Little Fabric Shop Quilt: Rolling Squares Blocks

Welcome back! We are almost finished with our quilt blocks. This month marks the second to last block for the Little Fabric Shop Quilt. In this tutorial, you will create a total of four Rolling Squares Blocks. This is a classic quilt block and includes both Flying Geese blocks and Diamond in Square blocks. I really enjoyed making this one. It was nice to take a little break from Half Square Triangles and work with different quilting techniques. If you love Half Square Triangles, don’t worry, next month’s final block is filled with them. Let’s get sewing!

 

Flying Geese Blocks

We will be using another Creative Grids® Ruler this month. This one is called the Ultimate Flying Geese Tool. This tool allows you create the Flying Geese quilt block using different techniques. We are going to use the “Heart” technique. I love how this tool comes with excellent cutting and sewing directions and how beautiful the flying geese look when finished.

 

Rolling Squares Block Directions

Let’s get started! Below is a PDF pattern download with all the steps to create this block.

PDF Download: Rolling Squares Block Directions

 

General Pattern Information

The is an advanced beginner block. All dimensions are written in height x width throughout the directions. It is important to read all the instructions prior to beginning this project. You will need a Cutting Ruler, Scissors, Rotary Cutter, Creative Grids® Ultimate Flying Geese Tool, Cutting Mat, Pins, Iron, Starch, Sewing Machine and a ¼-Inch Presser Foot.

 

Fabric Sides

 

Fabric Requirements

The table below indicates the fabric requirements for the ENTIRE quilt. Additionally, it provides information on the color names and color letters. We recommend quilter’s weight cotton for this project. We used Cotton + Steel Basics fabric.

 

We used Cotton + Steel Basics fabric. We have also created a fabric bundle for this quilt and all the fabrics follow the monthly instructions exactly.

 

Cutting Requirements

Use the Block Layout Guide below along with the Cutting Chart to cut out all of the fabrics.

 

 

Create Diamond in Square Block

You will create 16 individual Diamond in Square blocks.

 

STEP 1: Prepare Blocks

Gather BLOCK 1, BLOCK 2, and BLOCK 3.

 

Draw a diagonal line from point to point across BLOCK 2 and BLOCK 3 on WSF.

 

STEP 2: Sew & Trim Two Corners

Place BLOCK 2 WSF up on the upper left corner of RSF up BLOCK 1 and pin in place. Then place BLOCK 3 WSF up on the lower right corner of RSF up BLOCK 1 and pin in place. Sew directly along the drawn line on BLOCK 2 and BLOCK 3.

 

Create ¼-inch seams on both the sewn BLOCK 2 and BLOCK 3. Place a ruler along the sewn seam with a ¼-inch overlap. Trim. 

 

Press seams of triangle corners toward the outer triangle.

 

STEP 3: Sew & Trim Remaining Two Corners

Place a BLOCK 2 WSF up on the upper right corner of RSF up BLOCK 1 and pin in place. Then place the other BLOCK 2 WSF up on the lower right corner of RSF up BLOCK 1 and pin in place. Sew directly along drawn lines on BLOCK 2.

 

Create ¼-inch seams on the sewn BLOCK 2 corners. Place a ruler along the sewn seam with a ¼-inch overlap. Trim. 

 

Press seams of triangle corners toward the outer triangle.

 

STEP 4: Square Off Blocks

Each block should measure 4½” x 4½”. You can use a ruler to make sure each block is this size. In total, you have a total of 16 Diamond in Square blocks.

 

Create Flying Geese Blocks

You will create 16 individual Flying Geese blocks using the “Heart” technique and the Creative Grids® Ultimate Flying Geese Tool.

 

STEP 1: Prepare Blocks

Gather BLOCKS 6 and BLOCK 7.

 

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the fabric across each BLOCK 7 squares.

 

STEP 2: Create Heart Blocks

Take two BLOCK 7 squares and place them on the right sides facing each other at each corner of BLOCK 6 square. The smaller squares will overlap with each other in the center of the larger square. Pin to hold squares in place.

Sew with a ¼-inch seam allowance using the drawn line as a guide on either side of the line.

Once the fabric is sewn, cut along the center drawn line.

 

Fold out the two smaller squares on each cut block and press seams towards BLOCK 7. It will have the shape of a heart.

 

STEP 3: Finish Sewing Flying Geese Blocks

Place the remaining BLOCK 7 squares on each of the “heart” units. Sew with ¼-inch seam allowance using the drawn line as a guide on each side of the line.

Once sewn, cut along the center drawn line.

 

Fold out the smaller square on each of the four blocks and press seams towards BLOCK 7.

 

STEP 4: Square Up Flying Geese Blocks

Use the Creative Grids Ultimate Flying Geese Tool to trim fabric to size. The finished size of each flying geese is 2” x 4”. You will use the “D” guide line to trim the fabric.

NOTE: “Finished Size” indicates the size of the flying geese block when it is sewn into the Rolling Squares larger block. The flying geese block will measure 2½” x 4¼” in size once squared off.

Line up the edge of the inner triangle with the “D” guide-line. Trim the excess fabric on the right and upper edge of the ruler.

 

Turn the ruler and the block by 90° and place the edge of the inner triangle along the “D” guide-line. Once again, trim the excess fabric on the right and upper edge of the ruler.

 

You should have a total of 16 flying geese.

 

Create Flying Geese with Rectangle Blocks

You will create 16 individual Flying Geese with Rectangle Blocks.

 

STEP 1: Prepare Blocks

Gather the FINISHED FLYING GEESE BLOCKS and the BLOCK 5 rectangles.

 

STEP 2: Sew Blocks

Layout blocks as shown below.

 

Place FINISHED FLYING GEESE BLOCK with WSF down on top of RSF up BLOCK 5.

 

Sew with a ¼-inch seam allowance along the pointed edge of FINISHED FLYING GEESE BLOCK as shown below. After sewing, press open seams.

Repeat this process for the remaining blocks.

 

You should have a total of 16 sewn flying geese and rectangle blocks.

 

Assemble Rolling Squares Blocks

Layout all your fabric pieces as shown in the diagram below.

 

Sew each row together as shown below. Alternate the direction of pressing seams for each row as indicated by the red arrows.

 

Sew all the rows together. Nest seams and pin. Sew using a ¼-inch seam allowance. Press the seams open. This block should measure 12½” x 12½” (finished size will be 12” x 12”). Press open seams. Repeat steps to create 4 Rolling Squares Blocks.

 

Next Steps

You should have a total of 4 Rolling Squares Blocks with 8 Eccentric Star Blocks, 20 Road to Oklahoma Blocks, 8 Hourglass Variation Blocks, and 4 Log Cabin Blocks from the previous tutorials. Set these blocks aside for now. In the future, we will give you instructions on how to use these blocks to create the quilt top. Stay tuned!

 

Join the Quilting Fun!

We hope that you continue our ten-month Little Fabric Shop Quilt journey. Follow along with the Instagram #littlefabricshopquilt so that we can see your progress and be inspired by your work. Stay up-to-date on this event and all the happenings at Little Fabric Shop by signing up for our Newsletter located on the bottom of our homepage. Happy Sewing!!