Three-Dimensional
Patchwork™
by Jackie Robinson
Learn to fold fabric pieces for creative quilt blocks.
Folding fabric and leaving the folds exposed to make patchwork blocks is
not a new idea, although it is currently seeing a revival of interest. The first quilt I
saw with raised, dimensional patchwork was a 1930s quilt that, unfortunately, wasn't
signed. I've enjoyed experimenting with the concept of folded patchwork for the past
couple of years and have found it's not only tons of fun but it also adds a degree of
whimsy to the blocks, making them special.
Here are some of the basic fold you can use in the blocks. After trying
them, you're sure to come up with numerous variations on the theme Three Dimensional
Patchwork™.
The Seam Allowances
When making these blocks, I use two different seam allowances. The first
is a securing seam. Its purpose is to hold the layers together for later construction. A
securing seam is sewn with a seam allowance of 1/8" or less, very close to the raw
edges. When you stitch a securing seam, you'll always be looking at the right side of the
fabrics.
The second seam is the construction seam and it's a "scant"
1/4". I define scant as about two threads less than a full 1/4" seam. That's not
much, but a scant 1/4" seam is really important on these pieces because of their
multiple layers. Construction seams are used when you're piecing units together. When you
stitch a construction seam, you'll always be looking at the wrong side of the fabrics.
No Pressing
When building Three Dimensional Patchwork, I don't press units. After
all, that would flatten the dimensional effect. Once a block is completed, I often gently
steam the wrong side, being careful to direct the seams with my fingers rather than the
flat of the iron and carefully avoiding steam burns.
Follow along to make 8 different folded units and blocks and enjoy the
results. Fabrics are referred to as Background, which are usually the pieces that remain
flat, and Color, which are usually the pieces that form the folded designs. Specific sizes
are used in these directions, but you can easily change them to suit your personal needs.
The Half-Square Triangle
- Cut one 2 1/2" square of Color and one 2 1/2" square of Background.
- Fold the Color square in half diagonally, right side out.
- Place the folded Color square on the right side of the Background square, raw edges
aligned.
- Stitch a securing seam (1/8" or less) along the two edges, as shown.
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The Snowball Corner
- Cut one 2 1/2" square of Color and one 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle of
Background.
- Fold a Color square in half diagonally, right side out.
- Place it on one end of the Background rectangle, raw edges aligned.
- Stitch a securing seam. NOTE: You may want also stitch the folded Color Square to
one corner of a 4 1/2" Background Square for a variation.
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Double Snowball Corners
- Cut two 2 1/2" squares of Color and one 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle of
Background.
- Fold both Color squares in half diagonally, as before.
- Place the Color squares on the Background rectangle at opposite ends.
- As you stitch a securing seam, gently tuck one of the overlapping corners of the Color
squares under the other. When this is stitched into a block the "tuck" will be
hidden in the seam allowance. NOTE: This is a great folded unit to use in
Eight-Pointed Stars.
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Flying Goose
- Cut one 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle of Color and two 2 1/2" squares of
Background.
- Fold the Color rectangle in half, right side out, so it measures 2 1/2" x 2
1/4".
- Place this folded Color piece on the right side of one of the Background squares, raw
edges aligned. You'll notice the fold of the Color piece is 1/4" shorter than the
Background.
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- Place the remaining Background square on top of the Color piece, right side down. Stitch
along the side edge with a scant 1/4" construction seam. Be certain to stitch a side
which catches the fold in the seamline.
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- Open the unit and work the Color piece into a triangle with your fingers. Stitch a
securing seam along the base of the triangle. NOTE: To determine the length of the
rectangle, double the size of the background square and subtract 1/2".
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Star Point Unit
- Cut two 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles of Color and two 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"
rectangles of Background.
- Fold a Color rectangle in half, right side out, so it measures 2 1/2" x 2
1/4".
- Place it between the two background rectangles, right sides together and raw edges
aligned. The fold of the Color piece will be at the center of the two Background
rectangles.
- Stitch along the long side with a construction seam, stopping with the needle down just
before reaching the fold of the Color piece. Fold the remaining Color rectangle as before
and also place it between the two Background pieces at the opposite end, allowing the two
folds to meet but not overlap in the center.
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- Continue stitching to complete the seam. Open the unit and work each Color piece into a
triangle with your fingers. Stitch a securing seam along the base of each triangle. This
forms a Star Point unit, also called a Quarter-Square Triangle.
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The Pinwheel
- Cut four 2 1/2" squares of Color and four 2 1/2" squares of Background.
- Fold each Color square in half diagonally, right side out. Then fold each in half
diagonally again.
- Place the base of one of these folded Color triangles on the right side of a Background
square, edges aligned. Stitch a securing seam to complete a Pinwheel Part. Make four.
(This is actually a Prairie Point attached to a Background square.)
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- Sew the Pinwheel Parts together to make a Pinwheel block, as shown.
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The Bow Tie
- Cut three 2 1/2" squares of Color and two 2 1/2" squares of Background.
- Fold one square of Color in half, right side out, so it measures 2 1/2" x 1
1/4". Place it on top of a square of Color, right side up and raw edges aligned at
the top.
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- Place a square of Background on these, right side down. Stitch along the right side with
a construction seam.
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- Open these pieces out. The folded Color piece will extend beyond the seam.
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- Sandwich the extended Color piece between the two remaining squares, raw edges aligned
and fabric positions reversed (this time the Color is on top).
- Stitch the side with a construction seam.
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- Open these pieces out. When opened, this unit appears to have a "bridge." Be
certain the fabric positions are correct.
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- Work the edges of the "bridge" open to match the seams and make the squares
come together in a Four Patch.
- Stitch across the unit with a construction seam, catching the "bridge" piece
in the seamline.
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- Open the Four Patch out to form a Bow Tie block.
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On-Point Center Square
NOTE: This fold is exactly like a Bow Tie except only the center square is Color
and it's twice as large as the four Background squares.
- Cut one 4 1/2" square of Color and four 2 1/2" Background squares.
- Fold the Color square in half, right side out. Keeping all raw edges even, sandwich each
end between the right sides of two background squares. Stitch a construction seam along
each end.
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- Open the unit and work the edges of the "bridge" open to match the seams and
make the squares come together as you did for the Bow Tie.
- Stitch across the unit with a construction seam, catching the "bridge" piece
in the seamline.
- Open the pieces out to form a square in the center. NOTE: I like to use on-point
Center Squares in stars.
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- There are many other ways to fold fabric to create Three-Dimensional Patchwork. You're
sure to have fun learning this simple technique and creating designs that use it.
- Shown to the right are a few more ideas to get you started.
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For more information about Jackie Robinson and her designs, please visit
her website, www.animas.com.
Back to Current Quilting "How-To" Class.
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