Explore artistic expression with “Snazzy Stitched Portraits

When
I
started
quilting
years
ago,
I
thought
I
had
to
master
complicated
patterns
before
I
could
call
myself
a
“real
quilter.”
I’d
look
at
those
intricate
star
designs
or
beautifully
pieced
double
wedding
rings
and
think,


that’s
what
quilting
is
supposed
to
be.

Spoiler
alert:
I
was
wrong.
Very
wrong.
What
I
didn’t
realize
back
then
is
that
simple
quilt
blocks
are
the
real
backbone
of
quilting.
They’re
where
most
of
us
start,
and
truthfully,
where
many
of
us
return
when
we
need
something
soothing
and
satisfying.

The
beauty
of
these
easy
quilt
blocks
is
that
they
don’t
require
fancy
rulers
or
decades
of
experience.
With
just
a
rotary
cutter,
some
scraps,
and
a
steady
cup
of
tea,
you
can
create
blocks
that
look
polished
and
come
together
faster
than
you’d
think.
They’re
forgiving
too—perfect
for
practicing
seam
allowances,
experimenting
with
color,
or
just
getting
lost
in
the
rhythm
of
stitching.

Even
after
two
decades
of
quilting
(and
a
sewing
room
full
of
fabric
I


swear

I’ll
use
up
someday),
I
still
come
back
to
these
basics
when
I
want
a
weekend
project
that
feels
fun
rather
than
fussy.
Sometimes
it’s
after
finishing
a
big,
time-consuming
quilt,
and
other
times
it’s
just
because
I
need
a
quick
win.
These
beginner-friendly
quilt
blocks
are
like
old
friends—always
there,
always
reliable,
and
always
leaving
you
with
something
beautiful
when
you’re
done.

So
if
you’ve
got
a
free
weekend
and
a
pile
of
fabric
scraps
calling
your
name,
this
list
of
ten
easy
quilt
blocks
will
give
you
the
perfect
place
to
start.

Probably
the
most
beginner-friendly
quilt
block
ever.
Just
sew
four
squares
together—two
and
two,
then
join
them
into
a
square.
It’s
simple,
forgiving,
and
perfect
for
practicing
consistent
seam
allowances.

Pro
tip:

Try
chain
piecing.
It
saves
time
and
gives
you
rhythm.
I
used
to
do
this
on
Saturday
afternoons
while
my
kids
were
glued
to
cartoons—it’s
almost
meditative.

A
step
up
from
the
four-patch:
three
rows
of
three
squares.
It’s
like
tic-tac-toe
in
fabric
form.
Great
for
mixing
colors
or
balancing
scraps.

SEO
keywords:

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quilt
blocks,
nine
patch
quilt
tutorial.

Strips
of
fabric
sewn
together
and
then
cut
into
squares.
Rotate
the
squares
to
get
that
woven,
fence-like
look.
Works
brilliantly
with
jelly
rolls
or
leftover
binding
strips.

Personal
note:

My
very
first
“big
quilt”
was
a
scrappy
rail
fence
made
from
my
maternity
clothes.
It’s
still
on
the
couch,
a
little
worn
but
full
of
love.

This
block
looks
intimidating
but
is
so
simple.
Place
two
squares
right
sides
together,
draw
a
diagonal
line,
sew
¼”
on
either
side,
and
cut.
Open
them
up
for
two
perfect
triangles.

SEO
keywords:

how
to
make
half-square
triangles,
HST
beginner
quilt.

Made
with
four
HSTs,
this
block
adds
movement
and
a
playful
twist
to
quilts.
It’s
a
favorite
for
baby
quilts
or
cheerful
lap
quilts.

Pro
tip:

Starch
your
fabric
lightly
before
sewing.
It
keeps
your
points
sharp
and
reduces
frustration.

Start
with
a
central
square,
then
sew
strips
around
it
like
building
logs.
It’s
a
classic
design
with
endless
layout
possibilities.

Story
time:

My
grandmother’s
log
cabin
quilt
was
stitched
from
worn
aprons
and
dresses.
She
never
worried
about
matching
prints—each
piece
told
its
own
story,
and
that’s
what
made
it
beautiful.

Made
with
a
mix
of
rectangles
and
HSTs,
this
block
looks
more
advanced
than
it
is.
A
favorite
in
traditional
quilting,
it
stitches
up
quickly
but
looks
impressive.

SEO
keywords:

churn
dash
quilt
block
tutorial,
easy
traditional
quilt
block.

Another
easy
HST
variation.
This
sweet,
simple
design
has
been
passed
between
quilting
circles
for
generations—perfect
when
you’re
making
a
quilt
for
a
friend.

Dating
back
to
the
1800s,
this
classic
block
uses
squares
and
HSTs.
It
works
beautifully
with
bold
prints
and
creates
a
lovely
vintage
look.

Take
strips
of
fabric,
sew
them
together,
then
cut
into
squares.
That’s
it.
It’s
playful,
fast,
and
a
brilliant
scrap
buster.

Pro
tip:

Don’t
overthink
the
color
placement.
Random
can
look
stunning.

These
ten
quilt
blocks
are
more
than
just
beginner
exercises—they’re
the
building
blocks
of
quilting
itself.
You
can
stitch
one
quilt
top
in
a
weekend
or
slowly
add
them
to
your
block
collection
until
you’ve
got
enough
for
something
larger.

Even
now,
when
I
need
a
“palate
cleanser”
after
a
complicated
quilt,
I
come
back
to
these
basics.
They
remind
me
why
I
fell
in
love
with
quilting
in
the
first
place:
the
rhythm
of
stitching,
the
joy
of
color,
and
the
comfort
of
creating
something
by
hand.

So
grab
your
scraps,
brew
a
cuppa,
and
sew
yourself
a
win
this
weekend.
You’ll
be
amazed
at
how
quickly
your
skills
(and
your
quilt
stack)
grow.