4 inch squares
 

I inherited a large box of 4 inch squares a few weeks ago.:D I have sewn some into a scrappy top about 66 by 58 and still have over half a box more. I don't want to just sew blocks together...kinda bored with that. I would like to have some suggestions of patterns or something creative to do with some of the rest of them. There are as few as a single square to some that have about 10 or 12 matching squares.

I did something similar - made quarter square triangles putting light with dark. Became one of our favorite quilts.

You could also add a background fabric, white, muslin, black--whatever compliments your fabrics. That would open p a world of possibilities. Or, maybe separate them into stacks of light and dark. Make some half square triangles like Tartan suggested and then play with the settings.

How about a jewelbox quilt. https://www.google.com/search?q=jewe...iw=768&bih=928

Use them as the center of a star!

Go to this link http://weddingdressblue.wordpress.com/tutorials/. She has some great quilts for small blocks. You can use MSQ and turn then into lots of 4 patches then use them in one of her quilts.

4-patches with the 4" squares.

Or use one 4" square as a base and use another 4" sq. - cut into four 2" squares as "snowball" on the base. The resulting shape will be "roundish" when you sew several together. And the snowballs int he corners of several blocks will make a little quarter-square triangle block.

Cut the 4" squares in half and make a piano-key border.

Jan in VA

I have lots of 4 inch squares that I got from my church quilting group. I finally threw all of the blues into a grocery bag and mixed them up and then when I sit down to sew, I just grab 2 out and use them as leaders/Enders for other projects. I finally am half way through the blues bag. I'm not sure what I will do with them but am leaning towards an Irish Chain.

Oh, perfect for the disappearing 9-patch quilt. Lots of variations to that one.

Pinwheels I have used up a lot of 4 and 5 inch scraps this way-and every one seems to love them. GDs all wanted their quilts with all the triangles

I agree with the pinwheels. Missouri Star has a great tutorial...you put 2 squares facing together and sew all around the outer edge, cut from corner to corner turn and cut corner to corner again gives you 4 pieces. Iron open and arrange in pinwheel fashion. Cute, quick and easy!
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=ytff1-tyc&p=Missouri%20star%20quilt%20tutorial&type=

I have added a "background" triangle to each side of a square and that kind of frames them and puts the inside square on point. You could also choose a material you really like and cut squares of that color and alternate squares with your favorite material. Good Luck

My sister took a bunch of 4" squares and sewed them into a 44x72" top but instead of a quilt she made a beautiful lined jacket out of it.. She used white flannel for the lining and a simple Simplicity pattern. It is adorable ...I loved it! She wouldn't let me have it...had the nerve to tell me to make my own!

I picked up baggies of 4 inch squares in an antique mall and I made 4 patches from them, set them on the diagonal and bought a solid/tone on tone and use them with the 4 patches. Used the solid/tone on tone as borders. They came out beautiful. I made sure that the fabric squares in the 4 patches were all different.

Pinwheels!

Some mentioned the light and dark pattern. I have one and just love it. Simple and used so many odds and ends of squares. A joyful piece that was such a surprise for me. Give it a try.

I have done this a lot, once you have the half square triangle blocks you can use any log cabin layout.

Disappearing NINE block looks great and is fun! Enjoy !

You have so many options! I love the many variations of Disappearing 9 Patches as others have suggested. Jacob's Ladder is made with HSTs and squares.
You can cut some of the 4" squares into quarters and have some smaller 2" squares to work with. Scrappy Irish Chain is always an option if you have background fabric to add.

Or - if you really want to know what to do with them - you could just send them to me and forget about them. Ha
Dodee

WOW!! There are some fantastic ideas here. Thanks for sharing the link!

When anybody asks me what to do with Charm Squares etc. I reply with one one D9P http://quiltsatcs.blogspot.co.uk/200...-tutorial.html

Your sister sounds like mine! ;)

I see Bear Paws!
peace

Making double four square blocks might work.. tried to add picture didn't work fast block

Arkansas Crossroads. There's one version on Bonnie Hunter's site http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/...h-of-july.html with instructions, and you can use any combination of scrappy squares in this quilt as long as your 4 patches have light and dark contrast and you pick one unifying fabric for the larger squares (the ones that are white in the Quiltville version). Do a Google image search for Arkansas Crossroads quilts to see many examples.

check Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville site. she has lots of free patterns. Here is the link: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/free-patterns.html that is just the page for the free pattens. she has lots of other info too.