Curve It Up QAL - Block #4 - Curved 4-Patch

 4-Patch Block
Download pdf here.

I was tired of having the most uninspiring quilt blocks on-line.  I was trying to be traditional and use up some of my older traditional fabric, but it just wasn't working for me....kind of like the first day of 6th grade when I decided to be traditional and wear a dress and NO BODY else wore a dress.  Just wasn't working...

So back to my comfort zone of big florals and happy colors and solids.

Cut (8) 4.5"x4.5" out of a focus fabric for the 4-patch
Cut (8) 4.5"x4.5" out of another coordinating fabric for the 4-patch
Cut (16) 9"x2.5" background fabric for curved set-in pieces

Place QCR on a few 9"x2.5" background pieces.  Center between 1.5" and 10.5" marks and have right side of the stack of pieces on 1" mark.  Make your cut in the cut-out.  Discard small piece on the right. Repeat for all (16) pieces.

 Layout (2) 4.5"x4.5" of each coordinating fabric to make a 4-patch.  Sew together to make a 4-patch.  Repeat to make (4) four-patch blocks which measure 8.5" sq.

How to cut the curved sides on the four-patch:  Center block between the dashed lines and have the left side of the block approximately on the 2 1/4" mark on ruler.  Make sure dashed line above curve cut-out on QCR is at the corner of the four-patch, we are creating seam allowance by cutting inside the corner instead of right to it. Look at the next three pictures for detail.  Repeat on all four sides.

Sew previously cut and curved 9"x2.5" background pieces to opposite sides of block.  Note where the top piece matches up with the bottom piece in the corners to begin sewing.

Sew opposite sides to four patch.  Press seams away from center.

Sew remaining two curved sides to four patch.  Press seams away from center.

Before Pressed

Position ruler on and center as well as possible. (I did not center one of mine very well and it is a little distorted)   Square up block to 8.5"x8.5".

Repeat and make a total of 4 blocks.  Layout four-patches to form a block and join blocks to make rows and join rows to make a block.  Press.

TAKE CARE TO POSITION BLOCKS SO CENTER HAS MATCHING FABRICS.  CHOOSE THE BEST POINTS TO FORM THE CENTER POINTS.

16 1/2" x 16 1/2" 4-Patch Block