Piece & Cut Method - Rhonda's Cut Down shortcuts
 

Over the past few years I have presented my shortcut methods for anyone who is interested.
As I was asked to explain my methods I decided to do an overview of what I have offered on the QB.

So here goes--

Use my methods to make a 12 1/2" quilt block or any size you like.

My Cut Down method now called Piece and Cut Method is a way to piece that makes the process easier and cuts down on the math needed and the precision cutting with several templates.
If you like to do minis as I do you can also work with small pieces without actually cutting out small pieces. It is sort of magic when you sew the "blocks" together into a quilt block and you will see the small pieces appear as you sew. LOL This happens because of the pre sewing before you cut out the square from the center of your joined fabrics.

My method-

1. choose your fabric colors.
you can use scraps or you can cut out pieces
2. sew two fabric pieces together
3. trim one end of joined fabrics
4. sew on third fabric piece
5. cut out the center with a template

Now I have 10 different shortcut blocks. So each one has a different number of pieces going from 2 for the HST to 4 for the Wings block and all the ones in between vary as to how many you will use.
In several of the shortcut blocks there will be more steps than you see here but they are not any harder than the ones I listed.

There will be leftover fabric. you can recycle or you can choose to take a few more steps to cut out precise pieces before you start. But if you choose to cut precisely you will add more time to the process. As we are cutting out the center there isn't really any need for precision cutting in the prep work part. I pull apart the leftovers and reuse them to make more blocks. so the larger the original pieces of fabric the easier it is to recycle into more blocks.

Here is my Boston Block method so you can see the process.

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And so you can see the difference between different blocks
Here you can see my version of a Kansas Dugout Block

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To figure out what size you need for the strips or scraps used
just measure your template and decide how big your cut square is going to be.
if you need three as here then I trim the center to 3/4" for a 2 1/2" template.
This allows for enough on the edges so you don't lose the corners when
you sew two blocks together.

You can use any size template you want. The bigger the template the bigger
your quilt block will end up

I use a 2 1/2" template to make a 12 1/2" quilt block that has 6 rows of 6 blocks in each row.

I do send out the 2 1/2" hard template for free if you want to request one.

You can find my shortcut block tutorials here - Block Shortcuts by Rhonda

And you can find my free original designs here - Blocks of the Week by Rhonda
You are welcome to use these quilt blocks designs any way you like.


Templates

To make your quilt block a different size you just need to use a different size template.

2 1/2" = 12 1/2" unfinished quilt block.

1 1/2" = 6 1/2" unfinished quilt block
3 1/2" = 18 1/2" unfinshed quilt block.
4" = 21 1/2"
4 1/2" = 24 1/2"
5" 27 = 1/2" and
5 1/2" = 30 1/2"


If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. I love to help.

Very clever! Thank you for this and for all of your very helpful tutorials.

Thank you so much you have certainly speeded up my cutting out of fabric over the years.

Thank you for all your tutorials and your help.

....interesting......Mickey Depre does similar things with hexies.

When you do this, all of your edges are bias...is that a prob keeping true measurement....

....interesting......Mickey Depre does similar things with hexies.

When you do this, all of your edges are bias...is that a prob keeping true measurement....

I need to do a small tute about tacking. I tack everywhere seams meet and on the ends where the seam will go through. This way the fabric can't stretch. Tacking is just putting a stitch or two in place so the fabric can't move.
Then as you sew the two fabrics will be fine and wont' stretch.

I've never had any problems with bias. You can also put pins in if you like along the edges to keep the fabric in place. I rarely use pins but in some cases it helps.

Thank you. This is so cool.

thank you everyone for your kind comments. I hope you enjoy my methods.

You can find my workshops and classes here - Workshops and Classes

And most of my own work I've done here - Pictures of Patchwork Items by Rhonda

I did 23 lessons on using my EQ program - Electric Quilt

Thank you for all the info. It is a great help even for us that have sewn for years.