Medallion Along: July/Round 6

Robert Kaufman Sponsored guild quilt made with Carolyn Friedlander Botanics fabrics

Instead of a Block of the Month this year, we are doing a Medallion Along! Join us each month as we introduce a new round. We will introduce new rounds through September and hope that gives people time to finish their quilts by December's meeting, where we will have a mini exhibition of them. The completed quilts should finish around 60 inches square.

The July round consists of 48 Square in a Square blocks. We have provided 2 different ways to make these blocks. (a third paper pieced one coming soon)
Before beginning, your medallion should measure 44.5 inches square.

Step 1:  Use one of the following options to make (48) 4.5 inch Square in a Square blocks.  When done, move on to Step 2 below.


Option A: Use a corner block stitch and flip method.

Cut (48) 4.5 inch squares of your center fabric. Cut (192) 2.5 inch squares. Draw a line from corner to corner on the back of each of the 2.5 inch squares* (as you would for half square triangles). Pin the smaller squares to the corners of your center blocks and stitch along the line. Trim 1/4 inch seam allowance and press. * Kelly has a tip on her blog if you would like to skip the drawing a line step! Find it here!

Pros: This is a good option for fussy cutting, and if you utilize your corner square scraps you can have another project in the works! Good for chain stitching. If you stitch another line 1/2 inch away from your first one when making the corners, you can make tiny half square triangles as you go!
Cons: May be a bit wasteful of fabric if you don't utilize the scraps.

After creating your 48 blocks, move on to step 2.


 
Option B: Cut Half Square Triangles and stitch onto the four sides of the center block.

Cut (48) 3 3/8 inch center squares. Cut (96) 2 7/8* inch squares for the side. Cut them in half along the diagonal, giving you 192 Triangles. To stitch, center a triangle on one side of a center block and stitch with a scant 1/4 inch seam. Stitch the opposite side's seam and press. Then stitch on the remaining two sides and press. A 4.5 inch square ruler to help square up at the end is very helpful.

*My second run-through I cut the corners at 3 inches and it gave a bit more wiggle room when squaring up


Pros: Uses less fabric than other method, is fast to chain stitch

Cons: Not good for fussy cutting the center square since it will be on an angle in the finished square. Also, working with bias edges and 1/8 inch measurements. A scant seam is very important here.

After creating your 48 blocks, move on to step 2.


 
Option C: Paper Pieced Blocks. Download and save this pattern:
Generations Quilt Patterns 4 inch Square in a Square

Open up the saved pdf file and print one copy, making sure to select "no scaling" or "actual size" (my test print was 1/4 inch off the test print because it was on "shrink to size" rather than actual size." Measure the printed piece to make sure that with seam allowances the block is exactly 4.5 inches. When you've got it right, print out 23 more copies of the pattern.

Need tips on paper piecing? Follow these directions about halfway down the page!
Paper Piecing 

After creating your 48 blocks, move on to Step 2


Pros: Super precise and beautiful seams!
Cons: Uses paper and printer ink, have to spend time removing paper

 
Step 2: Stitch 2 strips of fabric 9 blocks wide. Stitch 2 strips of fabric 11 blocks wide. Attach the 9 block strips to the top and bottom of your medallion. Press seams. Attach the 11 block strips to the left and right of your medallion. Press seams.

Your Medallion should now measure 52.5 inches 

Kelly's Beautiful Medallion!