Quilted Potholders: Quarter Squares

The last technique to try is Quarter Squares. Two methods are shown in this post.

Hourglass Potholder

I used Stampin' Up! Timeless Portrait fabric.

Cut an 8 in. square from two fabrics.
With right sides together, cut diagonally through both layers.

Sew a short side of the resulting triangles using a scant 1/4 in. seam.
Open the triangles and press seams toward the dark fabric.

With right sides together sew the triangles together to form the block. Press the seam open and trim the edges. The block should measure 10 in. Layer the block over batting and backing fabric.
Pin and sew through all layers to quilt. I started with a 2 in. square in the centre, then continued sewing squares 1 in. from the previous stitching.
Cut (3) 2-1/2 in. X 18 in. strips from third fabric for binding and refer to the instructions for binding edges from Log Cabin Potholder.




 Ohio Star Potholder

The hourglass squares in this method are sewn differently. You will get two finished quarter squares from each pair of 3-1/4 in. squares.
I used Stampin' Up! Spice Cake fabric.

Cut (2) 3-1/4 in. squares from two fabrics.
Layer a light square on a dark square with right sides together.
Mark from corner to corner with a vanishing ink pen, or lightly with a pencil.
Sew a  scant 1/4 in. from both sides of the line and cut on the line.
Press the seams to the dark fabric. You will have two half squares.

Layer the half squares with right sides together and alternating dark and light fabrics.

Mark from corner to corner across the seam with a vanishing ink pen, or lightly with a pencil.
Sew a  scant 1/4 in. from both sides of the line and cut on the line.
Press the seams open.
You will have two quarter squares.
Repeat with the other pair of 3-1/4 in. squares to make four quarter squares.

Trim the edges to measure 2-1/2 in. square.

Cut (5) 2-1/2 in. squares from medium fabric for the corners and centre of the block.
Cut (2) 2-1/2 in. X 18 in. strips from light fabric.
Sub-cut (4) 2-1/2 in. X 6-1/2 in. strips and (4) 2-1/2 in. squares.
Layout pieces as shown.

Sew squares to hourglass squares to form three middle sections and press seams away from hourglass squares.
Sew these strips together to form middle block and press seams away from middle section.
Sew side strips to middle block and press seams toward strips.
Sew corner squares to sides of top and bottom strips and press seams toward strips.
Sew top and bottom sections to middle section to complete block.
Layer over batting and backing fabric. Pin and sew through all layers 1/4 in. outside star, and centre squares. Sew square, en pointe, from middle of sides and sew an X on corner squares.
Cut (3) 2-1/2 in. X 18 in. strips of binding fabric and refer to Log Cabin Potholder instructions to bind edges.