Are you learning the art of quilting? Below is a lesson for beginners:
Here’s an important step in making your sewing time easier and your quilt blocks join together perfectly: use a consistent 1/4″ seam allowance!
Star block with 1/4" seam allowance
My first attempts at quilting were difficult because that step wasn’t made clear to me. But when I learned it-the quilting projects became easy to do. I devoured every quilting magazine and book I came across and joined the local quilt guild.
The diagram above shows a star block sewn together with the 1/4″ seam allowance showing on each side with the dotted line. Each of the nine patches in the block have their own seam allowance when you sew them together. Below is a corner square before it’s sewn to the other patches.
Corner star block patch
All pieced block patterns include the 1/4″ seam allowance in the cutting instructions. For example a corner square in a 9 1/2″ (unfinished size) star block would be cut out as a 3 1/2″ square. The other patches in the block also need to be 3 1/2″ before they are all sewn together.
Most appliqué shapes are put into patterns without the seam allowance because of the many different appliqué methods that are used. Fusible web applique shapes don’t need the seam allowance-they just need to be reversed so that they can be traced on the paper side of the fusible web, cut out with a margin of free space and fused to the back of the fabric. Then the shape is cut out on the penciled line and then fused again to the quilt top or block.
Oak Leaf Reel block with appliqué edges turned under
Hand appliqué or freezer paper appliqué methods need to have the 1/4″ seam allowance added so the seam allowance can be turned under leaving a finished edge to the shape. The appliqué shape is then sewn to the quilt block as seen above.
Hopefully this lesson has made quilt piecing clearer for you. Let me know if you have any questions.
