I need some help....I have 100s of 4 1/2" quilt squares of vintage fabrics, no specific number of each fabric...These were hand cut by my elderly neighbor and are consequently not all square. Her daughters gave them to me when she passed away. I want to make a quilt out of them for each of her daughters, but have no idea in which direction I should go other than start sewing them in rows and go with it....I believe that I will have to trim them down to 4" squares to square them up and even them.

Any ideas for patterns that use 4" squares? Thanks in advance for any ideas you may have :)

Like the one in your avatar - how about that?

How bout a ticker type quilt then you don't have to square them up an when you are done with the top you are completly done! Here is just one example. search images and you will see several examples.

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2...cker-tape.html

disappearing 9 patch would be cool

you could cut into a tumbler block????

Is that where you just top stitch them onto the backing fabric? The ones that I have seen all seem to have random sized pieces of fabric. Thanks for the suggestion :)

you could sort them into two stacks- one lights and one darks- then make 9-patches- or checkerboard blocks- or a trip around the world- with the lights/darks alternating-
lots of options- check pictures-search charm quilts- they are normally 5" squares- but that doesn't mean they wouldn't work with 4" squares instead.

Hmmh...Disappearing 9 patch and tumbler block might work...I have to make two quilts for the girls and I would like to make them different....any other ideas? I knew I could count on my board friends to throw out some ideas :)

You could do any number of things (after truing them up). I would probably make HSTs with them then pinwheels or some such, maybe Carpenter's Wheel. Bow Ties are fun (I like the 3D ones). Sunshine and Shadow would do well, if you arrange the rings by color families. I like a pattern that you make with diagonal rows rows of squares with a HST at each end. When you get the columns made, you put a plain fabric between. You could do this with 2-5 squares.

I realised this was not at all clear, so I drew it up.

You could even make them 4-1/4 inch - it would probably pay to get a template made so you don't need to think about what you are doing while cutting them.

I have seen 4 inch square rulers in some stores.

OH YEAH! I just saw a youtube of this pattern and fell in love.

How about making 1/2 sq triangle blocks, then trim them to be square after you seperate the two pieces... gosh I hope you understand what I just said.... LOL

yes half square triangles would be great. after those are made, there are endless possibilities for the hst blocks. i would do light with a dark on the squares. square them up atfter you cut the hst's apart. hope the attached pics give you a visual.

here is a link for an idea making hst: http://quilting.about.com/od/quickpi...squaretria.htm

wow...I just love this kind of scrappy quilt! Thanks for sharing!

I had some like this that were out of square. I added framing borders, then trimmed all to the same size. You can't even tell they weren't square.

You are all soooo wonderful, pictures and everything, you have no idea how helpful those are since I am a very visual person...found that out in College :)...I really like the half square triangle idea and then trimming after, I have a square just for that purpose :)...now if I could only find my cutting table under that huge pile of squares :)...

It looks like a mosaic. Kinds neat looking.

how about wonky squares... border them larger and then sq them up...

Would someone please tell me what an Avatar quilt is?

Look left. <----- see the picture of a quilt or sewing machine or puppy under the usEr name? That is an avatar. ;)

Thanks! feel pretty dumb:(

havplenty...those quilts are really pretty. NICE JOB!!!

yes, I was thinking the same--you could do a big 9-patch with your 4-inch squares.

here is one more hst quilt that i found in my aug 2011 quilter's world mag. it looks nice and easy and oh so wonderful and comfy. lol

enjoy.

I am going to do that sometime!

All of the above seem like good ideas to me. Havplenty, those quilts are beautiful.

Wow havplenty - those quilts are awesome! I love the second one.

Havplenty - thank you I am going to sew up some of my squares into half square triangles and give this a shot...I really like that last one you posted...thanks again, for the wonderful pictures :)

I vote for the disappearing 9 patch or half square triangles.

I am very fond of the pinwheel quilt pattern simple and sweet.

yes yes yes this would be so much fun!

how about a twister ?

hello,
here is a youtube video on how to sew pin wheels. you can use two squares, sew around, and then cut to get four unit that make a pinwheel. watch the video, its fun!

http://youtu.be/ekYpJzHoW6E

beatrice

Went to a garage sale, bought some material. When I got home and really looked at what all I had bought, I found a lot of 4 inch squares cut without using a ruler so I squared them to a 3 ½ in square and they made a cute disappearing 9 patch.

I like both of these. The Postage Stamp one is done with smaller squares but can't see why you couldn't use bigger squares.

Love the postage stamp quilt!

Any ideas for patterns that use 4" squares? Thanks in advance for any ideas you may have :)[/quote]

How about the 10 minute block.

Pinwheels or hourglass blocks

Quilters cache-- depression block is perfect for what you have and a fun square to make!

I'd be tempted to just make 9-patches, square them up perposefully wonky, then border each block.