Sew Scrappy Squares and Modern Squares

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

Sew Scrappy Squares and Modern Squares

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How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

If you sew, chances are that fabric scraps abound in your sewing area. Don’t worry about storing scraps; sew them! Use my Change-Up Patchwork techniques to create quilt projects with contemporary designs. Watch the second episode of Change-up Patchwork online to see all the details!

Scrappy Square Quilt

This scrappy square design was made from leftover fabric. My staff and I auditioned what was stored away. Then, we turned coordinating fabrics into an ideal kids’ quilt. Learn how to stitch the square within a square design, using simple strip piecing techniques. Watch online to see how it’s done!

  • Assemble square within a square blocks with large centers. Cut 4-1/2″ crosswise strips for the centers and  1/1-2″ crosswise strips for the sides. The blocks are 6-1/2″.

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

  • Then, create again as many 6-1/2″ squares with small centers. All strips are cut 2-1/2″ wide for this easy block.

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

The layout is simple—alternate the blocks!

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

Scattered Squares

Now it’s time for artistic expression. The Scattered Squares Table Runner features four different block configurations that are mixed and matched to create a conversation piece. Watch online or read in the book how to design your own square within a square block with the use of “old school” graph paper.

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

Four different scattered-square blocks were used in this table runner:

  • Square within a square with a large center

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

  • Square within a square with a small center

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

  • Square within a square with a medium, offset center

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

  • Square within a square with a small, offset center

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy ZiemanDeciding on the arrangement took the most time!

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

Flip Flopped Rectangles Quilt

Designing quilt blocks is as much fun as sewing them—I call this design, Flip Flopped Rectangles. Replace a square with a rectangle to create a modern look. The skill set is the same, but the strip sizes have changed.

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

All the blocks featured in this blog and on the Sewing With Nancy TV episode are strip pieced. Square or rectangular blocks are all pieced using the same techniques. Half the blocks have a vertical contrast…

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

…the other half of the blocks have a horizontal contrast.

How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy Zieman

To keep with the modern look, I chose not to add a border. The quilt is finished with a traditional binding. Do you like it?How to make a square within a square quilt block, Nancy ZiemanBook Features Nine Great Quilts

Find these easy 4-patch quilts, and six additional quilts, in the new Change-Up Patchwork Book and DVD or in the Change-Up Patchwork Starter Set.

How to Sew Easy Four-Patch Quits by Nancy Zieman on the TV Show Sewing With Nancy TV Show

Watch Change-Up Patchwork Part Two and Part One on Sewing With Nancy online.

Nancy’s Notions is giving away one copy of the book, Change-Up Patchwork. Leave a comment below to enter the giveaway, telling us which of these designs you’d like to make.

How to Sew Easy Four-Patch Quits by Nancy Zieman on the TV Show Sewing With Nancy TV Show

The randomly selected winner of a copy of my new McCall’s M7600 Color-Blocked Top, from  The McCall Pattern Company is Rosie.

Her comment was, “I love these tops. The color blocking looks so striking. It’s given me lots of ideas. Thanks for the help.”

M7600 Nancy Zieman 1

Bye for now,

Nancy Zieman The Blog

Content in this feed is © copyright 2015 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission. You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as content on a blog or other website.
Make sure you are subscribed to my enews mailing list so you won’t miss a thing. Sign up here. Join us on Facebook, plus a host of other social media channels. Connect With Nancy today!

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65 Comments

  • Patti Serenko
    June 29, 2017

    I would like to make the scrappy squares quilt to use a lot of leftovers and not need a theme.I also would make the scattered square table runner. I want something wintry but not holiday looking.

  • Anne Z.
    June 29, 2017

    I love the flip flopped rectangles block. I would like to make it with a modern print and coordinating solid color.

  • Ennis A
    June 29, 2017

    I love the Scrappy Square Quilt. It doesn’t look scrappy at all!!! All are nice!!

  • Rosalyn Schultze
    June 29, 2017

    I would make the Scattered Squares Table Runner in bright, clear colors with a grey background for the dining table in my contemporary home. With the variety of size squares, it makes an interesting and eye-catching quilt.

  • Thunder
    June 29, 2017

    Flip Flopped Rectangles is wonderful. Thanks for the chance.

  • Fran
    June 29, 2017

    As a newbie to quilting but a seamstress for years, I have loads of scraps and love the idea of how to use them. This is neat. I think I’ll try a table runner or unmatching but complementary placemats. Hmmm.

  • Lois Taber
    June 29, 2017

    Watching you, Nancy, perform the step-by-step method for a scrappy quilt really helps me visualize how to do it on my own. So when I sit down and begin sewing I run the camera of your steps in my mind to help me sew in a easy, simple manner. It increases my confidence!

