Block Tutorials

Hourglass Quilt Block Tutorial: Two Ways to Make Quarter Square Triangles

The Hourglass block is one of those quilting classics that looks a little fancy, but behaves beautifully once you know the rhythm. It is made from quarter square triangles (QSTs), and you will see it called both “Hourglass” and “Quarter Square Triangle” in patterns. One quick note on names: QST is...

Flying Geese Quilt Block Methods Compared

Flying geese are one of those blocks that look fancy, fly across a quilt top with gorgeous motion, and somehow manage to humble even confident quilters. I have made plenty of geese that turned into slightly confused ducks. The good news is that there is no single “right” way to make them. There is...

Foundation Paper Piecing a Pineapple Quilt Block

The Pineapple block looks like it requires a degree in quilt math. It does not. What it does require is control, because all those skinny strips and little corners love to wiggle out of place. That is why I adore foundation paper piecing (FPP) for Pineapple blocks. The paper does the measuring, the...

5 Disappearing Nine Patch Variations

The Disappearing Nine Patch is my favorite kind of quilting trick: you start with something comfortingly basic, make a few confident cuts, and suddenly the block looks like you spent the entire weekend doing quilt math. If you have ever sewn a standard Nine Patch, you are already qualified. The...

Snowball Quilt Block: Stitch-and-Flip Corners

The Snowball block is one of those quiet heroes of quiltmaking. It looks fancy, it plays nicely with almost any other block, and it is a dream for using up small prints you love too much to toss. Best of all, it is built with one of my favorite “trust the process” techniques: stitch-and-flip...

Churn Dash Quilt Block: Cutting and Assembly

The Churn Dash is one of those blocks that feels like quilting comfort food. It is traditional, incredibly versatile, and forgiving enough for beginners while still looking crisp and “pro” when your seams behave. If you can sew a straight line and press a seam, you can make a Churn Dash. In this...

Classic Sawtooth Star Quilt Block

The Sawtooth Star is one of those blocks that looks fancy, but it is really just a few simple units doing honest work. I still remember the first time I made one and realized, oh. This is it. This is the block that can carry an entire quilt, play nicely with scraps, and still look crisp and...

How to Sew an Economy Quilt Block

The Economy block is one of those deceptively simple classics that can look sharp and modern or sweet and traditional depending on your fabric pull. It is also one of the best ways to spotlight a tiny favorite print, a novelty motif, or even a charming bit of vintage fabric. The magic is in the...

Drunkard’s Path Block: Curved Piecing Without the Tears

The first time I tried a Drunkard’s Path block, I treated that curve like it was going to bite me. I pinned too much, pulled too hard, and ended up with a lumpy little crescent that looked more like a potato chip. If that sounds familiar, breathe. Curved piecing is not a mysterious talent you are...

8-at-a-Time Half Square Triangles

If Half Square Triangles (HSTs) are the confetti of quilting, the 8-at-a-time magic method is the fastest way to fill the room. With two fabric squares, a few lines, and four quick seams, you get eight matching HSTs in one tidy batch. They come out wonderfully consistent, which means less...

Bear’s Paw Quilt Block: Perfect Corner Triangles

The Bear’s Paw quilt block has a reputation for looking fussy, but it is really just a friendly stack of repeatable units: half-square triangles , a few flying geese shapes , and one square-in-a-square style center. If your corners tend to wobble or your points look a little shy, you are in the...

Dresden Plate Block: Perfect Wedges and Flat Centers

There is a reason the Dresden Plate never goes out of style. It is cheerful, scrap-friendly, and a little bit magical when those wedges spin into a perfect circle. The only catch is that a Dresden shows everything: a wedge that is a hair off, a seam that got stretched, or a center circle that wants...

Log Cabin Quilt Blocks: Traditional, Courthouse Steps, and Half Log Cabin

There is a reason the log cabin block never goes out of style. It is simple enough for a first quilt block, but it can grow with you for decades. Change your fabric values , flip the block rotation, or swap the construction style, and you get brand new movement across the quilt top. That is the...

Raw Edge Appliqué for Beginners: Tools, Thread, and Tension

Raw edge appliqué is one of my favorite “big impact, low stress” quilt techniques. You get playful shapes, bold lettering, sweet little motifs, and that lovely stitched texture on top, without needing to turn tiny curves. The tradeoff is simple: because the fabric edge is exposed, your results...