I’m so happy you liked my latest quilt, Converging Corners! And now, as promised, here’s a brief little how-to for those of you who may want to create something similar. (Please note that this is less of a specific tutorial, and more of just the method used to make these blocks… apologies to those who like very specific measurements!)
This block is constructed like a courthouse step (or a log cabin) block, but it’s the placement of the printed fabrics in two opposing corners that creates this fun design when the blocks are put together. I created 12 1/2″ blocks, but you really could easily go larger or smaller, depending on the look you’re after!
To start I selected a feature fabric for the center of the block. I used a variety of sizes for the center squares, ranging from 2 1/2″ to about 5 1/2″ square. As you can see, I started with a 4 1/2″ square for this block. Next you’ll surround this center square with your background fabric. You’ll want to aim to end up with a block that measures about 8″-9 1/2″ square once you surround the center fabric with the background fabric. I added a 2 1/2″ wide strip of white around the center block, adding one piece each to two opposing sides. (The width of the strip you need will vary based on the size of your center block)
(oh look, now there are two! I often make a couple blocks simultaneously to save time, so I figured I’d show you both blocks going forward)
Press, trim off the excess white fabric and add strips of white to the remaining two sides.
Press and then square up your block so it measures somewhere in the neighborhood of 8″ to 9 1/2″ square. Again, this doesn’t need to be precise. I think that the variations in the blocks add extra interest!
Next you’ll start adding the strips that will give you your fun colored corners. I cut strips of the printed fabrics that were anywhere from 3/4″ – 2″ wide and then sewed a white strip of the matching width to each end of the printed strips (no photos of this step, but you can see what it looks like in the photo below). I liked to have all my strips ready to go with white sewn to the ends, but alternatively you could wait until you’re ready to add that strip and then sew the printed fabric to the background fabric.
For the first ring, your printed fabrics will be short, approximately 2 1/2″-3″ long, with the remainder of the strip made up of the background fabric. Sew the two opposing strips, making sure your printed sections are at diagonal corners. (Tip: if your center fabrics are not directional, it won’t matter which corners you put the printed fabrics in, but if you are using directional fabrics you’ll want to make sure you add the printed fabrics to the upper left/lower right corners on half the blocks and to the upper right/lower left corners on the other half the blocks)
Press, trim off any excess, and then repeat for the other two sides of the block. Most often I used the same printed fabric to make up the corner, but it’s also fun to switch it up a bit, pairing it with a similar color, as in the block above, or even with a totally different print.
Repeat this process for the next ring. Your printed section should be a bit longer than on your first rung. Continue adding rings until your block measures at least 12 1/2″. (I aimed for 2 to 3 printed fabrics in each corner, though occasionally I needed 4 printed fabrics to get my block up to size). Trim each block to 12 1/2″ square.
And then the fun part! Put all your blocks together and enjoy the fun design that emerges when those corners converge!
Happy sewing! (and as always, if anything’s unclear, leave a comment and I’ll try to clarify)
And… if you do make any, be sure to add them to the FITF Flickr group so I can take a peek!
a whole cloth baby quilt
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LOVE this! Thanks so much for the tutorial!
Wow! That is an amazing block and quilt! Thanks!
As always – love, Love, LOVE it!! Thanks for the tutorial.
O my gosh I am so excited to make one of these! Your designs are so outside the box and wonderful!!! Thanks for the tutorial
Tudo está bem quando acaba bem….E quando acaba bem e lindo???OBRIGADO.!!!!!!
I love it! What a great design. Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE THIS!! I can’t wait to try one of my own. What a wonderful way to make some room in my scrap drawers. Thanks for the brilliant idea.
Mil gracias!!! As always your quilts are fantastic. Thanks for taking the time to make this tutorial.
Absolutely brilliant!!!
Thanks so much for this tutorial. I love the design and couldn’t figure out how you did it.
Gorgeous! You just get better and better in your designing. Keep up the good work. How’s that beautiful son of yours? Trying to walk yet? I always seeing pics of him, including ones of him and his daddy. They’re always adorable.
I meant always LOVE seeing pictures of him….lol.
Great tutorial, love the design of the quilt!
Oh wow! This looks like so much fun! I’m going to have to give this one some serious thought….and pick just the right fabrics!
Thanks!
Hallie
Really really really beautiful!
Geweldig! Ik vind het prachtig.
