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2 ways to make square in a square quilt blocks

2 ways to make square in a square quilt blocks

by Sarah Vanderburgh

There are advantages to having more than one way to make block units in quilting. One is that you can pick a method that works with the fabric you have, in this case, what fabric you don’t have! In yesterday’s post we used the Patchwork Program on the performance icon to sew the half square triangles for the blocks for the Double T runner. We also made the flying geese units. At this point there is only the inner unit for the blocks to make – the square in a square unit. The square in a square unit is the center of the candies and the blocks in the Double T runner.

A Double T table runner with orange, blue and black fabrics

Double T runner

I used two different ways to make square in a square units because I didn’t have enough of the light orange fabric to use my go-to method of sew and flip. Regardless, it’s good practice to try different methods to see which one you enjoy using and give you results you’re happy with. The PFAFF performance icon helped me to sew precisely for both methods and my units ended up the same size.

2 square in a square units, one in blue fabrics, one in orange fabrics

Square in a square units for Double T blocks

Method 1

Double T orange using 3⅜” squares cut on the diagonal

  1. Cut 2 orange print squares on the diagonal. Finger press the light orange square in half in both directions to give yourself placement lines for the triangles.
  2. Place one orange print triangle right side down across one edge of the light orange fabric square with the point lined up with the center of the square.

Sewing a triangle piece of fabric onto a square piece of fabric; PFAFF performance icon

First triangle centered on center square

3. Sew the triangle to the square along the edge. The Original IDT System and Straight Needle Plate help ensure precise piecing of the triangles to the square.

4. On the edge opposite, sew another triangle in the same manner. Press both seams to the triangles

Sewing a second triangle piece of fabric on the opposite side of the first on a square piece of fabric; PFAFF performance icon

The Second triangle sewn to the opposite edge

5. Repeat placing a light orange triangle on each of the remaining edges of the square. Press the seams to the triangles. The unit should measure a 5½” square.

Sewing on the third piece of triangle fabric onto the square piece of fabric; PFAFF performance icon

Sewing the third triangle to make the square in a square unit

6. Repeat steps 1 to 6 to make a second orange square in a square unit.

Method 2

Double T blue using 3″ squares sew and flip

  1. Draw a diagonal line on the back of the 4 blue print 2½” squares.
  2. Place a blue print 2½” square right side down on the top left corner of the light blue 5½” square with the diagonal line opposite the corner.
  3. Sew on the diagonal line. I used the Clear Open Toe Foot for IDT System to sew these lines so I could clearly see the drawn lines as I sewed.
  4. Cut the excess seam allowance off leaving a ¼” seam allowance. Press the seam to the blue print triangle.
  5. Place a blue print 2½” square on the top right corner and repeat steps 3 and 4.

Using the Clear Open Toe foot for IDT System on the sewing machine to accurately sew a line on fabric; PFAFF performance icon

Using the Clear Open Toe foot for IDT System for accurate sewing on the line

6. Place a blue print 2½” square on the bottom right corner and repeat steps 3 and 4.

7. Place the remaining blue print 2½” square on the bottom left corner and repeat steps 3 and 4. The unit should measure a 5½” square.

These are the last units needed before putting the blocks together. The precision piecing features of the PFAFF performance icon meant I could use the fabric I had to make the square in a square units. I can’t wait to see this runner assembled!

This is part 3 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 2: Piecing blocks are quick and accurate with the PFAFF performance icon

Go to part 4: Easy piecing a Double T table runner with precision

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