Four Patch Quilt Squares - Many at a Time

**Mastering Four Patch Blocks: Efficient Quilting with Rachel**

Hey there, fellow quilting friend! It's Rachel from Journey Back Quilts, and today, we're embarking on a journey back to the basics of quilting. I'm excited to guide you through the process of creating stunning four patch blocks, many at a time. So, let's dive right in and get started on this quilting adventure together!

Prep Your Fabric
To begin, gather your materials. You'll need two strips of each fabric, measuring two and a half inches wide from selvedge to selvedge. Lay out your fabric strips and trim off the selvedges, ensuring clean edges for precise sewing.

Now comes the fun part! Take one light strip and one dark strip, aligning them right sides together. Sew them together with a quarter-inch seam, ensuring the raw edges are matched up perfectly. Chain piecing—sewing one set of strips after another—can help streamline the process and save time.

After sewing, clip apart the connecting threads and head to the ironing board. Press the seams towards the darker fabric to create a crisp finish. Repeat this process with the remaining strips, creating pairs of light and dark strips. Chain piecing allows for efficient sewing and ensures uniformity across your blocks.

With your strips sewn and pressed, it's time to create pairs of strips for the four patch blocks. Place one light strip on top of one dark strip, aligning the seams in the center. Nesting the seams ensures precise alignment and helps achieve perfect points in the finished blocks.

Once aligned, sew a quarter-inch seam along one side of the paired strips. Take care to maintain the alignment of the nested seams throughout the sewing process. After sewing, trim any excess fabric and clip apart the connecting threads.

Head back to the ironing board and press the seams flat. Then, using the spinning seams technique, alternate the direction of the seams to create a mini pinwheel effect at the center of each block. This not only ensures flat seams but also adds visual interest to the finished blocks.

With your blocks complete, it's time to ensure they're sized correctly. Using your ruler, measure the blocks to ensure they're four and a half inches square. Adjust if necessary, but with careful sewing and pressing, squaring up shouldn't be needed. Admire your handiwork and revel in the satisfaction of creating perfect four patch blocks—many at a time!

Now that you've mastered the art of creating four patch blocks, the creative possibilities are endless. Experiment with different color combinations and arrangements to design unique quilt patterns. Whether you create a simple quilt with uniform blocks or mix and match patterns for a more eclectic look, let your creativity shine!

Congratulations on mastering the technique of creating four patch blocks efficiently and accurately! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and found it helpful in your quilting journey. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't hesitate to experiment and explore new techniques.

Thank you for joining me on this quilting adventure. If you're hungry for more quilting tips, tricks, and tutorials, consider joining our Sewciety Quilting Club, where you'll find a wealth of resources to support you every step of the way.

Stay tuned for next week's tutorial, where we'll delve into creating nine patch blocks. Until then, happy quilting!

Rachel - Journey Back Quilts