Thread: Basic block question

Where are you in Peoria? I'm in Glendale by the football stadium. PM me if you would like. I have a couple of small groups that you are welcome to join. Its fun to have company and we help each other with our dilemmas!

I love your cardinal. That is a very pretty block.

You could use the Square in a Square method if you don't think you could do it well with using oversized triangles and then cutting it down. The SiS, by Jodi Barrows, method really works well. I don't use it much because I think it wastes material. But, it is the easiest method for insuring a good 'fit.'

Here is a video of one way to make SiS: http://www.hgtv.com/video/super-fast-rotary-cutting-video/index.html I love this technique for scrappy quilts.

This site has a chart for the different sizes: http://quiltville.com/sqinsqtutorial.shtml

Another site: http://www.frugalquilting.com/square_in_a_square_quilting_block.htm Use method #2 for your block it is much neater.

Also: http://sleepyowlstudio.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/square-in-a-square-quilt-block-tutorial/ but this needs that specified size for the center square. Likewise: http://www.askpennyhalgren.com/IKM/questions/135/How+do+you+make+the+Square+in+a+Square+Quilt+Block %3F

You might understand the math involved by looking at how this one does the different SiS sizes: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art172248.asp


Yes, I know, I had too much time on my hands. Oh well.

Enjoy,
ali

From a math burnout perspective, it's a right triangle, therefore a^2+b^2=c^2. So top and side lengths of your center square, squared, added together, will be squared length of your diagonal. take the square root of that and that's your length, add 7/8, or do what I (and most everyone else I know) do and round up to the next whole number, sew on, trim up. viola. Do this on a calculator. It's not worth it to go OMG MATH EWWW.. heheh. That would actually give you the proper TRIANGLE size but most people I know use a square then cut off the corners, which is a wasteful method, agreed, BUT.. you can make a presto chango viola HST from that corner you cut off if you just sew another seam while you're at it, 1/2" away from the first. My brain just flitted away but I think if you do the square method just find the midpoint length and add an inch then trim down.

Your block is beautiful. I did not notice the points until you mentioned them.

Originally Posted by QuiltedCritterLady

I am working on this block to be the center square for a memory quilt for a friend who was recently diagnosed with inoperable cancer. I am still fairly new (obviously) to quilting and don't know what I did wrong on the background. I wanted an 8" block (8 1/2") finished size. What should I have done differently? I think I ran across a formula for this type of block at one point, but I can't seem to find it. Can one of you please share that with me?

Another thought would be to do a paper mock up....easier on the mind....and then work backwards....and yes I like the idea of over cutting....my goodness that extra 1/2-3/4" can been a huge life saver, and give you good looking blocks.