September 15, 2011

Desperate Housewife's Block: Linked Squares


I got to design a block for Jane at Want it, Need it, Quilt! for her 50 week project, the Desperate Housewife's Quilt. These are all original blocks and there are some really creative ones being dreamed up. Check it out if you're in need for a challenge or inspiration. Mine is definitely one of the more tame! This block finishes at 8 inches, and designing it kept me sane for one of the four-hour sit-down meetings my job occasionally requires.


To make this block you will need:

Fabric A (large square) one strip 1.5" x 22"
Fabric B (small square) one strip 1.5" x 14"
Fabric C (background) one strip 4.5" x 12"


Cut fabric A as follows: one 1.5" square, three 4.5" strips and one 6.5" strip
Cut fabric B as follows: three 4.5" strips
Cut fabric C as follows: two strips 1.5" wide, two strips 2.5" wide and one strip 3.5" wide

Take one of the 1.5" x 4.5" strips of fabric C and cut off one inch, so that it is 1.5" x 3.5"


Sew together a 1.5" x 4.5" strip each of Fabric B and Fabric C, then subcut this into three 1.5" wide pieces.


Construct the block in four vertical columns. Column 1:


Columns 2 and 3:

Column 4:

Join Column 1 to Column 2, and Column 3 to Column 4, then join those two halves together.


And there you go!


Thanks Jane for inviting me to the party!

13 comments:

jednoiglec said...

Thank you for the tutorial! It's good to know such tricky ways to pieced blocks:)

Quiltjane said...

It's fantastic. THank you for sharing such a wonderful block.

Suzanne said...

I love your block and how its construction is broken down in your tutorial. It looks far more complicated than it is (although I'm sure it did involved some mental calisthenics to design and execute.)

Rosa said...

It`s awesome,thanks you for the tutorial.

Cyndi Nelson said...

Great block!!! Thank you for the tutorial. This might be a fun block to put together : )

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Such a great block, thanks for the tutorial...

Joyful Quilter said...

What a fun block! I might have to make more than one.

Karen said...

awesome. I've been designing a quilt using interlocking square patterns like that... when I get around to finishing it, I hope you wont think I copied ;)

Dan R said...

Great block!

Lynn Dykstra said...

love that block, love that blue.
I keep a small notebook to hide in my paperwork at meetings too--quilt designing can keep me from saying inappropriate things.

Michelle said...

I love it!

Carol Enright said...

Thank you for the tutorial. I would like to make this a 12 inch block, would that be difficult to do?

Christina said...

Hi Carol, I think you could! Each strip would be cut 2" wide instead of 1.5", and the 4.5" strip would be 6.5" instead. The strips would need to be longer as well. Good luck!

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