It’s great fun to make quilt blocks using strips of fabric.
One of the things that makes it fun is that it is easy.

There are several different block designs using simply
strips of fabric, and each block is simple to make.

Basically, you just sew strips of fabric together
(usually the same width), cut them off to the correct
length, and then sew them together as patches to make
the block.

While it’s fairly straight-forward to sew two or three
strips together and then cut them off into shorter units,
when you start sewing several strips together, there a
few things to keep in mind:

* Make sure you check the accuracy of your seam allowances
before you begin

* Check the pressing of your strips and make sure that you
are pressing on the seam lines and not some random place
between

* If you are sewing more than about 4 strips together,
occasionally begin your stitching on the opposite end of
the strip.

When I sew strips together, I rarely cut off the selvedges
before I sew. Maybe it is because I am a little lazy, but I
haven’t found a need to do that.

Often you will end up with uneven lengths of fabric strips.
This is because not all fabric is exactly the same width.
Depending on how you will use the strips and how much fabric
there is on the end, you may be able to attach a new strip
onto the bottom of the strip that is extra.

View some traditional patchwork blocks that can be easily
strip pieced, and learn other tips for sewing strips of
fabric together:

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1109-quilt-blocks-from-strips.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.How-to-Quilt.com

P.S. Tomorrow we will explore blocks that you can “spice
up” by using strip-pieced fabric instead of plain fabric.
In the meantime, see some traditional blocks that you can
easily strip piece and save time:

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1109-quilt-blocks-from-strips.php

Quilters are frequently in search of new and interesting
ways of combining blocks into a quilt. Often the blocks
are different sizes, and so the question is asked:

“How Can I Combine Different Sized Blocks in my Quilt?”

Sometimes it happens by accident. You may have been in a
block exchange, and everyone was supposed to make 9 inch
blocks. But there were some quilters who forgot and made
12 inch blocks instead.

Rather than making two different quilts or leaving the
different size ones out, you can get creative!

Here is just one real-life example of how I combined
several different sized blocks and patches to make an
interesting fishbowl quilt for engineer son, Bubba -
when he was 6.

He combined his love of fish and my love of quilting
when he found a quilt pattern in a magazine. When I
first looked at the picture of the quilt, I was amazed
and puzzled about how it was put together.

When I cut the picture of the quilt into sections, though,
it became obvious that it was pretty easy to put together.

Using the same techniques, you can combine different size
blocks to create a masterpiece as well.

When you visit the page, you can see how the quilt was
broken into sections to make. Using the same idea, you
can take different size blocks and combine them into units
to be sewn into your quilt.

As always, a picture is worth 1,000 words. In this case,
I’m certain you will enjoy the variety of fabrics a 5 year
old chose for this fun quilt, including some beautiful
batik fabric along with Popples and Care Bears.

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1104-different-size-blocks-in-quilt.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.How-to-Quilt.com

P.S. The key to making any quilt is to break it down into
smaller, sewable parts. And this quilt was broken down
into several even smaller pieces - most notably half-square
triangles. And even some half-square triangles with an extra
strip to add some interest.

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1104-different-size-blocks-in-quilt.php