Tradewinds - What If I Want It Scrappy?
 

I looked at several tutorials on Youtube and they all talk about cutting the strips the width of the fabric. I have a big bunch of 2 1/2 strips that are mostly between 9 and 11 inches. I cannot seem to find any instructions that give shorter amounts. Any ideas?

I would join the pieces you have until you get 40" strips, then follow the pattern. When you sub cut your strip sets, just be aware of where your shorter strips are joined and avoid sub cutting too close.

No reason why you could not do each 1/4 section with your short pieces.
You could either do them as traditional piecing,
or draw up a PP block and use it as your guideline.

The patterns that you have been looking will be using WOF
so you can make the stratas and then subcut.

Measure across the center of the block diagonally. 1st strip is that length. 2nd, shorter and centered on the first. 3rd, shorter still and centered. Now trim the sides to make the triangle. Smaller triangle - same way, but with 2 strips. I made some Tradewind blocks for my son's quilt because he travels for work. I liked them a lot.

You can use the strips you have to randomly construct strata that are 2-strips wide and 3-strips wide. Press and spray starch, then cut your pieces out of those strata. Save remnants for a mile-a-minute quilt (where you randomly sew fabric scraps together, press and spray starch, then cut the shape you want).

The only reason they tell you to cut WOF is because that way you can cut multiple shapes out of the strata. You can create strata out of shorter pieces; you just won't cut as many shapes out of each strata.

Boston that block is gorgeous, love those colors. I have been going to make a tradeswind quilt for about 10 - 15 years. When time comes to make another I forget.

I used this pattern for my grandson's baby quilt. I will look for my instructions and see what they say about length of fabric.

Good information from everyone. My choice of assembly for this block would be foundation piecing, either PPing or fabric only because I am not a great piecer and foundations give me a better finish.

This will be a beautiful quilt.

peace

That's a gorgeous block!!!

I love the colors; now that is another for my enlarging bucket list.