  • BevM
    June 29, 2017

    I like the multi-colored scrappy square quilt idea the best.

  • Nancy Wrenn
    June 29, 2017

    I love the scrappy squares! That may be my next project! Will use up a lot of scrap fabric. Love your show!

  • Rosalind Gutierrez
    June 29, 2017

    The Scrappy Squares would be ideal to make a quilt out of my pile of scraps.

  • Margaret Schenk
    June 29, 2017

    Isn’t it amazing what you can do with a few strips of fabric?

  • Valerie Thompson
    June 29, 2017

    I like the scattered squares because it looks scrappy and who doesn’t have scraps?

  • ilana
    June 29, 2017

    i would like to make the flip flopped rectangles and the scattered squares.

  • Lisa Toth
    June 29, 2017

    I love the look of these quilts!
    The flip flop rectangles in gray and pink took me right back to the 50’s the moment I saw it.
    Might have to make one. LOL

  • Julie Kill
    June 29, 2017

    It’s amazing that a simple technique like varying the size of an accent piece in a square is so Striking! I want to make the Scattered Squares!

  • linda
    June 29, 2017

    I really like the modern quilts!

  • Pat
    June 29, 2017

    I’d love to make the scattered squares table runner. It is especially nice with that beautiful center square in the illustration. I do have some wonderful scraps of a great focus fabric for the center square and think this method is very attractive. As always, thanks for the great ideas and the chance to win the book.

  • Robert L
    June 29, 2017

    Just what my wife needs a scrap buster. No I am kidding. I like the look of scrap quilts.

  • Savannagal
    June 29, 2017

    I really love that Scrappy Square quilt. Such a good use of small pieces, but not overly difficult for beginners. I would love to win your book. I love love love your show. Thanks so much for sharing your skills with the world.

  • OHSue
    June 29, 2017

    I would love to expand the Scattered Squares into a lap size quilt, wouldn be really fun to make it in Christmas fabrics to toss on the back of the sofa for the holidays. Easy enough to finish before the holidays!

  • JoAnne
    June 29, 2017

    Hmmmm. Interesting. Everybody’s got all of these scraps going on.
    Makes me feel like I need to focus.

  • Cherie
    June 29, 2017

    I have more scarps than I know to do with. This book would really help me. Thank you.

  • Bonnie
    June 29, 2017

    I love the Scrappy Squares table runner and would make it in several different color combinations. Sewing With Nancy books are fantastic. Thanks for the great giveaway!

  • Brenda Ackerman
    June 29, 2017

    I would love to make the Scrappy Squares Quilt! A great quilter friend of mine gave me a bags and bags of big pieces of her scraps that she does not want.

  • Linda E in AZ
    June 29, 2017

    I’d make the Flip-flopped Rectangles quilt. These look like great quilts to make for our guild community quilting efforts. We get so many small pieces of fabric and need creative ideas for using them up.
    Thanks!

  • Donna W
    June 29, 2017

    Scrappy Squares catches my eye and would be the first one that I would choose. Thanks for the chance.

  • Lynn M Kuitems
    June 29, 2017

    Thanks so much for this great idea. I have a pile of squares of many colors and I sure could use my strings of different widths too. I love making scrap quilts using left-over fabric. I have made many so far and now another idea for another quilt is wonderful.

  • beth d.
    June 29, 2017

    I love doing scrappy quilts. would love to have this book.

  • laura
    June 29, 2017

    I love them all but would make the scrappy squares 1st

  • Clovis
    June 29, 2017

    The Scrappy quilt would be good to use up all those scraps. Thanks for the chance to enter.

  • Audrey Lefkowitz
    June 29, 2017

    I have a large stash collection and these quilts look very colorful and would help me get rid of some of the stash .

  • Ann Scott
    June 29, 2017

    Your change up patchwork really gets my creative mind going! So many possibilities, Scrappy and planned! Thanks!

  • Florence Dupuis
    June 29, 2017

    I would like to try flip-flopped squares and scrappy squares. They would work up fast and make great Christmas gifts.

  • SHARON C.
    June 29, 2017

    Nancy, love the scrappy square quilt. I like the idea of putting fabrics together to make a colorful quilt and to use up the scraps (and new) that you have on hand. That is my goal this year – use all the fabric and yarn that I have on hand.

  • karen granoff
    June 29, 2017

    I would love to make the flipped flopped rectangles. Love the modern look.

  • Patricia Foht
    June 29, 2017

    I really like them all, but would love to try the scrappy square quilt first. I need a jumpstart to get myself back into quilting.
    Thanks for the inspiration Nancy.

  • Lynne Hoyt
    June 29, 2017

    I like the freedom of contemporary quilting. This adds to the idea of letting the fabric ‘speak.’ There are no wrongs!

