Today I’m posting about one of my most popular tutorial for a straightforward way to make tumbling blocks using strips sewn together.
The tumbling block technique I demonstrate on the video was developed by Marci Baker and her book ABC 3-D tumbling blocks and more has written directions for it as well as 16 projects.
There’s not one single Y seam with this technique! Yay!
So let’s learn how to make easy tumbling blocks or baby blocks with no Y seams in less than 3 minutes!
Tumbling block size
Each individual tumbling block size is about 4 1/2 x 3 7/8 inches.
Materials
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
You will need a 60 degree ruler or a square ruler with a 60 degree marking. You can download my paper ruler/template to test this technique beforehand.
Or if your ruler has 60 degree lines you can use those to cut at 60 degrees.
And here is the explanation by its creator Marci Baker.

Step by step visual

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Share your work!
If you make any of my tutorials this is how you can share your pictures:
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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.
- Order Turnabout Patchwork on Amazon
- Order Turnabout Patchwork directly from Martingale
- Book depository
See all the quilts in the book in a real life project
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