Description: My personal opinion is the more fabrics used, the more interesting the final quilt will be. I have used many shades of the main color, blue, in my sample, but kept the secondary color uniform throughout. Block size: 2" (finished); based on a 1/4" inch grid of the paper pieced block; for the very brave - finished size 1" based on a 1/8" grid. The blue and white quilt top is made up of finished one-inch blocks. Quilt Size: 2" blocks with 6 blocks by 4 blocks 15" x 19" 1" blocks with 6 blocks by 4 blocks 11" x13" Fabric Requirements For Quilt: For the little blocks: use scraps. If you want each one to be different, you will need 24 different main fabrics and 24 different backgrounds. In my quilt, I used the same background in each block. Inner border: one strip 1 ½" x about 32" long Outer Border: one strip 2 ¾" x about 40" long.
Click here to download the 2 Inch Paper Pattern (pdf) Click here to download the 1 Inch Paper Pattern (pdf)
Instructions Remember the block pattern is the mirror image of the finished quilt block. You will be placing your fabric on the unprinted side and sewing on the printed side of the nonesuch block pattern. Read Foundation Piecing Basics Vol. 1 for general paper piecing instructions. This block is constructed in one section; piece the block in numerical order. For a quilt similar to the one pictured, 24 pieced blocks will be needed. After all the blocks are constructed; press the blocks with a dry iron. Trim the blocks to the correct size (including seam allowance) with the paper still attached (cutting paper is supposed to be a "no-no" for rotary cutters, but greater accuracy is achieved using this method). If the square is 1" finished, then the block will be 1 ½" unfinished. If the finished size of the block is 2" finished, then the block will be 2 ½" unfinished. Tear away the paper backing and the blocks are ready to be put into a quilt. Some people like to keep the backing paper on until the blocks are assembled into the top. This is a personal preference. Sew the quilt blocks into 6 rows of 4 quilt blocks in each row. Use the quilt picture as your reference. Alternate the direction of the pressing for the block seams for each row. + + + = Press blocks to left + + + = Press blocks to right Cutting Borders (Please feel free to cut the border strips any size you would prefer for your quilt): The following are the sizes I used for the blue quilt with the 1" finished blocks. *Cut first border strips 1 1/2” wide by width of fabric from a light blue fabric. *Cut second border 2 3/4” wide by width of fabric from a darker blue fabric. Sew the borders to the quilt top; start with the long vertical sides of the quilt. Trim and press as needed. This quilt block is frequently seen in antique quilts and you can greatly change the look of the quilt with just slight variations of the blocks coloring and setting.
Color and Setting Options

©2003 Nancy J. Thomas
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