  • S Carter
    June 29, 2017

    Nancy, you have made it so easy for me to see how these scrap quilt blocks were made. I really like the table runner and its contemporary pattern. Thanks for making piecing so easy.

  • Jan N.
    June 29, 2017

    Scattered Squares and Scrappy Blocks are my top favorites. I love the random look of the way the blocks are arranged in the table runner.

  • Patricia Tharp
    June 29, 2017

    The Flip Flopped Rectangles looks like a really fun quilt to make.

  • Mary Green
    June 29, 2017

    I like the flip-flop rectangles design but with all my scrappy stash, I may have to make the square within a square quilt first. Thanks for the ideas. I always start my quilts out on graph paper. I have tablets full of possible designs, some were no-go but others help me remember what I made in years past. I always enjoy your shows/videos, Nancy. Thank you and God bless…

  • Nancy Taylor
    June 29, 2017

    I would like to try the “Flip Flops ” first. There are some cute baby fabrics that I would like to try for my Great granddaughter.
    thanks
    Nancy T

  • Susan Robertson
    June 29, 2017

    I have watched your change up patchwork series many times and as a relatively new quilter i am inspired with the concepts presented. I would like to start with the scattered square design but make it as a lap throw, I love the size variation of the square in square blocks.

  • Susan Spiers
    June 29, 2017

    The Square Within a Square really catches my eye, especially the small offset squares. I envision loads of choices for the fussy cut centers-great ideas! Thank you, Susan

  • Martie in CA
    June 29, 2017

    I love the pink and purple quilt. And the technique also. I am self taught and always do things the hard way. The book sounds like it will inspire and teach me to create things a little easier. The first quilt is striking too with the variety of prints and colors.

  • Sharon Buffington
    June 29, 2017

    I REALLY NEED to make the Scrappy Squares Quilt. I have lots of SCRAPS to use. My next project would use the flip flop rectangles. Wow!! Can’t wait to get started. Please pick me!!!

  • JoAnn C.
    June 29, 2017

    I like the scrappy squares, the way they pop is really neat.

  • Edna Marks
    June 29, 2017

    Love the scrappy squares, have a lot of scraps I would like to use and this is perfect.

  • Lois M.
    June 29, 2017

    I like the Scrappy Square Quilt the best and think that would be the most fun and most enjoyable to make. Thank you for the good ideas.

  • Lois M.
    June 29, 2017

    I like the Scrappy Square Quilt the best and think it would be fun and enjoyable to make. Lots of scraps could be used in this quilt. Thank you for all of the good ideas.

  • Roseshop
    June 29, 2017

    Definitely the Scrappy Squares, because I can begin to use up a whole room of fabrics from years past! I like them all – easy, quick quilts for friends and family, just “because”.

  • Carol
    June 29, 2017

    The scrappy square quilt is so colorful and just looks happy to me! That would be my choice.

  • Mary Ann Stauffacher
    June 29, 2017

    I have scraps just waiting for the patterns described in this book so please send it my way. Love your books, TV shows, blogs, etc. Nancy is the best.

  • Gail Beam
    June 29, 2017

    I love the scrappy square quilt. It would make a great tote bag or vest.

  • Christi
    June 30, 2017

    The Flip Flop Rectangle quilt in a scrappy look would be a fun one to make.

  • Linda Harbin
    June 30, 2017

    I love the scrappy quilt. Our small group makes quilt for Winnie Palmer Hospital and I think this pattern will make some little boy or girl very happy.

  • Darlene M. Lennox
    June 30, 2017

    I ‘d love to do 4 patch flip flop quilt . The colors that could be used would be amazing. The your show when I can see it .

  • Linda Edwards
    June 30, 2017

    I like the scrappy squares best. Thanks for all of your ideas and inspiration!

  • Marie Kozma
    June 30, 2017

    My teenage niece wants a more modern quilt and really likes the scrappy look. I think this will be something she would really like. It would make a great graduation gift too!

  • Edith Cameron McMillen
    June 30, 2017

    Love the quilts, would be so much fun to sew!

  • Peggy S
    June 30, 2017

    I love scrappy quilts and have one my grandmother made. The scrappy squares quilt will make a great dent in my scrap boxes and baskets. Thank you for another great idea.

  • Doreen Linehan
    July 2, 2017

    I really like the Flip Flopped Rectangle Quilt. I love the pink and grey combination.

  • Posy Havens
    July 4, 2017

    I think the scrappy square quilt would work well for a group charity quilt. Thanks!

  • ari9e acDonald
    July 7, 2017

    I love your napkins and table runners especially, also scrappy quilt and would like these.
    Marie Macdonald

  • info
    September 28, 2017

    This is really awesome as well as what I was researching. I am greatly grateful for this.

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