Slanted Diamonds And Streak Of Lightening Strips Quilt Block Pattern

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Here are step-by-step instructions on how to cut and sew together slanted diamonds and streak of lightning strips quilt blocks:

Materials you'll need:

• Fabric in desired colors for diamonds and lightning strips
• Rotary cutter
• Quilting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Iron
• Pins

Step 1: Cutting the Diamonds

1. Choose your desired fabric for the diamonds. You can use a single fabric or a variety of fabrics for a scrappy look.
2. Cut strips of fabric that are 1.5 times the width of the finished diamond block. For example, if you want your finished diamond to be 4 inches wide, cut strips that are 6 inches wide.
3. Using a quilting ruler and rotary cutter, cut the strips into squares that are the same size as the desired width of the finished diamond block. For example, if you want your finished diamond to be 4 inches wide, cut squares that are 4 inches by 4 inches.
4. Place a square of fabric on your cutting mat with one corner facing up. Using your quilting ruler, align it diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner, creating a diagonal line across the square.
5. Cut along the diagonal line with your rotary cutter to create two triangles. These will be the two halves of your diamond block.

Step 2: Cutting the Lightning Strips

1. Choose your desired fabric for the lightning strips. This fabric will create the slanted lines in your quilt block.
2. Cut strips of fabric that are the same width as the squares you cut for the diamonds. For example, if you cut 4-inch squares for your diamonds, cut strips that are 4 inches wide.
3. Using your quilting ruler and rotary cutter, cut the strips into rectangles that are twice as long as the desired width of the finished diamond block. For example, if you want your finished diamond to be 4 inches wide, cut rectangles that are 4 inches by 8 inches.

Step 3: Sewing the Diamond Block

1. Take one triangle from the diamond block and place it right sides together with one end of a rectangle from the lightning strip. Align the edges and pin in place.
2. Sew along the pinned edge with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, starting from the point of the triangle and sewing towards the base.
3. Press the seam towards the triangle using an iron.
4. Take the other triangle from the diamond block and place it right sides together with the other end of the rectangle from the lightning strip. Align the edges and pin in place.
5. Sew along the pinned edge with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, starting from the base of the triangle and sewing towards the point.
6. Press the seam towards the triangle using an iron.
7. Trim the excess fabric from the triangle points so that the edges of the diamond block are even.

Step 4: Assembling the Quilt Block

1. Take another rectangle from the lightning strip and place it right sides together with one side of the diamond block. Align the edges and pin in place.
2. Sew along the pinned edge with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, sewing from the base of the triangle to the top edge of the diamond block.
3. Press the seam towards the rectangle using an iron.
4. Repeat step 4 with another rectangle from the lightning strip and the remaining side of the diamond block.
5. Press the seam towards the rectangle using an iron.
6. Trim the excess fabric from the rectangle edges so that the quilt block is square and all edges are even.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 to create additional diamond blocks and lightning strip blocks as needed for your quilt

 

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″.