Article continues below these Amazon Goodies
I have wanted to work with the bloc loc ruler to do square in a square. When Moda's new 'Treat Size' precut came out I knew that was the unit I wanted to work with! The Treat is size is 3.5" square, I love this 'little bit bigger' size square to work with.
The goal is to use the 3.5" square as the base and not trim it down and use the 3" x 6" bloc-loc flying geese ruler
This posted a design issue as the resulting block is not a regular patchwork size when done. So the charts don't give that as a starting size.
Not to worry, I did the match and tested it for you! Read on...
If you have never watched the video from the Bloc-Loc company, I put it here for you. I am using the flying geese ruler to do the square in a square trimming.
Start at 2:56 for the Square in a Square part of the video
I've also got photo step outs below so you can see how EASY and FUN this is!
There are a few tricks, and they make ALL The difference in the world.
CUTTING SIZES
- CENTER - 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" square (I used Moda Treats)
- Squares for the Triangle - 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" square - You need 2 for each block
- Cut the 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" square in half on the diagonal
STEP 1
- Crease the center square
- Position 2 triangles on one edge, with the point lined up on the crease
- Trim the sides. This makes is SUPER easy for piecing! SERIOUSLY brilliant
- The other 2 triangles are uses 'as is'
STEP 2
- THIS is the part this is important and easy to do wrong. You will sew the trimmed triangles to the sides where there is NO crease. They don't need a line for accuracy because you trimmed them
- Sew the 2 trimmed triangles on opposite sides
- FINGER PRESS open. If you take it to the ironing board, be careful to NOT press away your crease. you need it.
- Line up the remaining untrimmed triangles with the point ON the crease.. MORE brilliance! This makes everything SO PERFECT!
- Press your block so it's flat and be sure you don't have a crease at any seam or your final block will come out wrong.
The Bloc-loc rulers have this groove, that makes them easy to slide up to the seams in a block
so Let's do it!
STEP 3
- Slide the ruler snug into the seam
- Trim - A rotating mat is helpful here!
- Trim ALL 4 sides. This is important. I think people get messed up if doing a lot at the same time and forget to rotate or trim all 4 sides.
- Once all 4 are trimmed, this is your final size block
- Using a 3 1/2" square center, your block is now 4 3/4" x 4 3/4"
BONUS TIP!
What happens if you mess up and sew the trimmed sides lined up with the crease! Not to worry!
- Carefully fold the unit right sides together
- crease
- sew!
I wanted some blocks with a different color on 2 sides.
- Sew a light & dark trimmed triangle to opposite sides
- Sew a light & dark untrimmed triangle to the remaining sides.
- scroll down to see how it looks!
Make a bunch!
- A Moda Treat has 42 squares 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"
- I am using 2 packages to start.
I'm making stars!! Look how fun! You could even do the center block with ALL dark for a change.
The top right is an arrangement I thing is cute for a table runner or make 3 rows wide & longer for an accent runner at the foot of your bed!
Details
- Single block is 4 3/4" x 4 3/4"
- 42 squares in a Treat, 2 Treats will be 84 square. Enough to make 9 stars
- One Star block is 12 3/4" x 12 3/4"
- the 3 x 3 setting is 37 1/2" x 37 1/2"
All the Goodies Mentioned + a few more
- Coney Island Treats, and Coney Island all the fabric. 2 packages of Treats will make 9 Star Blocks
- All Moda Treats
- Bloc-Loc 3" x 6" Flying Geese unit
- All the Bloc-Loc rulers
- Moda Bella Solids .. I used 132 Breeze, if you want more 'blue' use 169. And 294 Persimmon
