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How to Sew a Diagonal Strips Quilt Block
The Diagonal Strips quilt block is a dynamic design using colorful fabric strips sewn together, then cut diagonally into triangles and reassembled into a bold geometric block. It's a fun project for both beginners and experienced quilters, and the possibilities for color combinations are endless!
Materials Needed
- Fabric strips in various colors and prints
- Sewing machine and thread
- Rotary cutter and cutting mat
- Quilting ruler
- Iron and ironing board
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cut your fabric strips. Using a rotary cutter and mat, cut strips in various colors and prints. Strips can be different widths but should all be the same length.
- Arrange the strips. Lay the strips out in the order you want them to appear in the block — randomly or in a deliberate pattern.
- Sew the strips together. Place the first two strips right sides together and sew a ¼" seam along one long edge. Press the seam to one side. Continue adding strips one at a time, pressing each seam as you go, until you have a strip set of the desired size.
- Cut the strip set into triangles. Place your quilting ruler on the strip set, aligning the diagonal line on the ruler with a seam line. Cut along the ruler to create two triangles. Repeat with the remaining strip sets.
- Sew the triangles together. Place two triangles right sides together, matching the seams. Sew a ¼" seam along the long edge and press to one side. Continue joining triangles until you have a square of the desired size.
- Trim the block. Use your quilting ruler to trim the block to the desired size, removing any uneven edges.
- Repeat. Repeat steps 3–6 to create as many Diagonal Strips blocks as needed for your project.
Once you have your blocks, arrange them in rows, alternate with other designs, or rotate them to create different quilt patterns. The possibilities are endless!
How to Resize Quilt Blocks
The first step in modifying any quilt block is to decide on your finished block size. You can base this on doubling a pattern, cutting it in half, or working with your available fabric.
Note: When working from a pattern's cutting instructions, remove the seam allowance before scaling. For example, if your pattern calls for 3½″ squares, subtract the seam allowance (½″), double the finished size (3″ → 6″), then add the seam allowance back (½″) — giving you a 6½″ cut piece.
Resizing Square Blocks
Add ½″ to your finished block measurement. For a 4″ finished square, cut a 4½″ square of fabric.
Resizing Rectangular Blocks
Add ½″ to both the length and width. To double a 3″ × 4″ block, cut a 6½″ × 8½″ rectangle.
Resizing Half-Square Triangle Blocks
Add 7/8″ to the desired finished block size. For a 4″ finished HST block, cut 4⅞″ squares.
Resizing Quarter Square Triangle Blocks
Add 1¼″ to the desired finished block size. For a 4″ finished block, cut 5¼″ squares.
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