Rolling Squares Quilt Block - Free Tutorial
Today let's sew together a Rolling Squares quilt block. This block is a variation of the Rolling Stones quilt block. It's fairly easy - if you can snowball a corner, you're good to go! Let's get sewing!
Fabric Requirements for a 12" Finished Rolling Squares Quilt Block:
- Light/Ivory: 1 - 4.5" square, and 24 - 2.5" squares
- Medium/Peach: 4 - 4.5" blocks, and 4 - 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles
- Dark/Green: 4 - 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles
Sewing Directions:
Square in a Square Units:
Step 1:
Using 16 of the Light/Ivory 2.5" squares and the 4 Medium/Peach 4.5" squares, sew together four Square in a Square units as shown below. You can find the tutorial for making a basic Square in a Square block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-square-in-a-square-block
Flying Geese Units:
Step 2:
Next make four Flying Geese units using the eight remaining Light/Ivory 2.5" squares and the Medium/Peach 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles as shown in the picture below. You can find my tutorial for sewing a Flying Geese block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-flying-geese-block
Step 3:
Match up a Step 2 Flying Geese unit with a Dark/Green 2.5" x 4.5" rectangle as shown below.
Step 4:
Now sew the two patches together and press the seam allowance toward the Medium/Green fabric as shown in the picture below. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for a total of four units.
Putting It All Together:
Step 5:
Lay out the Square in a Square units, the Step 4 units, and the Light/Ivory 4.5" square as shown below. From here the Rolling Squares block goes together like a typical Nine Patch block.
Step 6:
Sew the patches into three rows as shown in the picture below.
Step 7:
Press the seam allowances. Here you can see that I pressed the seam allowances toward the Step 4 units.
Step 8:
Now you can sew the three rows together.
Step 9:
Press the seam allowances away from the center of the block and you're done!
Layout Ideas:
This is a basic 4 x 4 layout using colors similar to the tutorial. Lots of diamonds!
This is the same layout but with 1" sashing and cornerstones added.
Here's an alternating layout where every other block is plain except for a triangle that lines up with the side triangles on the main block. I think this is my favorite layout as it really shows a "rolling" square design.
For another alternating design a Snowball block is used for the alternating block.
And another alternating design using the Snowball block. I colored the Rolling Squares block differently to create a star design.
This is an example of an alternating on-point layout using the same alternating block as in the third example above. The alternate block is also used in the setting triangles.
This on-point example has narrow (1") sashing and cornerstones in a coordinating color and plain blocks for the setting triangles. I also colored the block so that a star pattern emerges.
Conclusion:
The Rolling Squares quilt block went together easily and quickly. It was fun! I probably should have had the medium and dark fabrics reversed but I still like the way it turned out.
I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial for the Rolling Squares quilt block. If you liked this post and want to see more quilting tutorials like this, simply click HERE to sign up for my newsletter and also receive a free PDF quilt pattern called Chained Weathervane.
Happy Quilting!
Elaine
P.S. To figure out yardage for a quilt, check out this post: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-much-fabric-do-i-need
P.P.S. Looking for more easy blocks? Take a look at these fun block tutorials: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/tagged/tutorials_beginning-blocks
P.P.P.S. Check out my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406