acolchado fabric manipulation fabric scraps project quilting tutorial

Block 19: Smocked diamonds and puff gathering

Close up

This block requires hand stitching.

This is a block combining smocked diamonds and puff gathering. Both fabric manipulations have been done in past blocks:

Block type: log cabin

Block size: 11 inches

Colour scheme: reds and neutrals

Texture/fabric manipulation: smocked diamonds and puff gathering

Quilt size: The finished quilt is 52 1/2 x 52 1/2.

Needs:

  • A piece of fabric in red tones for the centre square.
  • two 5 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles and two 11 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles for the border
Because of the size of the print used, I can’t give a starting size for the centre square. Start on the corner of a large piece of fabric and, when finished, cut it to shape.
Making the smocked diamonds
See diagram below to stitch each diamond.

Stitch a diamond alternating each flower. For more details check Diamond smocking block.

Make enough diamonds to cover a 5 inch square.

Stretch the smocked piece on a padded surface and pin well.

Steam the piece with your iron.

After steaming let it dry.

This is the back of the smocking.

Making the puffs

Stitch around each flower or design element with at least 1/2 inch in diameter. For more details on puff gathering check Puff gathering block tutorial

Puffs are only done on alternate diamonds (see picture).

My choice of fabric is very busy and it is hard to see but if you look closely you will see that the puffs show up in a kind of grid pattern.

Stretch the piece on a padded surface and pin.

Steam with your iron.

Let it dry and then square it to 5 inch square.

The grid made by the puffs is more noticeable on this photo.

Cut two 5 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles and two 11 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles for the border.

Block 19, Smocked diamonds and puff gathering, is done! Phew!

Textured blocks tutorials

This is the 19th block in a series of 25 exploring texture in fabric.

Each block is made out of a centre 5 inch square featuring some fabric texture such as pin tucks, smocking, shirring and the like. Then a 3 1/2 wide border encloses each centre square.

The colour scheme is red and white/cream alternating reds and white/cream for the centre square and border.

Some of the textures show better on plain colours than on heavily patterned fabric.

See all Textured quilt sampler tutorials for this quilt.

Share your pictures

Are you making this quilt? Share your pictures on Flickr’s TeresaDownUnder group.

4 comments

  1. Teresa, I am extremely interested in fabric origami and manipulation; however your site does not let me print a copy of the instructions for me to carry with me to practice before attempting to make them into a quilt. I cannot drag my computer around with me. do you have a book of these blocks that I can purchase?? I am a hands on person. I recognize some of the sewing tricks in making these items and would like to be able to try them.please response to my email address . these would be for my personal use only and not for publishing or other unreasonable uses. thankx so much, love ya nancy banks

    Liked by 1 person

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