This tutorial is for making tumbling blocks using strips sewn together – no Y seams.
This technique, developed in 1987 by Marci Baker, is available in the book ABC 3-D Tumbling Blocks … and More! and the pattern Playing with Blocks for purchase.
How to make quick and easy tumbling or baby blocks
Learn how to make baby blocks in less than 3 minutes:
Tumbling block size
Each individual tumbling block size is about 4 1/2 x 3 7/8 inches.
Materials
You will need a 60 degree ruler or a square ruler with a 60 degree marking.
Piece 1
- One 3 inch strip x width of fabric (WOF) in cream/white
- Two 2 1/2 inch strip x WOF in dark red or any other dark colour
Piece 2
- One 3 inch strip x width of fabric (WOF) in cream/white
- Two 2 1/2 inch strip x WOF in yellow or any other medium colour
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Sewn Up 
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Ummm, is that it ?
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Margaret, do you mean is it that easy? This was the first time I tried myself and it was simple enough.
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WOW love your videos
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Wonderful tutorial thanks
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Teresa, you have the ability to make the most complex block seem doable! Love this tutorial….
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Thank you Barbie, Fred and Debbie
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Teresa, you are a genius. You take so much of the hard sewing and make it a joy. Thank you ever so much! Keep it coming!!
Linda
http://artinsearch.blogspot.com
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Thank you Linda
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Brilliant!
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Of all the quilters I follow you are m favourite! You are so down to earth for those of us still learning!
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Hello i love this! If i wanted to make blocks with a 5″ center would my outer srrips need to be 4.5″ and i cut the sewn in strips 4.5″. Any help world be appreciated. Thanks!
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Hi Lyndsay, I don’t have the answer to that but you can do a test with paper. Draw your lines on a piece of paper and see if you can cut at a 60 degree angle from corner to corner.
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What a great video…thank you for making it so easy for us quilters.
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Thank you 🙂
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I love your stuff. The tumbling block are going to be my next project.
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Good luck with it Barb.
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Love your tutorial…..just wondering how to finish the edges ?
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Linda, I haven’t made a large quilt, just the block on the video. I would just trim off the excess to square it.
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Am I the only person/quilter who does not have access to video tutorials? I was disappointed that there were no printed instructions…can you help me out here? It sounds lovely and I have done the Y seam process, so would really like to be able to do your method. Thanks, Jo
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Hi Jo, I found this tutorial https://beyondsockmonkeys.com/tutorials-2/3-d-blocks-using-the-y-not-technique/
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Thank you so very much! This is very helpful… Jo
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Your tutorial is too fast for me. Do you have a printed direction for me to study and follow? Thank you. Maggie Marshall
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Have a look at the commentary above and you’ll find the link to a written tutorial using this technique
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Thank you for sharing this video I think I can do it now
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Could you show us how to finish the edges? Thanks.
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Marcia, as you can see on my video, I just trimmed the top and bottom edges off.
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Brilliant!!
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So easy and cool gonna try it tomorrow
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I love this quilt, This is my first attemp. I am having a very hard time cutting the trips in half using a 60 degree triangle, I can;t get the 60* angle to go corner to corner
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Thank you Connie. Sorry, I don’t have any instructions in pdf
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This technique can be a bit tricky. You need to be very accurate with the cutting and sewing of the strips, which I wasn’t. So you may need to kind of “fake” it by cutting at a slightly smaller or bigger angle and then I also used a bit engineering to sew them together.
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I don’t see it written anywhere how much you need for a quilt. do you have any estimates of yardage for a baby quilt? thanks!
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Hi Michele, I don’t have any estimates. The video only demonstrates the technique.
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I am excited to make this quilt in bold black, white and grey for my daughter who is a graphic designer. What size strips would I need to use to make the blocks bigger so that I am not making a gazillion to put together as a queen size quilt?
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Hi Silvia, this is the only size I’ve tried and I don’t know of any formulas for this block.
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Hi Theresa – Loved your tumbling blocks quilt where you showed how to use a DIY 60 degree template. I am unable to download it in order to print it. Do you have it anywhere else on your site so I can try downloading it again?
Thanks
Abbi Timms
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PRECIOSOS. Felicidades
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wow, finally a simple way to make tumbling blocks….a thousand thanks.
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Yay!
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Always loved the pattern but not loving how it goes together. Your directions are brilliant – I may just be able to make this someday!! Thank you.
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Good luck with it. It’s fun and quick!
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I am in the midst of making this quilt but I am not sure if I am pressing the seams the right way. For each strip, I am alternating the seams – 1 strip up and the next strip down. I am struggling with how to press the long seams between strips. Can you explain how you do this?
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Claire I usually press my seams open. I’m aware not every quilter agrees with this and it may have an impact on how long quilts last but I’m ok with that. When I press to one side I us press towards the darker print.
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when sewing, as there are no seam allowance, all get jammed
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I’m not sure what you mean
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Wonderful! I love this. Thank you. If you place the dark and medium three strip pieces right sides together, when you cut they will automatically be in the opposite direction.
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Great tip. Have you tried?
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Thank you for this tutorial. It will be my next project when I finish my quilt.
Do you think I can scale it up? Example: in stead of 2,5-3-2,5 then 4,5-5-4,5 or 7,5-8-7,5 for instance?
And just to sure: seam allowance is at quarter of an inch?
Greetings fro Denmark 🙂
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Mathilde, In the comments for this video on YouTube a lady gave a different size she tried that worked for her.
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Hi I love the tumbleing block I made a simple can you tell me how to finish the top and bottom thank you June
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June, there may be smarter ways to finish the top but if I were to make a full quilt I would just simply square the top.
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Wow- I love how you used the rulers to make this block.I will have a go at making the tumbuling block
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Got luck with it 😊
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The construction reminds me of the one block wonder quilts. I love that this can be done with just three colors/fabrics. Nice job. Thanks for sharing.
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I know what you mean Caroline.
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Great video
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Just starting to learn to quilt. I get aggravated when my seams don’t line up correctly. Set it aside for awhile then go back to it. What am I doing wrong and why am I so intimidated by something so simple?
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Hi Deb, you’re not doing anything wrong, we all go through the same when learning to quilt. I had trouble just sewing a straight line using a guide. And I’m still not perfect:) My recommendation is to go easy on yourself, learning a new skill needs many many hours and patience. Every “failure” is a learning opportunity.
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After watching the tutorial I am wondering after cutting the 60 degree angle on the end, I am not sure what cutting the 2 1/2 inch pieces in intervals mean. Thank you
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Hi Mary Jo
Just cut 2 1/2” strips, that’s what I meant.
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New to quilting here. Going to try to make a baby quilt with tumbling blocks. I don’t understand why the strips are not equal. One of each is cut 3″, Two of each cut 2 1/2″. Why are they not all 3″ or 2 1/2″?
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The blocks are amazing! Buy I tried to do , but I din’t got it….
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