Beginners Class/Four Pieced Squares

Quilting "How-To" Class

Make Four Pieced Squares the Easy Way

by Nancy Roberts

Add another easy sewing method to your repertoire!

Pinwheel, Churn Dash, Contrary Wife Pieced squares are practically a staple in any quilter's array of construction methods. And there are lots of different ways to stitch them, from mass production methods to piecing them on paper. Each one is useful, depending on your project needs. This method yields four matching pieced squares and it's ideal when making scrappy quilts with blocks such as Pinwheel, Churn Dash or Contrary Wife.

Cut two squares of fabric in the proper size, keeping the sides along the bias grain. NOTE: It is necessary to cut the square on the bias so the outer edges of the finished pieced squares will be on the straight grain.
Place the squares right sides together, and pin at the center to secure them. Stitch around all four sides, sewing 1/4" from the edges. Remove the pin and press the square to set the stitches.
Cut the square from corner to corner to yield 2 triangles.
Align the cut edge of one triangle with a horizontal line on your ruler and cut through the center to yeild 2 triangles. Cut the remaining triangle in half in the same manner.
Open and press each pieced square so that the seam allowance lies toward the darker fabric. Trim the "dog ears" (small triangles extending beyond the pieced squares) and use the pieced squares in your project.

Refer to the chart to determine the size for the finished pieced squares and how large to cut the fabric squares.

Chart of Cut Sizes
Finished Pieced Squares	Cut size of Bias Squares (Cut 2)
1/2"	2"
3/4"	2 3/8"
1"	2 3/4"
1 1/4"	3"
1 1/2"	3 3/8"
2"	4 1/8"

You may want to know

The formula for determining the size to cut fabric squares for this method is a bit different than other formulas you may be familiar with. Knowing the formula will enable you to make pieced squares in any size you wish.

Follow along with the example for a 2" pieced square. You need to know the length of the diagonal in the pieced square. To determing this, multiply the size of one side of the finished square by 1.414. This is the finished length of the diagonal. Add 1 1/4" (1.25) to this number to determine the size of the square to cut. To make odd numbers easy to cut, round them up to the nearest 1/8". We've included a handy coversion table for 1/8" increments.

Finished size of one side	x formula	= length of diagonal	+ formula	= Size of cut square (round up to nearest 1/8")
2"	x 1.414	= 2.828	+ 1.25	= 4.078 (4 1/8")

Conversion Table for 1/8" Increments

1/8" = 0.125

1/4" = 0.25

3/8" = 0.375

1/2" = 0.5

5/8" = 0.625

3/4" = 0.75

7/8" = 0.875

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