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How 128 leftover corner pieces of fabric make 2” x 2” four-patch blocks

by Paul Leger

So far this week I used two OLFA rulers, the OLFA 1212″ Square Frosted Acrylic Ruler to cut the 8½” x 8½” fabric squares and the OLFA 612″ Square Frosted Acrylic Ruler which I used yesterday to mark squares for the Cathedral Window Quilt. Today I’m using the small but mighty OLFA 412″ Square Frosted Acrylic Ruler.

Three frosted acrylic rulers, the OLFA 41⁄2″ square ruler, the OLFA 61⁄2″ square ruler and the OLFA 121⁄2″ square ruler

OLFA rulers

My OLFA Splash 45mm rotary cutter and OLFA 412″ square ruler are ready to start.

An OLFA splash 45mm rotary cutter and OLFA 41⁄2″ square ruler

OLFA splash 45mm rotary cutter and OLFA 41⁄2″ square ruler

Once I cut all circles for this week’s project, I ended up with 128 of these corner pieces.

Unused corner pieces from cut circles with the OLFA circle cutter

Unused corner pieces from cut circles

With the cost of fabric being what it is, I always try to save as many scraps as I can. In this case, the scraps were not big enough to cut them into a usable square. It would’ve been a lot of work. I also wasn’t sure I’d ever use something so small. So, I came up with the idea of sewing four corners together like this.

Four corners from the circle scraps (two of each color, purple and light mauve) are sewn together.

Sew four corners together.

Once I sewed the corners together, I was able to comfortably make 2” x 2” four-patch blocks.

An OLFA 41⁄2″ square ruler and the OLFA rotary cutter are used to make 2” x 2” four-patch blocks

Cut to 2” x 2”.

From all the Cathedral Window Quilt scraps, I was able to get 32 four-patch blocks.

You can sew these together to make a potholder, a trivet or even a small doll quilt. Combining them with other fabrics will naturally make a larger doll quilt or even a table centrepiece.

Three 4-patch fabric blocks in dark purple and light mauve colors have been cut with more scraps ready to be cut using an OLFA 4½” square ruler and the OLFA rotary cutter.

Making four patch blocks from scraps

On the topic of scraps, I’d like to introduce the UNIQUE quilting Fusible Batting Seam Tape – 38mm x 9m (112″ x 10yds). How many times have I had leftover pieces of batting – many of which are long and wide? I take those pieces, butt them together and use the fusible batting tape to join them together. The tape is so lightweight, that once it’s applied, you don’t notice it.

It’s quick, easy to use and fast. I always have a few rolls on hand.

A packaged roll and a piece of UNIQUE quilting fusible batting seam tape.

UNIQUE quilting fusible batting seam tape

Squaring off scraps of fabric and joining leftover batting together are ways I try to reduce what goes to the trash bin. Reusing scraps helps reduce waste!

A packaged roll and a piece of UNIQUE quilting fusible batting seam tape with an OLFA rotary cutter and OLFA 4½” square ruler.

Everyday tools and notions

Another week is over. Hope everyone enjoyed making a Cathedral Window Quilt using OLFA square rulers and finding out how to use the leftover fabric scraps. I’d love to hear of other ways to make use of fabric scraps – please share your ideas.

This is part 5 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 4: Making a square quilt out of circles – OLFA rulers make it work!

 

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