Wagon Wheel Quilt Block

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And, no, it wasn’t always called the Wagon Wheel! Here it is in 1935. The Quilt Block to the right is probably c1900, but I don’t know what the maker called it.

The Wagon Wheel Quilt Block

Before starting this project, I recommend that you press your fabric with spray sizing. It will make it easier to cut small pieces. Take the time to clean your machine, put in a new needle, and fill a few bobbins. When pressing, just hold the iron over a spot for a moment or two. This pattern assumes a perfect 1/4” seam.

To make this block, you will need:

• (8) background 3″ squares, (2) 2-1/2″ squares, and (4) 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangles
• (4) dk blue 3-3/8″ squares, and (4) 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangles
• (2) green 2-1/2″ squares

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Make the center four-patch by sewing the 2-1/2″ green and the 2-1/2″ background squares in (2) rows of two each. Press to the dark. Sew the rows together and press the seam open. Square this up to 4-1/2″. In the picture below, I pressed the center seam open but in retrospect, I should have swirled it.

To twirl your seams on the back finger press them so they go around in a circle. You will need to pick out a couple of stitches at the intersection to get these twirled seams to lay flat. You know you have done it right if you see a teeny tiny four patch made by the right side of the fabric at the intersection.

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To make the square-in-a-square corners, cut the (8) background 3″ squares on the diagonal to make (16) triangles. Sew a triangle to opposite sides of the (4) dk blue 3-3/8″ squares. Press.

Sew a triangle to the remaining sides of the squares.

To keep your points sharp, aim for the X when sewing a seam.

Press and square up to 4-1/2″.

Sew a dk blue 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangle to a background 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangle the long way. Make (4) sets and press to the dark.

Sew these between (2) square-in-a-square blocks as shown below to make the top and bottom row of the block. Press. Sew the remaining (2) to both sides of the four-patch block. Press.

Sew the three rows together, taking care not to overlap the seams at the intersection. Give your block one final press and square it up to 12-1/2″.

You are done! Use your block in a quilt, or set it on point and make it into a mini-quilt. Enjoy!

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