All About Blocks

This is a whimsical block made from two different fabrics: A and B. The center fabric can be "fussy cut" so that you can highlight a motif or certain part of the fabric. The sample quilt at the bottom of the page uses the same block and the same two fabrics, only alternated. The great thing about this block? Even if you don't cut your center piece accurately, it still looks great! So, this is a great block for beginning quilters!

The fabric requirements below for the side strips are a little bit liberal. Once you have made a block or two, you can adjust the width of the side and top/bottom strips to conserve fabric.

Cut the center square for your block. This can be "fussy cut" if you wish to highlight a motif (pattern in the fabric). See Figure 1, at right. Cut each of the four strips that surround the center square, two of which will be longer than the other two strips. Sew the shortest strips to the sides of the center square first. Try to be fairly accurate in this step. See Figure 2, at right. Press the seams toward the strips and away from the center square. Sew the top and bottom strips to the center square unit. This does not need to be extremely accurate. Close will work and that's the bonus about this block! See Figure 3, at right. Press the top and bottom strips away from the center square. Using a plastic ruler, lay it over the block, askew, and cut. You do not have to cut each one at the same topsy turvy angle! This will give your blocks movement and interest. See Figure 4, at right. Be careful to leave at least 1/4" on the strips surrounding each of the four corners of the center square, else you will cut your square off when you sew the blocks together with the 1/4" seam. See Figure 5, at right. Press the block flat..	Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5
Here is a topsy row of five (5) Christmas blocks:
	Using this block alone (alternated color-wise), in a simple layout without a sashing and cornerstones, results as shown to the left.
Here is a Topsy Turvy quilt done in black and batiks, made by Ruth in Ontario, Canada.

"All About Blocks" is a work in progress, so be sure to check back often, as more and more free block patterns in multiple sizes are added! All block patterns that are linked to from the "Quilting Passion Patterns" page are created by Terry Crawford, and although many of them are traditional patterns, a great deal of them are original designs. Please respect the copyright of this site. Thank you!