• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Training Academy Login
  • Subscribe

Alanda Craft

Quilting & Craft Tutorials, Reviews & More


  • Quilting
    • Quilting Tutorials
    • Quilting Blocks
    • Quilting Products
    • Quilting How To’s
    • Quilting Panels
  • ScanNCut
    • Brother ScanNCut Tutorials
    • ScanNCut DX
    • Canvas Workspace
    • ScanNCut Reviews
    • The Big List of Brother ScanNCut Tutorials
    • Brother Scan n Cut News & Updates
  • Sewing Projects
    • Bag Tutorials
    • Cushion Tutorials
    • Quick Projects
  • Paper Crafts
    • Paper Tutorials
    • Junk Journals
    • Mini Albums
    • Die Cutting Machines
    • Paper Craft Reviews
  • Tools We Love
    • Quilting Tools We Use
    • Top 10 Quilting Tools for Beginners
    • Our Favourite Sources for Graphics, SVG’s, Photos and More
  • Readers Projects
  • Submit Your Project

Quilt Block: Fools Square Quilt Block

Alanda Craft February 15, 2017 4 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

Tweet
Pin3K
Share3
3K Shares

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,craft, sewing

I really like how this square comes together. I did start out doing the center checkerboard in the usual way by cutting the strips of fabric across the width of the fabric. But decided that as I was only making the two squares it was just as easy to cut the fabric into the squares required.

Watch the video tutorial below or scroll down for the written instructions

I have just used 2 contrasting fabrics because I think it shows the pattern off nicely. But as always you can use as many colors as you wish.

Note: All seams are sewn with a ¼” seam allowance.

These instructions make a 10″ finished block.

What You Need:

Fabric 1 (white):

  • 8 squares @ 2½” x 2½”
  • 6 squares @ 3″ x 3″

Fabric 2 (green):

  • 5 squares @ 2½” x 2½”
  • 6 squares @ 3″ x 3″

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting, sewing, craft

TOOLS USED IN THIS TUTORIAL

You can check the latest prices at Amazon by clicking on the links below:

  • Olfa 24″ x 36″ double sided healing mat
  • Quilters slidelock
  • Olfa 60mm rotary cutter
  • Oliso Iron
  • Gutermann Sew All thread

Method

Make up the center block first.

  • Take the 2 ½” squares and layout in a checkerboard pattern as per the image below.
  •  Place the first two squares in row 1 one on top of the other with right sides facing.
  • Sew the squares together with a ¼” seam.

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,sewing,craft

  • Add the next square to the first two with right sides facing
  • Sew the squares together with a ¼” seam.
  •  Sew the other two rows in the same manner.

fools-square-quilt block, quilting,sewing,craft

Sew the rows together.

  • Place the top row on top of the next row down, right sides together
  •  Sew the rows together with a ¼” seam.
  • Do the same for the last row.

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,craft,sewing

  •  Press the seams as shown below.

fools-square-quilt-block,lquilting,craft,sewing

  •  Put the center piece aside.

Make the Half Square Triangles.

  • Take one 3″ square (white).
  • Draw a line on one piece, across the diagonal from corner to corner.
  • Place on top of a contrasting colored (green) square and neatly match up the edges.
  • Pin to hold in place.

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,craft,sewing

  • Sew a seam line ¼” on either side of the drawn line.

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,craft,sewing

  • Slice the square across the diagonal on the drawn line.

fools-square-quilt-block,craft,sewing,quilting

  • This gives you 2 half square triangles.

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,sewing,craft

  • Press the seams to the dark side.

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,craft,sewing

  • Trim the half square triangles to 2½”.
  • If you are unsure of how to do this here is a link to our video on how to do it.

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,sewing,craft

Lay out the pieces to form the pattern.

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,craft,sewing

  • Sew the side pieces together. Place the top square on top of the next square and sew together,

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,craft,sewing

  • Sew the last square to the other two squares
  • Do the same with the other side pieces.

fools-square-quilt-block,sewing,quilting,craft

  • Sew the side pieces to the centre piece.

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,craft,sewing

  •  Press the seams towards the centre.

fools-square-quilt=block,sewing,quilting,craft

  • Sew the top and bottom rows in the following manner.
  • Place the first two squares one on top of the other, right sides together and sew with a ¼” seam.
  • Do the same with the last two squares in the row

fools-square-quilt-block,craft,quilting,sewing

  • Sew the middle square to the first two squares that you have sewn together.
  • Right sides together.
  • Then sew the last two squares to the middle square.
  •  This forms the top row.
  • Repeat the process for the bottom row.

fools-square-quilt-block,craft,sewing,quilting

  • Press the outside seams towards the outer edge.
  • Press the middle seams towards the centre.
  • See photo below.

fools-square-quilt-block,quilting,craft,sewing

  • Sew the top and bottom rows to the centre block.
  • Lay the top row over the centre block, right sides together.
  • Sew with a ¼” seam.
  • Repeat with the bottom row.

fools-square-quilt-block,craft,sewing,quilting

  • The Fools Square quilt block is now finished.
image_pdfimage_print

Filed Under: Quilting Blocks Tagged With: craft, fools square quilt block, quilt block, quilting, sewing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pat Gaitten says

    December 30, 2018 at 2:37 am

    Looks great, but what is the finished size of completed square?

    Reply
    • Alanda says

      December 30, 2018 at 9:39 am

      It is a 10″ finished block. We wrote it at the very top of the post Pat, just under the video. I just added the word ‘finished’ to it though to clarify.

      Reply
      • Lulu says

        May 23, 2019 at 10:05 am

        When making a hospice quilt how many of these blocks should I make?

        Reply
        • Alanda says

          May 23, 2019 at 11:58 am

          These are a 10″ finished block so it just depends on how wide you want your quilt to be. So if you want your quilt to be 40″ across by 50″ down then you would need 20 squares. Plus you would need to think about whether your are going to add borders so you would need to take the sizing of that into account as well.

          Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

FOLLOW US!

  • Amazon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Welcome to Alanda Craft - We are Wanda & Paula, two friends who love to craft. Our goal is to show you techniques on how to improve your crafting skills. Learn how to use your ScanNCut, your Dream Machine, make quilts and create quick and easy sewing projects! Learn, Create, Enjoy!

Recent Posts

  • Quick and Easy Santa Sack
  • Readers Project: Carols 3D Christmas Card 2023
  • The Squares Strip Quilt With Fabric From Cotton Cuts
  • Jelly Roll Race Baby Quilt – Tutorial
  • Our xTool Screen Printer Review

Popular Posts

10 Ways to Use Up Your Fabric Scraps – Easy Projects169K Total Shares
Quilting for Beginners – The Easiest Quilt Ever – Step-by-Step Tutorial114K Total Shares
Machine Binding a Quilt: A Step-by-Step Illustrated Guide for Beginners (with video)91K Total Shares
Origami Fabric Bag Tutorial: Easy to Make Market Tote Bag87K Total Shares
How to Make a Pinwheel Hexagon Quilt Block67K Total Shares
Easy Quilted Christmas (or Fall) Table Runner53K Total Shares
Crumb Quilt Technique Tutorial – Crumb Quilting51K Total Shares
Quilt As You Go Quilt With Sashing – Reversible Quilt45K Total Shares
Quick & Easy Pot Holder Tutorial – Using Layer Cake Squares35K Total Shares
Quilt Block: Jack in the Box Quilt Block Tutorial35K Total Shares

Footer

  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
Copyright 2020 - Alanda Craft - AlandaCraft.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.