Melanie Rudy

[h=3]Squaring Up Quilt Blocks (Even If You Know How)[/h]
I am working on a new quilt and have gotten to the "squaring up" stage. This is a good block to demonstrate a few tips on. It will be trimmed to 11 1/2", sewn to 11" with a 1/4" seam allowance.

Tip #1:

Using painters tape, tape the corner and edges of your block size on your square ruler. I am using a 15" ruler and it has many, many lines. Taping off the size allows me to line up my block at a quick glance. Painters tape can easily be removed from your ruler without leaving residue.


Tip #2:

Turn your block to the diagonal before lining up your ruler.

On a block such as this Tavern Puzzle, it is important to line up the diagonal ruler line as well as the corners. Place the diagonal line on your block first, then line up the corners.

Turning your block to the diagonal position now allows you to cut 2 sides of the block at once. Trim.


Tip #3:

After your first side is cut, flip the block and simply line up the cut edges of your block to the green tape marks. This is so efficient. Now trim the remaining 2 sides of your block in one motion.

judy363905

Thank you good idea...it is easy to get just an eighth off when trimming several blocks at a time... Guess how I know.

Judy in Phx, AZ

Jeanne S

Thanks for this tutorial!!

todiesmom

I bought some of these large square rulers when working on T-shirt quilt for my granddaughter and I have found them to be very useful in making bags and place mats...I have a 15" square and a 10.5" square and use them constantly for squaring up exactly the way you have shown...thanks for the info....I appreciate all the help the QB people have given me

ManiacQuilter2

Good layout but remember that this won't work on all pieced blocks. I have a method of even over-sizing my 9 patch blocks. Over-sizing might be frown upon by some quilters, but it allows one to make any readjustment in the seams to make the block perfect before trimming.

bonniemanley

Thank you so much. I like it done this way.

Melanie Rudy

Please expand on your over-sizing method as this can be helpful in some situations.

Roberta

I know this is a dumb question but do you mean the diagonal line on your mat? I always have problems squaring up and appreciate your method which I will try next time.

QuiltnNan

thanks for taking the time to post the tut

Melanie Rudy

I am referring to the diagonal line on your ruler. On many rulers this line will have 45 degrees marked on it. Always trim your blocks with the ruler measurements, not the mat measurements, for accuracy.