Quilt Patterns

Not So Much of a Trick

Can't Stop Spinnin'

Not Quite Bow Ties

4-Patch Star

4-Patch Mock Log Cabins

Grandma's Choice

9-Patch Variation

Scrappy Baskets

Comforts of Home

Quilting How Tos

About Fabric Grain

Pressing Basics

Fabric Care

Rotary Cutting Tools

Rotary Cut Strips & Tips

Sewing Accurate Seams

Hand Marbling How to
For anyone who wants to hand marble on cloth. By Janet Wickell.

Easy-to-Make Dollhouse Quilts
A collection of quilts with 1" blocks for dollhouses.

If you've read Rodale Press's Classic American Quilt Series, you've read other books by Janet. She was the freelance writer for eight out of ten books in that series, and continued writing and editing for other Rodale quilting books. She has also been a contributor to other topnotch quilting publications.

Not So Much of a Trick
12" Finished Quilt Block

This quilt block is made from just two different types of quick-pieced units. Try to keep the lights, mediums and darks arranged as shown, but be as scrappy as you want to be when assembling the individual units.

The instructions make one 12-inch square (finished) quilt block, and pieces are small enough to find in your scrap basket. Make as many blocks as you need to create the desired quilt size.

---

Cutting Chart

Fabric	Qty	Size
Lightest Fabric*	2	3-7/8" squares
Lightest Fabric	4	6-1/2" x 3-1/2" rectangles
Light Fabric*	2	3-7/8" squares
Medium Fabrics	8	3-1/2" squares
Dark Fabrics	4	3-1/2" squares
Dark Fabrics	2	6-1/2" x 3-1/2" rectangles

The straight grain should run parallel to the outer edges of all pieces.

Use an exact 1/4" seam allowance for all seams.

---

Assemble four Half Square Triangle Units

Use a pencil or permanent marker to draw a diagonal line (from one corner to the opposite corner) on the reverse side of each lightest 3-7/8" square.


Pair a lightest square with the same size light square, edges matched and right sides together. Attach the two by sewing two seams, each one 1/4" from the marked line. If you don't have a 1/4" presser foot, draw the seam lines before beginning.

Always press using an up and down motion. Dragging the iron across the surface of the fabric can stretch pieces out of shape. Press the second unit.

You now have two identical half square triangle units. In other words, two units where a triangle occupies exactly one half of the block. The straight grain of each triangle lies along its outer edges.

5. Make two more half square triangle units.

6. Use rotary cutting equipment to trim away the seam allowance nubs, and to make sure each unit measures exactly 3-1/2" square. If units are too small, make sure pressing was adequate. If that doesn't help, try sewing the next unit together with seams that are slightly less than 1/4".

The sandwiched squares go together quickly when you chain piece.

---

Assemble Quick Pieced 'Geese' Units

1. Gather the four lightest rectangles and eight medium squares. Draw a line from corner to corner on the reverse of each square.

3. Trim away the excess fabric past the line, and flip the remaining triangle right side up. Press. repeat to sew another square to the opposite side.

4. Make a total of eight of these units.

5. Make two more units in the same way, but use the dark fabric squares and rectangles.

1. Arrange the components in three rows as shown here. Sew components of each row together. Press adjoining seams in opposite directions before joining the rows to complete the block.

---

Instructions and Graphics
©Janet Wickell, 2000