i always have messy looking points. I have tried two different methods of construction the windows and both ways ,the points look messy. The back looks good though.

Somewhere on YouTube there is a video that shows the background square folded into quarters, ironed, then unfolded, four points folded into center, ironed,and zigzagged down,the raw edges of that zigzag is covered by the colored square in the construction, the back of quilt shows the zigzag on the smooth side of fabric..anyway have one that I started that way...a UFO, at this point, but it went well as I worked it. The back is finished, no need for backing, batting....and I turned those background bias slivers over, and sewed by machine....perfect meeting points!

Geri B ... I found that method last night, and I have tried it, and it works the best! Thank you so much!

And here is my progress ... This is a much easier method!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]565435[/ATTACH]

I agree with Prism about lining up the points before sewing together.

Another potential method I googled yesterday is the 3D Bow Tie block. It uses five 5" squares (1 white & 4 coloured), and is similar to the first method you used. I'm wondering if one used four 5" and one 9-9 1/2" white squares it should produce a simple CW block. Of course there would be an extra square for the 'glass', not sure what the size would be. I am going to have to experiment with this as a CW quilt is on my bucket list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVdfuGgtHf8

Different Questions about Cathedral Windows
 

All of these tips have been wonderful! Thank you!

My next two questions

1 - I am doing the method of a big square, folding it in, and then folding in again. When I join the squares, I have a hole in the middle - is this normal?

2 - using this method - when I sew the squares in the middle, some of the "corners" are "raw-edged" so it doesn't look as nice - how do I prevent that?

Thanks!

You should not have a hole in the middle. Precise folding will prevent the hole. To not have raw edges, you need to press a seam allowance all around the square before folding. There is a very good YouTube video that shows all this. I can add the link later today.

Here is a link to the Youtube video. She sells a template, but you can make your own template out of heat-resistant template material:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaY-WIcdqfE
And this woman does the same thing but does not use a template. She secures the points in the middle with a couple of hand stitches:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWQJG4GsAls

GeriB and Marion, do you have a link to the Youtube video that shows the zigzaging? I couldn't find it when I looked.

PRism99 ... thanks for the tips ... I will look for the video tonight and post the link!

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.