In quilting, a quarter-square-triangle only sounds scarier than it is

You might have guessed by the title that today’s post is about making quarter-square-triangles (QST). It sounds scarier than it is. It’s very easy too.

In yesterday’s post, I talked about the importance of having a selection of thread in 12 basic neutral colors like the GÜTERMANN 12 pc Sew-All 100m Thread Set – Neutral Colours for piecing. I also mentioned that GÜTERMANN 12 pc Sew-All 100m Thread Set – Primary Colours has many basic colors should you need a thread color to match.

Before I demonstrate how to make QSTs I want to suggest sewing needles. My go-to is SCHMETZ needles. For new quilters, I recommend SCHMETZ #1739 Piecing & Quilting Needles Pack Carded – Assorted – 5 count. This pack has two size needles which are naturally great for sewing and to try different size threads.

Let’s get to making QST.

In my first post this week I indicated a 3½” x 3½” square needed to be cut to make a 3” x 3” finish square.

In my second post, I said to make half square triangles (HST) the size of the squares measuring 3⅞” x 3⅞” would make 3” x 3” finished HSTs.

And here I’m showing you my method for making QSTs. To make a QSTs a 1¼” must be added to the desired finished size of the QST. For this reason. I’ll be cutting one 4¼” x width of fabric (WOF) strips of the orange and yellow fabrics. Once everything is sewn, it’ll be a 3” x 3” finished QSTs.

Eight QSTs are needed to complete today’s two blocks. From the 4¼” strips cut four 4¼” x 4¼” squares from both the orange and yellow farics. From every two 4¼” x 4¼” squares, two QST will be made.

On the back of the four orange fabric pieces, I made two diagonal lines from corner to corner. I then took the yellow 4¼” x 4¼” squares and matched them to the orange 4¼” x 4¼” squares (right sides together) and pinned them.

Sew on the right side of the diagonal line but sew no further than where the lines intersect. See the next photo.

Note: Black thread was used so it would show up better on the photo.

Cut along both diagonal lines.

Once cuts are made, press open.

Match two half sets of QSTs on the longest side and sew. Repeat this step eight times to join all QSTs. Trim to 3½” x 3½” if required.

Cut another 3½” x WOF strip from both the yellow and orange fabrics. From those strips cut two 3½” x 3½” orange squares then eight 3½” x 3½” yellow squares.

Sew four QSTs to 3½” x 3½” yellow squares. Make sure one of the orange sides of the QST is sewn to the yellow fabric. Then sew two QSTs to 3½” x 3½” orange squares. This time making sure one of the yellow sides of the QST is sewn to the orange fabric.

On the four QST/yellow sets, sew the four remaining yellow 3½” x 3½” squares. Then sew the two QST/orange sets and sew the two remaining QSTs.

Sew the rows together as shown in the photo to complete the quilt blocks.

With these two blocks completed, this ends today’s tutorial.

Remember to have some SCHMETZ #1739 Piecing & Quilting Needles Pack Carded – Assorted – 5 count close to the sewing machine.

As quilters and sewists, do check out all the other types and varieties of needles SCHMETZ offers. There is a type for all possible sewing projects. The variety is amazing. The next photo is only a small sample of some of the many needles from the SCHMETZ collection.

Tomorrow, I’ll show you another method to make HSTs for the last two blocks needed to complete this sunny crib quilt! Join me!

This is part 3 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 2: Piecing shoo fly quilt blocks with Gütermann thread [a great notion]

Go to part 4: The underappreciated seam ripper, UNIQUE sewing makes ripping easier