Plait Quilt Block Pattern

To keep these classes free please leave a donation for the teacher here. https://customclothingboutique.com/products/donat-to-motley-muse

Click here for a beginner in depth sewing class on all the basics. https://customclothingboutique.com/pages/quilting-knowledge

 

A plait quilt block is a traditional quilt block that creates the appearance of woven fabric strips. Here's how to sew a plait quilt block:

Materials:

• Fabric strips in two or more colors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Rotary cutter and mat
• Ruler

Instructions:

1. Cut your fabric strips to the desired width. For example, if you want a finished block size of 8 inches, cut your fabric strips to 2.5 inches wide.

2. Arrange your fabric strips in the order you want them to appear in your block.

3. Take the first two strips and place them right sides together. Sew along one of the long edges using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

4. Press the seam to one side.

5. Add the next strip to the top of your newly created strip set, right sides together. Sew along the long edge using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

6. Press the seam to one side.

7. Continue adding strips in this manner until you have created a strip set that is the desired width.

8. Using your rotary cutter and ruler, cut the strip set into sections that are the same width as the original strips. For example, if your original strips were 2.5 inches wide, cut the strip set into sections that are 2.5 inches wide.

9. Take two of the sections and place them right sides together, with the seams aligned. Sew along one long edge using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

10. Press the seam to one side.

11. Add another section to the top of your newly created strip set, right sides together. Sew along the long edge using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

12. Press the seam to one side.

13. Continue adding sections in this manner until you have created a block that is the desired size.

14. Trim the edges of the block to make them even.

15. Repeat this process to create as many plait quilt blocks as you need for your quilt.

Once you have created your plait quilt blocks, you can arrange them in a variety of ways to create different patterns. Sew the blocks together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance and press the seams to one side. Add batting and backing to create a finished quilt.

 

The secret to the perfect four patch is all about ironing seams so that they butt together when the seams are joined. You may make the four patch by cutting individual squares if you want to make a scrappy quilt or only a few blocks to make with pre-joined strips. I'll take you through both methods.

 

Cut two A squares and two B squares in your required size. Chain piecing, join A square to a B square, right sides together, with a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press towards the dark fabric.

This is your result:

 

This is also the result of cutting across pre-joined strips to create two units.

To make a standard four patch, the width of the unit cut from pre-joined strips is the same as the width of the original strips. 

Press all the seams towards the dark fabric so that the seame butt-up.

Take the two A/B and place them right sides together, butting seams. Pin if required. Join with a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance, then press.

 

 

Wider Application:

You can apply this technique to all kinds of four patch blocks. As long as a block has a 4x4 grid, no matter how many pieces, the basic principles apply. It is repeated over and over again each four patch laying adjacent to the next. As long as you keep pressing seams in pairs of opposite directions, piecing will become easy.

All of the following blocks have 4x4 grids and can be pieaced as a four patch.

 

How to Resize Quilt Blocks:

The first step in modifying any quilt block is to decide on the size of your finished quilt block. You can come to a decision based on a number of factors: doubling a pattern, cutting your pattern in half, or choosing the size based on your available fabric.

NOTE: When working from a pattern’s cutting instructions, make sure you remove the seam allowance before doubling or tripling the size. For instance, if your pattern calls for 3-1/2″ squares, first you’ll subtract the sum of the seam allowances (1/2″), double the finished block size (from 3″ to 6″), and add the seam allowance back in (1/2″). So, when all is said and done, you will cut a 6-1/2″ piece of fabric.

Resizing Square Blocks:

Square blocks are the easiest to resize. Simply add to your finished block measurement. For example, if you’d like your finished block to be a 4″ square, you’ll need to cut a 4-1/2″ square of fabric.

Resizing Rectangular Blocks:

Similarly to the square, for rectangle blocks, you’ll add to the length and width measurements of your finished block. If you’re doubling block that measures 3″ x 4″ in your quilt, you’ll cut a 6-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ rectangle of fabric.

Resizing Half-Square Triangle Blocks:

When you want to change the size of a Half-Square Triangle block, add 7/8″ to the desired finished block size. To make a 4″ finished block, you’d cut 4-7/8″ squares.

Resizing Quarter Square Triangle:

Since there are two cut lines and two seam lines in a Quarter-Square Triangle block you’ll need to add 1-1/4″ to the desired finished block size. For a finished block that’s 4″, you’d cut your squares 5-1/4″.