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:
- On Instagram please tag me with @teresadownunder and hashtag #teresadownunder
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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.
Buy individual chapters of my book
Now that my publisher is going out of business I have bought the rights to publish my book. Now you can download individual chapters. Each digital download is a bundle with 4 quilt patterns in it.
As well as the instructions and fabric needs to make the blocks you’ll find a section on quiltmaking basics at the end of the pattern that discusses:
- Tools
- Squaring up blocks
- Borders
- Assembly and quilting
- Binding
See all the quilts in the book in a real life project
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Love your tutorials
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Simply amazing!! I enjoy all of your tutorials.
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Too fast for me…but interested.
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Looks like I’m arriving at the Tumbling Blocks party 6 years late. I loved them both.
Carolyn in Central Oregon, USA (GMT -8) Age 81.
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