I did a dumb think. I began a project several months ago, and I am new to quilting. I put it away and have since taken it out. The problem is I was doing a four patch with two contrasting colors. It doesn't look hard and I have a few done, but for the life of me I can't remember what to do first. I know you eventually twist the colors so that the colors are opposite each other. I don't know--do you sew the 5" or 4" blocks together, one color on each side, then cut them into half and turn them and them cut them again? So you eventually end up with a 4" block with two colors kitty korner from each other. Hope someone understands and can explain it to me verbally. How stupid..... :oops:

I don't know what the size of your blocks are but let's pretend they are going to be 6" finished. Cut your two colours in strips 3 1/2" wide. Join the strips along the length of your fabric and press. Then cut the joined strips into 3 1/2 " pieces. Reverse some of them and sew them to make your four patches. Hope this helps. Remember to use 1/4" seams all the time.

Thanks, Winnie. I guess what is puzzeling me is a quilting teacher I had had me cut the blocks 41/2". And as you said, cut into strips 2 1/2". Why cut them into 4 1/2" squares, then, cut them down the center, reverse and sew. I think this was suppose to be some sort of way to keep the blocks intact without too much distortion. Anyone else have any ideas why I would start out with blocks, reduce them to strips and sew the strips together to make a block? Thanks for the info. Time for bed.

Ummm..perhaps the instructor was mathematically challenged? Perhaps they wanted to make a 4 rectangle instead of a 4 square block? So... you got it. Cut the strips 2 1/2 wide. sew together. Cut the sewn strip 2 1/2 in wide again. Reverse one half and sew to make your 4 1/2 inch squares, to make 4 inch finished squares.

How many squares are you making?


tim in san jose

The only thing I can think is that every time you cut and sew there is a chance for a little distortion or she thought she was keeping it simple.
There is a method for making two 4 patches at a time. I'll try and explain it.
Cut 2 squares, one light and one dark, 1" larger that what you want your finished block to be.
Place the squares right sides together and sew 2 opposite edges. Press.
Cut the squares in half (cutting line parallel to seams)
Open and press seams toward the dark side.
Pin the sewn and pressed squares back together with dark to light and light to dark.
Sew 2 opposite edges together (seams going the opposite way this time.
Cut squares in half again.
Open and press.
If you get all your squares cut and placed together and assembly line sew , you can put a quilt togwther pretty quickly.

I know what the outcome is suppose to be: perfectly matched points, as all my others which I previously made are. Somehow you end up by overlapping the seam lines by twisting the seams together and in this way you are able to make your points match. Well, I am still confused. I thank all of you for your help and suggestions, they are all wonderful. But, I think I will e-mail by former teacher and see if she can explain it via e-mail--not easy--especially for me as I am a hands-on, sight, visual person. Will let you know if I figure it out. Thanks once again.

Can you scan one of the blocks you completed before you forgot? Then attach the image so we can all see what the finished block looks like? I'll bet it would be easier for folks to give you the help you need. I haven't thrown in my 2-cents because I don't know which of the 8 zillion possible combinations you're shooting for. For example, I don't want to tell you how to put a pinwheel together if you're trying to make something else. :mrgreen:

Yes, a picture would be good. Somehow I'm beginning to think what you're trying is not just a basic 4 patch. The word "points" makes me think there's more involved. There are many quilt blocks which are considered "4 patches" because of the way they are constructed. Hope you get it all sorted out one way or another.
Winnie

No it is just a normal 4 patch with two contrasting colors in each opposite block--4 small blocks, making one big block. Sorry I don't have a scanner. Thanks for the idea though.

Well, now you've got me curious!! A question--- When you seam your pieces are you using a consistent seam width (that famous scant 1/4") and then are you always pressing to the dark fabric? Then when you turn one set around your seams are on opposite sides and if you put a pin through the seams to correctly line them up when you stitch, your pieces should match up correctly in the middle. I think when you're talking of points matching you mean the center where the seams all meet. Sorry to go on about this but I'm puzzled why it isn't working for you.
Winnie