Block Party Block #58 - Crossed Patch

Block Party Block #58—Crossed Patch is a fun and simple quilt block that uses only two units: the Shaded Four Patch and the Four Patch. To create these units, you will need your Tucker Trimmer, the Four Patch Square Up tools, and the Shaded Four Patch Technique Sheet.

This tutorial will guide you through making the units for this block. It does not replace the tool instructions and technique sheet. I used scraps from Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design Bubbles, Curves, and Corner fabric that I have left over. I chose four different fabrics from the collection and white for the background.

Before we begin, download your free Block Party Block https://bit.ly/BPB58CrossedPatch.

Determine Block and Unit Size

First, decide on the block and unit size you want to create. Then, refer to your tool and technique sheet along with the cutting charts to find the starting strip sizes for the units you will be making.

Shaded Four Patch

For this unit, we will use a strip piecing method to make our units two at a time, and then we will trim them down with our Tucker Trimmer. Please cut your strips and rectangles according to the chart on your technique sheet. To clarify their roles in the unit, the Narrow Strip corresponds to the light teal fabric square, the Wide Strip represents the blue triangles, and the Rectangle is made from the white background fabric.

Now that we have our strips, let’s piece the narrow and wide strips together by stitching them lengthwise. You can create two strip sets or just one and cut it in half to make two sets. Press toward the wide strip.

Right-Handed

Left-Handed

Next, place the two-piece strip sets right sides together on the cutting mat, ensuring the narrow strips are opposite each other. Make sub-cuts the width of the narrow strip, keeping the paired sub-cuts together. Each sub-cut will yield two Shaded Four Patch units. Cut as many as you need according to the pattern.

Stitch

Snip

Stitch each pair together along the long side. Cut the center of the stitched pairs between the two squares, cutting close to the seam allowance or just beyond it. Press your seams in the opposite direction.

Now, select a ruler with a long 45-degree angle; I suggest using the First Choice Ruler for this part. Find the 45-degree angle dashed line on the ruler used for marking. Place both 45-degree lines on the small square's seam lines, ensuring you align with the corner where the seams meet. Draw a line along the angle. Rotate the unit and repeat on the other side to draw another 45-degree line. Center the large rectangle over the unit with right sides together.

Stitch along both drawn lines. Cut ¼” away from the stitched lines on both sides, and press toward the large triangle.

Right-Handed

Left-Handed

Using your Tucker Trimmer, align the Sizing Diagonal line with the sewn seam and the common diagonal along the other seam. Trim up and across. 

Right-Handed

Left-Handed

Rotate your unit 180 degrees, replace the Tucker Trimmer, realign the sizing and cleanup lines on the previously trimmed edges, and trim the final two sides of the unit.

You will need to make a total of 8 Shaded Four Patch units.

Four Patch Units

Next, we will create the four patch units using the strip-piecing method. Using the tool instructions and cutting chart, cut your strips based on the unit size you will be making. I recommend using the ¼” increment line, as it allows for slightly more room for trimming and makes it easier to cut 1/4” than 1/8”.

Once you cut your strips, pair your colors together to make two different-colored strip sets. Place the strips right sides together and stitch down the long side. Press the seams to one side or open.

Right-Handed

Left-Handed

Now, take the two-piece strip sets and place them right sides together on the cutting mat, making sure the colored fabrics are positioned opposite each other and nesting the seams. Sub-cut along the strips, keeping the pairs together.

Stitch the sub-cut pairs together and press your seams to the side or open.

Right-Handed

Left-Handed

Using your Four Patch Square Up, align the finished-size circle over the seam intersection of the Four Patch unit. Line the dashed lines radiating from the center with your seams, then trim up and across the unit.

Right-Handed

Left-Handed

Rotate your unit 180 degrees, reposition the Four Patch Square Up, and align the finished-size circle with the center and dashed lines on the seams. Make sure the trimmed edges are aligned with the cut-size clean-up lines. Trim up and across the unit.

You will need to make 8 Four Patch units for this block.

Block Assembly

Layout two Shaded Four Patch and Two Four Patch units as shown in the picture above. Stitch this quarter of the block together, and repeat three more times. Press as desired.

Position and lay out the four block quarters as shown. Stitch them together and press as desired to finish your Crossed Patch Block.

