Block 15: improv fabric folding – Textured 4-patch quilt

Close up

Block type: 4-patch

Block size: 10 1/2 inches

Colour scheme: reds, greens and neutrals

Texture/fabric manipulation: Canadian smocking

Cut:

• six 3 inch pale green squares
• six 3 inch red squares
• eleven 4 inch squares (more or fewer if you reach the 4 inch square)
• one 5 inch square of felt
• two 4 inch x 1 1/4 inch strips
• two 5 1/2 inch x 1 1/4 inch strips

Making the improv fabric folding

Cut a 5 inch square in felt.

Now fold it twice to cut it into a square.

Roughly cut the corners as per picture.

Trim the circle as much as needed.

Now make a cut up to the centre of the circle.

Overlap both sides of the cut by 1 inch.

Stitch together.

This previous step is supposed to lift the texture though I’m not sure I was successful.

Now place a 4 inch square on top of the felt circle.

Stitch all four corners to the circle.

Now take another 4 inch square and fold it on the diagonal as per picture.

Place it on the previous square and stitch both corners to the previous layer and to the felt.

Continue to do the same with the next piece.

If possible when sewing the corners to the base, do so through all layers underneath.

It was looking a bit dull at this stage so I thought of folding some of the fabric back.

Fold back and stitch down tight.

Do with all three placed pieces. This can also be done from the start for each pieced added.

Now continue to add pieces in the same fashion.

Your piece will start looking a bit like this.

Add up to as many pieces you need to achieve the desired effect and until you get at least a 4 inch square.

Once you have a 4  inch square you can stop adding pieces.

Mark the square.

Pin the two 4in x 1 1/4in strips as per picture.

Stitch leaving 1/4 in allowance from each strip. Trim off the excess fabric.

Do the same with the other two strips of fabric.

Trim off excess fabric.

Press seams flat.

Now place all the squares as per picture.

Stitch into larger squares and then together.

The block is finished.

Textured 4-patch quilt tutorial

This quilt has 16 x 10 1/2 in blocks.

Each block is a 4-patch block in greens and reds. The fabric manipulation is made in a cream fabric.

See all Textured 4-patch quilt tutorials.

See also my first Textured quilt sampler tutorial.

Share your pictures

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