My first bed sized quilt was all hand pieced using 2-1/2" squares. I just cut strips of each color then cut the strips into squares. I started in the center with a single square of the darkest shade. I then added a square of the next shade to each side of the center square. For the next rounds I added a square at one 'point' of the diamond shape and then at each stairstep till it created the next larger diamond. I continued this till it was as large as I wanted it then reversed the order of colors in decreasing size triangles to create the corners of the square. If you have questions PM me and I will be glad to explain further.