Square in a square block
 

I am looking for more information on making the square in a square block. I typed it into the search but there were over 2000 threads. I have googled "how to's" and have found 2 methods. The first methodinvolves sewing triangles onto the square. I think this would bemore difficult as I am not comfortable sewing on a bias. I tend tostretch the fabric.

I am leaning towards the methodinvolving sewing along a diagonal line on a smaller square placed in acorner of the bigger square. I have made a couple of them now and Iam not getting a consistent square when I fold over the triangle. Idouble checked the sizes of my squares, they are cut accurate. Asfar as I can tell my issue is with sewing just off the line. Anysuggestions on how to know where exactly to sew? Is there a betterway to “draw the line” to get an exact square? Or do I just keeppractising?


Do I take out theones I have finished and re do them? They are not off by much, butenough that I can see it and I know that every fraction off adds up. What are your thoughts?


Dee

Rather than sewing with the triangle on top, put the square on top. This way you are not seeing on the bias. The feed dogs will work for you. As to getting a nice square you could oversize the triangles a bit and trim the finished block.

If the triangles are oversized, wouldn't that make the "Outside pieces" unequal? How do you square it off so you have the same size inside square?

The method you are describing is snowballing a square. In order to draw an accurate line, get a piece of fine sandpaper (220 or higher). cut the square, place it on the sandpaper & draw the diagonal line. The sand paper keeps the square from stretching. Use the smallest marking instrument (I use a sharpened pencil). Place the small square on the larger square and sew right next to the line towards the outside corner, practice does make perfect. Another trick is when you fold your corner over is it not necessary to cut the corner off the large square. Leaving that in place gives you the perfect sewing line when joining it to the next piece. just cut the excess from the smaller square.

I just this past week made a bunch of square in a square blocks and I was very pleased with them. This is the tutorial I used. http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...ilt-block.html

Misty's mom, that is one of the tutorials I used. I think it is more my sewing skills that is the issue with my blocks.

Paperprincess, I think I will try the sandpaper idea and not cutting both fabrics. I will let you know how it works!! But I have to get sandpaper first.

Thank you both

If snowballing the square, it helps to slightly curve your sewing line towards the corner. When you press, line up the corners and press in the crease. Curving helps make up for any slight deviations in your sewing line. If you curve the wrong way, you will not be able to match corners. The curve needs to be away from the center.

I think it is Jodi Barrows who as a method using strips. She sells a ruler but I managed to do it without hers.

I like to paper piece blocks like that. It may be the lazy way, but it's so accurate.

What size do you want your finished blocks to be?? You can start with your center square being 3" finished or any size, sew the same size on both sides of the center square and then sew a same size width to the top and the bottom. These blocks came out 9" finished.

Sq in a sq...do you mean sq on point with triangles on four corners to make the block or as maniacquilter2 shows...sq bordered by strips. besides snowballing there is a formula for finding the size of hst to be sewn on the corners of that sq, but don't have it handy now, but am sure somewhere on the net there is info on how to calculate and cut them.

It sounds like you are describing a diamond in a square. I have used the paper pieced method and it seemed to turn out better doing it that way. This tutorial is kind of like paper piecing. http://thecraftyquilter.com/2012/07/...are-technique/

I made square-on-point quilt blocks using Accuquilt dies for a square and triangle. This was for a square-on-ppint block with 4 triangles in the corners. Made it really easy to piece because the triangles have the dog ears already trimmed for you. I would have to double-check, but I think the dies I used were the 4-3/4" square-on-point and the 4-1/2" half-square triangles. Here is a sample photo of the block, but my blocks are made of batiks and will be sashed in black:
http://sewquickly.com/quick-cut-squa...t-quilt-block/

And here are links to the Accuquilt dies I think I used:
http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/go-square-4-3-4.html
http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/go-hal...ed-square.html

l

boy, I really like that old video with Anita grossman..that is a great way to quickly get a SQ in a sq of any size...I'm going to try that tomorrow..I think I have that book of hers too.....

oh, how I miss simply quilts! Nothing compares to it nowadays!

Is this what you mean?

Jan in VA

I love her ruler..it was the first demo I watched at a show that I purchased the ruler and the book as a new piecer. There is some waste of fabric but her method is quick and precise.

Sandy

Another method is to layer the two fabrics, RST, and sew all around the outside. Then you cut the block you want to be the outside square on the diagonal lines.
The easier way to do this is to cut the lines partially before you sew them together. Cut a small section of line one way with a ruler and your rotary cutter. Then cut the other way, but not through the center. Make two small cuts the second way. After it has been sewn, cut these lines to the corners with a small pointed scissors.

This method produces chopped off points, but all of the points are chopped off, and it looks great.

I treated the square in a square like building a log cabin. I started with my block in the center the then placed the strips around the square. I had no trouble with the squares coming out unevenly and the seams disappeared when it was quilted. (no photo as this was 2 or 3 years ago.)

I discovered on my machine, rather than stitching on the line it works better to stitch along the inside if the line.

Edit from my previous post: I did not turn the center block; I treated it as the center of a log cabin.
That eliminated the need for triangles; as I said, I just used my strips to enclose the center of the block.

THANKS Misty's Mom...great tutorial

I too loved the Anita Grossman video - and I also miss Simply quilts. It was a great show.

Jan in VA - that is exactly what I needed to do....So I guess it is actually called a diamond in a square.

I did pick up some sandpaper and that was a great help in marking the diagonal sew line. After lots of trial and error, and with the help of my new best friend Seam Ripper, I did find the right spot to sew just off the line. Practice makes perfect....but it takes so very long, and sometimes I get a little impatient.

I think I have everything figured out for this project. All I have left to do is add a border.

You have all been so very helpful and I'm looking forward to my next project.

Dee

Dee,
I'm glad my graphic may have helped you. (Actually I do call this a square in a square because I also have a graphic for a diamond shape, too.)

I have used my sewing awl to etch a permanent line into my machine bed because I use the technique all the time. It runs straight out from the throat plate to the very edge of the bed of my machine. You could use use a thin Sharpie or a long piece of tape to make a line as well. It doesn't bother me to have it there as it's so useful for me; I wish machine makers would consider adding this feature.

When sewing your square to another square's corner, just eyeball the diagonal along this etched line and sew without having to make any marks. :)

Jan in VA

What a great idea. Thanks Jan.

I'm not sure if you are still looking, or if this is what you are meaning but I did find this
http://www.debbiescreativemoments.co...n-a-Square.pdf

Hear, hear Dunster!!