Thanks so much for this tutorial. It´s fantastic. I´ll try to do it, although I´m starting in the patchwork world.
oh my this is so clever … deceptively simple and unbelievably stunning … oh for a hundred hours in a day! One day … one day …
Love this spin on log-cabin blocks! It gives them a completely different aesthetic – so modern!
What an interesting block? Looks so much more interesting when put together!
Thank you for this tutorial.
Thanks for this. Looks so fun/modern. Looking forward to giving this a try!
This is just so interesting to look at and try to figure out how it all goes together. I think I may need to try one. Thank you for the tutorial!
Wow! What a GREAT looking quilt! I’m definitely adding this one to my bucket list!!!
How wonderful. Thanks for the tutorial. It sounds so easy LOL.
Thanks for sharing your design. It’s always amazing how a complacated quilt can be broken down to make it easy to understand and easy to make. Great tut, great quilt.
Thank you so much for the tutorial. The quilt looked so much more complicated to me ( I am a fairly new quilter.) and I might not have made one otherwise. Eve
This is awesome, Ashley. Thank you!
Ashley, thank you once again for your generosity in sharing this tutorial for your latest design. I absolutely love it! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
This quilt is absolutely gorgeous. I just HAVE to try this someday.
Thank you! I really like this quilt and have it on my bucket list. I just lectured myself too, about no new quilts until I finish those that I have already started. I better get busy.
Love the quilt, such a simple change , and it makes a big difference.
Thanks so much for sharing this tutorial. This is such a fun quilt!
What a great quilt! Thank you for always being so generous!!
What a great tutorial! Now that I can see how it is put together, it looks much easier, and so much fun! What a great scrap buster too! I’ve never liked log cabin blocks, but there is something modern and funky in this block. I’m always amazed at what you come up with. Thank you for taking the time to do the tutorial!!
I love this quilt”. The tutorial is very helpful. I do have a question regarding the solid, about how much did you plan for? Also, what did you do for the back.
Thanks!
Hey such a awesome quilt , i think printed fabric is very useful like this. Thanks for sharing tutorial for this…..
Nice One…!!!
LOVE IT .. am always looking for some fun and simple thing to do with my ‘remainders’ (DGS in 4th grade) and THIS fits my hunt perfectly. One of the gals on HGTV Message Board posted this info for all to see – and look you up – so, many thanks to that thoughtful quilter buddy!!! I’d have never seen it without her mention.
What a lotta bang for the buck! Gorgeous
Deanna
well said!
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Lindo, lindo!
Parece bem fácil de fazer, vou tentar!
Obrigada por compartilhar!
Bjs!!
You are such an inspiration with your work. Simply stunning quilt. This fabric line is so yummy. Thank you.
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wow – it is impossible to imagine, just seeing the blocks, how fabulous this quilt is assembled – very cool.
Hi!
what an inspiring tutorial! Could you recommend a solid for this quilt? once you suggested using a flat twin sheet from ikea. Will this work?
thanks!
Thank you for this tutorial — it’s fantastic and makes up a wonderful quilt!
I love this! Thanks for the tutorial!!
I knew I was saving my fabric scraps for a reason, and now I know why. I love the block and quilt! Thanks for sharing the tutorial.
Hermoso!!! excelente tutorial, Gracias!!!!
o great tutorial! Love it. I’m wondering how it would look with solids in the corners and prints in the centers.
Any guessimate on how much background fabric is needed to make this quilt. I am going to try it. BTW, your quilts are amazing!!!
I saw a quilt that must have followed your tutorial at the national quilt championchips yesterday. Reminded me that I still need to try this one.
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I really enjoyed making these blocks!! Thanks Ashley!
This quilt totally rocks! And you are amazingly generous for sharing the “how to”. All of your quilts are fabulous…but this pattern seems to be what I’ve been looking for to make a graduation quilt for my BFF’s daughter (yes, of course, I’m already late on it!).
Thank you again for beautiful art and generous instructions.
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This is an awesome Block I would love to do a BOM with this one !!!!!!
I came over from Clover & Violet… love your tutorial! Thank you very much for sharing.
This block is great and the quilt made with the blocks sparkles. Thank you for the tutorial.
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I love this and have had the tute bookmarked for quite some time. I’m planning to use it for a wedding gift for my nephew and his new wife. They both scuba dive, she’s a planetary scientist (just think Mars, etc.), he remodels homes, and they got married in Hawaii. I think I can find some “theme” fabrics that will work for that. LOL This is going to be so much fun to make. Thanks so much for the wonderful instructions.
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Love this tutorial. Is there a way to reach you for permission to use this tutorial for a flickr bee I’m in?