Graceful Points Block 14

It's another Friday, and it's time to release another block in the Graceful Points Quilt Along.  Today we are releasing block 14, Blockbuster #25 "Winged Four Patch."  This block is so easy using the Four Patch Square up© tool, by Studio 180 Designs.

For this block, we will be making Two Colored Flying Geese with the Studio 180 Design, Wing Clipper® tool, and Four-Patch units using the Four Patch Square Up© Tool Squared and square units to complete this block.   

Make sure you download both of the Block 14 and Blockbuster #25- "Winged Four Patch" Instructions, which are required to make your blocks.

Please remember that the pictures used in this tutorial are for the 6" block for the Wallhanging.  Be sure to read the Downloaded Block Instructions to get the correct cutting and trimming sizes for the 12" block, which are indicated in (Blue) parenthesis.

Let's start with the Two-Color Flying Geese 

When making a multi-colored Flying Geese, the process is the same as a normal Flying Geese up to Step 6, when you change up the color of the small squares.  Let walk through the steps.

1. Gather all your pieces.

2.  Mark two lines 1/4" away from the center diagonal on the wrong sides of the small squares.

3.  Position the red squares diagonally on the larger square.  Remember to nudge the smaller squares toward the center about 3 or 4 threads from the raw edge of the larger square.

4.  Stitch on the lines, then cut apart between the lines.

5.  Press toward the small triangles.

6.  Using the Gold small squares position the squares on each of the units. Again remember to nudge the squares.

7. Stitch on the drawn lines and cut apart between the lines.

8. Press toward the small triangles.

Right Handed

Left Handed

9. Align the diagonal guidelines of the Wing Clipper® I with the seams of the Flying Geese unit.  Centering the tool over the size specified in your directions. Trim the side and across the top.

Right Handed

Left Handed

10. Rotate your flying geese unit 180° and reposition the Wing Clipper® I to align the previously trimmed raw edge size and "X" at the top with the intersections of the seams.  Trim the remaining sides again.

Make 8 FG units. 

Four Patch

1.  Gather your Strips. 

2.  Pair the strips (BG and C2) and (C1 and C2) and Position them with right sides together.

3.  Stitch down the length of the strips with your best 1/4" seam and press toward the dark fabric.

4. Cut your strip in half crosswise.  Placing the two halves with right sides together and the colors are opposite of each other, so they nest nicely.

5. After squaring up the end subcut along the strip into the width that you cut your strips.  Refer to your Block Instructions for sub-cutting sizes for your blocks. Leave your subcut units.

6. Gather your paired subcut units with right sides together and stitch down the long side of the layered pair. 

7. I suggest for this project pressing the seams open.

Right Handed

Left Handed

8.  Locate the finished size circle on the Four Patch Square Up© tool.  Position this circle over the seam intersections of your four patch unit.  Aligning the dashed line coming from the cirlce line up on the seams.  Trim the first two sides.

Right Handed

Left Handed

9.  Rotate your Four-Patch unit 180° degrees and repositioning the finished size circle and the cleanup lines.  Trim the final two sides.

Make 2 Red and Gold units

Make 2 Red and White units

Finishing

Let now stitch the Four Patches units together. Press the seams open to make 1 center unit.

Next, Stitch the Flying Geese units together.  Make sure to stitch two that have the red on the left side together and the other 2 with the gold on the left side.  Pressing the seams open to make 2 Red Flying Geese units and 2 Gold Flying Geese units.

Take the 2 red flying geese units and stitch two squares on the ends and press the seams open.  This will become the top and bottom of the block.

Stitch the 2 gold flying geese sides of the center unit and press open.  Then finish off the block with stitching the top and bottom on the block and press the seams open.

Your Block 14-Blockbuster #25 Winged Four Patch is now complete. I look forward to seeing your Blocks, and I hope you will share your photos in the comments section below or on the Graceful Points Facebook Group.  Additionally, you can post your blocks on Facebook or Instagram, making sure to use the #gracefulpointsqal and/or #quiltingaffection designs.  I can't wait to see your blocks.

Come back on Friday, August 16, where we will be making the final block #15, and I will be releasing a special bonus block.  Then on August 30th, I will be releasing the final assembly instructions to this QAL.