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Quilt Block of the Month: January

Have you ever wanted to make a quilt but couldn't find just what you had in mind? The editors of Quilter's World have compiled some block patterns, from the thousands of traditional blocks available, that you can download for free. With a few basic skills and a variety of block patterns, you can create countless designs in no time.

A new block download will be available each month along with helpful hints, tips and tricks. We will also give you ideas for block combinations and possible quilt settings from time to time to help you create fabulous quilted projects. We hope these blocks will inspire you to experiment with quilt design and create your own layouts. So get a binder and some page protectors to fill with block patterns and samples to fuel your creative juices.

Wheel of Time

Finished Block Size
8" x 8"
wheel of time pattern

Cutting

From Light Fabric:

  • Cut five 2 7/8" A squares. Set aside one A square.
    wheel of time pattern
  • Subcut four A squares on one diagonal.
    wheel of time pattern
From Medium Fabric:

  • Cut four 2 7/8" B squares.
    wheel of time pattern
  • Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of each B square.
From Dark Fabric:

  • Cut one 5 1/4" C square; subcut square on both diagonals to cut 4 C triangles.
    wheel of time pattern
  • Cut three 2 7/8" D squares.
    wheel of time pattern

Assembly

  1. Place a marked B square right sides together with a D square and stitch 1/4" on each side of the marked line as shown in Figure 1.
    wheel of time pattern
  2. Cut the stitched unit apart on the marked line and press seams toward D to make two B-D squares referring again to Figure 1.
  3. Repeat with one A square and the remaining B and D squares to make a total of two B-A squares and six B-D squares.
  4. Sew A triangles to opposite sides of a C triangle (Figure 2). Press seams toward C. Repeat to make four A-C rectangles.
    wheel of time pattern
  5. Join B-D squares to opposite short sides of an A-C rectangle matching B edges to A edges, as shown in Figure 3, to make a row. Press seams toward squares. Repeat to make a top and bottom row.
    wheel of time pattern
  6. Join a B-D square to a B-A square matching D and A edges to make a row (Figure 4). Press seam toward B-D square. Repeat.
    wheel of time pattern
  7. Join rows together matching seams to make a four-patch center unit referring again to Figure 4. Press seam in one direction.
  8. Join an A-C rectangle to opposite sides of the four-patch center unit to make a center row (Figure 5). Press seams toward four-patch center unit.
    wheel of time pattern
  9. Sew a top/bottom row to the top and bottom of the center row matching seams and referring to the block diagram for orientation. Press seams in one direction.

Helpful Hints

  • Choose a light, medium and dark fabric for this block. Use scraps from other projects or purchase fat eighths (9" x 22") or fat quarters (18" x 22") to make one sample block.
  • Cut individual pieces from scraps or cut strips and then individual pieces from strips if using yardage or large pieces of fabric. For example, to cut 2 7/8" A squares, cut a 2 7/8"-wide strip the width of the fabric. Subcut this strip into 2 7/8" A squares.
  • Use a 1/4"-wide seam allowance for all seams.
  • Do not tug or pull your pieces through the machine. This causes stretched seams.
  • Press properly. Carefully lower a hot, dry iron onto the seam, raise it straight up and reposition. Steaming and pushing the iron over the piece can cause distortion in the fabric.
  • Press both seam allowances in the direction instructed, not open. Normally, quilters press seams toward the darker fabric.
  • Press seam allowances in opposite directions row to row. This helps when matching seams and reduces bulk.
  • Press to avoid bulky areas that will be difficult to quilt through, even if it means pressing seams open!

Copyright © 2013 Annie's. All rights reserved.

For more detailed help with quilting techniques, view our Quilting Lessons or consult a complete quilting guide. Your local library will probably have several on hand that you can review before purchasing one.

DOWNLOAD
Click here to download the PDF (567.4 KB)

Other quilt blocks in the series:








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