Two stack, cut and sew quilt blocks with layer cakes

Layer cakes are 10″ x 10″ precut squares.

Using pre-cuts makes putting a quilt together faster.

You may find pre-cuts aren’t always accurately cut, or that’s my experience. For instance I’ve found some jelly roll strips (2 1/2″ x width of fabric) I have purchased haven’t been as straight as they should be.

For the blocks demonstrated below layer cakes are just fine. The blocks go very quickly and the results are great. And as a bonus, if using 10″ squares from a single collection you’re guaranteed the fabric will go nice together.

So let’s learn.

Improv quarter circle block

Finished block size

8″ x 8″.

Materials

4 squares, 10″ x 10″

Checkered quilt block

Finished block size

8 3/4″ x 8 3/4″.

Materials

4 squares, 10″ x 10″

I’ve used this technique for other videos. You may like to have a look at the compilation below:

And there’s also this simple block:

Would you like to explore the technique further with more complex blocks?

One-block wonders will help.

Would you like to know more about improv quilting?

If you like the look the improv blocks on the video, here is Adventures in Improv Quilts: Master Color, Design & Construction to get inspired with some beautiful improv quilts.

My book Turnabout Patchwork

“Turnabout Patchwork. Simple quilts with a twist” is all about playing with blocks – making a block, slicing it up, and turning or repositioning the pieces to make a completely different block (sometimes two smaller blocks) to yield endless quilt tops.