Blog Hop I thought…why not? I talk endlessly about Studio 180 tools and the way they make the most difficult blocks, easy to create. As a quilter of 30+ years, I am always trying to learn new tricks and find alternative ways to create beautiful quilts. If you’re like me, you may choose to avoid the unique skill of paper piecing. Today, I’m going to show you a technique I’ve learned as an alternative method to paper piecing through the use of Tucker tools. Happy quilting!

Two blocks that I love and have found very easy to do, include the Snail Trail and the Pineapple block and these are the two blocks I am going to demonstrate today!

Moving forward, the only tool you will need to complete these blocks is the Studio 180 Large Square Squared®. There are quite a few patterns created by Deb Tucker and the Studio 180 Design Group that utilize this tool so I think it will come in handy in your quilting tool box!

To get us started, here are a couple examples of patterns that have the snail trail block in them:

Leymone Trails

Calypso

Filigree

Now, I am going to dive in and show you just how easy it is to make a snail trail block of your own so you can make any of these stunning quilts yourself! Hopefully, this demonstration will get you as excited as I am to use this tool and will have you quilting something new in no time!

The Large Square Squared® has 2 parts to this tool:

Part A:

1Step 1: This is what you will start with to make your center square. The tool has markings for strip sizes you will need to make the center square. Here I am showing how to make an 8” square unit. I started with a 2” strip to cut my starting square.

2Step 2: Then you will start to build your snail. Add the first set of triangles. Sew each triangle on opposite sides first, iron, then sew on the next two triangles on the remaining sides. Always sew with the square centered on top of the triangle.

This is Part ‘B’ of the tool. This side is used for trim down and the directions are as follows:

Step 1: In this step, you will place your pressed block under the tool and line up the X marked with 2 for 2” block.

For righthanded folks, you will cut on the right side and top. Lefthanded cutters will turn the ruler 90° so the X’s will be on the left. Cut up the left side and across the top.

Step 2: Then, you will lift your tool and turn the unit 180° and line up the X’s and the 2 ½” clean up lines and trim.

Step 3: We will now add the next set of triangles (round 2). Now you can decide if you want your tail to spin left or right, but once you decide here you will need to stick with it for the rest of the block. I have decided to spin to the right as you can see in the photo. As before sew on the triangles opposite sides first, press (seams to triangles) then sew on the second set of opposing triangles.

Step 4: we will now trim down this round. We will be going back to the Part ‘A’ tool. Locate the center square for the 4” finished block window on the Part ‘A’ tool. You line up the intersections of the seam with the center crosshairs the 4” finished unit. The diagonal line on the tool will cross through the intersections of the last set of seams. Trim.

Lift the tool and rotate the unit and realign the block using the same crosshairs and also you will be able to line up the trimmed edge with the lines of the center square for 4’ finished block. Now you are ready to trim the opposite side.

Now you are ready to repeat. Continue to build by adding the remaining rounds follow the diagram below. Remember to continue to add your colors to the right (or Left) to continue as you started.

Round #	Tool Part	Trimming Lines
Round #3	Part B	4” X and the 4 ½” clean up lines
Round #4	Part A	Center Square for 8” finished block
Round #5	Part B	8” X and the 8 ½” clean up lines

Round #3

Round #4

Round #5

Finished Unit

Now with the Large Squared Squared Tool® combined with the Stacked Squares Technique Sheet you can make sizes from 1” up to 12” squares.

The other favorite of mine is the Pineapple Block. This technique is pattern specific as seen in the Peach Melba® pattern here

With this technique you use the same method of adding rounds that are slightly oversized and trim down. I will show you a few pictures of how this is put together.

You will start with a 4 patch then add triangles for the first 2 rounds and then you add logs for less waste.

These are the Log and trim down examples. You work with octagon shapes till you add the final corners.

There are 4 rows of logs of background and 4 rows of logs of accent colors. Then you will add the final triangles of the accent colors then the final trim.

After the final trim you will get the following blocks:

I am working on the Queen size Quilt of this pattern. I have a total of 48 of these to make and only 30 left to finish. The Large Square Squared® has made creating these blocks so easy, that I have been speeding through them.

I have enjoyed being a guest blogger of Tina Dillard, Quilting Affection Designs. I hope you will check out the other bloggers of the Tuckerize Your Quilt Blog Hop listed below. There are still 2 days left. Also, you can always go back and see the previous blogs. I really enjoy the Studio 180 Design Tools and how they have my quilting adventure easier. Thank you and Happy quilting!

Monday, 7/15/19

Tammy Silvers, Tamarinis

Tina Dillard, Quilting Affection Designs

Tuesday, 7/16/19

Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler

Sarah Furrer, Studio 180 Design

Wednesday, 7/17/19

Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads

Marie McKay, Ribbon Star Studio

Thursday, 7/18/19

Deborah Chiarelli, Guest Blogging for Tina Dillard

Friday, 7/19/19