Ohio Star – Block 6 of Your First Sampler Quilt (workshop notes)

Description

Why the grain of the fabric is important

In this block we are introduced to the quarter-square triangle – which means paying attention to the grain of the fabric and making sure that we have sufficient seam allowance for that additional middle seam when we sew all four triangles together.   We need to have the grain of the fabric work with us so that our units are not built on the bias and therefore very stretchy.

Simple modern patchwork method

In the old days we used to talk about 3/8th and 7/8th of an inch, but now we can make the cutting easier and simply trim back – with the helpful use of the rotary cutter.

For rotary cutting the simple numbers to remember are:

For a plain square you take the finished size and plus ½”

For a Half-square triangle you take the finished size and plus 1” (and after sewing trim back)

For a Quarter-square triangle you take the finished size plus 1 ¼”

Use of colour

We also show you how easy it is to create different looks simply by changing the colour of the various units AND if you were to make lots of these blocks you could put them together, without sashing, and create some stunning secondary patterns – again simply by use of colour.

NEXT: Card Trick- Block 7 of Your First Sampler Quilt