Stone Block
Hop Block
Making Skipping Stones was so much fun. Why? The large blocks were a blast to make from units that were made in multiples. What does that mean? Strip piecing was used to make Four Patch. Half Square Triangles (HST) were made two at a time. Flying Geese were made four at a time. Cat’s Cradle were made two at a time. Besides the wow factor, what is the big deal with making multiples?
Strip piecing Four Patch blocks together is pretty simple. Sewing one long seam is much easier than several shorter seams. This make strip piecing faster and a little more accurate.
The other units (HST, Flying Geese and Cat’s Cradle) are a little different. These three blocks have one very important thing in common. They all have triangles, which are bias cuts. Bias cuts can stretch much more than straight cuts (like strip piecing four patch). Even with liberal starching, they can stretch and be more difficult to keep square. When making these in multiples, all of the initial cuts are straight. Then, seams are sewn on the diagonal. The diagonal cuts are made after the diagonal stitches stabilize the fabric. This method not only minimizes tiny pieces, but also the instability of bias cuts.
Can you find the HST and Cat’s Cradle in the Stone Block? Can you find the Flying Geese in the Hop Block?
Do you want to learn more about making multiples? If so, I have a few YouTube videos that demonstrate the techniques.
- Half Square Triangles – two at a time
- Flying Geese – four at a time
- Cat’s Cradle – two at a time
If you would like to see the speedy version of the block assembly, you can watch them here: Stone Block and Hop Block. The final quilt is shown below.
Does this whet your appetite for making Skipping Stones? I hope so. The fabric is absolutely beautiful and the blocks are fun to make. The pattern is available in our shop now. We hope you will enjoy it as much as we did!
Happy Quilting!
Laureen
