June 25, 2011

Modular Cathedral: Little spinner block


A simple little modular cathedral block this week. The fabrics were pulled by a leprechaun. True story.

I've been finding my layers shift a lot while stitching the two halves together and so when I have seams to match with these bulky blocks I align them and start sewing the seam right in the middle where the points meet. I stitch to the end and then come back and sew the other half of the seam. It takes a little longer than sewing it straight from one end to the other, but not as long as ripping the stitches out and starting again!


Edited to add full block info/instructions:
The block finishes at 9 inches without a border, and 11 inches with a border. (I find it easier to roll back the bias edges with a border already sewn.) 

Requirements: eight 5 inch squares, four in the focus fabrics (you will see relatively more of these) and four in the contrast fabrics (you will roll these back). 1.5 inch strips for border.


Press the contrast squares in half along the diagonal.

Lay a folded square over each backing square with the folded edge along the diagonal. Use a dab of fabric glue within the seam allowances at each corner of the folded triangles.

Sew the block together using an extra scant 1/4" seam allowance.

Pin back the bias edges and topstitch. I did this in two "S" shaped diagonal passes, from outside corner to the opposite outside corner.

13 comments:

Jennwith4 said...

So neat! Imay try this out!!

SewHappyGeek said...

I'm so ashamed to ask, but do you sew the block, then sew the window curves? It looks like it, but I thought it might be good to check... did you have to baste your folded triangles to your squares before you sewed the block together? It looks so lovely I'm tempted to make a pillow using it! I bet I poke myself with pins at least 4 time, lol! I'm hopeless!

Rosa said...

It`s beautiful,I`ll try one

Dan R said...

Oooh. This one is good!

Debbie said...

These are looking so good. It is just amazing what happens with the folded fabric. Great tip about stitching from the center....I will try that next time. Did you see the one seam flying geese on youtube by Ricky Tims--and how neat they are when curved seams are sewn? Similar principle.

Kay Lynne said...

Great looking quilt block! The stitching looks perfect :)

Gene Black said...

It looks great. Tell me your secret for sewing so neatly on those curves. What foot do you use? Any special tips or tricks on that?

Suzanne said...

Oh my! Call me crazy but I see a variation of this block sewn in red and white as giant peppermints! Pillows? A holiday quilt? Yum!!!

kelly said...

love love love this. and yes, what gene said- what's your secret to such perfect curves?

Mary Marcotte said...

Well, hello leprechaun, come to my house! This is just lovely. I don't think I could do a whole quilt, but I with SewHappy and Suzanne....a pillow with this block would be just the ticket!

Manda said...

Ooo this one is fab too!

Lisa M. said...

I love this block....thanks for the tips :-)

Guilitta said...

Today I didn ´t understand how you made it. When you sewed the fabric together from where came the fabric to make the curves?? Did you have another triangle therefor??

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