Bean There, Clue Two – the Cat’s Cradle Quilt Block
How to Make a Cat’s Cradle Quilt Block
This is the block we are making.
I used this method in the free Follow Me Fish Quilt Block and Pattern. Since there is a detailed tutorial on that page, I am not going repeat it here. This block is very similar to the Shaded Four-Patch block. The tutorial for that block shows a fourth method of making it. I would recommend looking it over just in case you like that method the best.
Method One uses HSTs
How easy is this! Just 2-1/2″ (unfinished) squares. You will have an awful lot of seams, though. The block finishes to 4-1/2″ square. I recommend pressing seams open or twirling them to keep bulk down.
method two uses HSTs
This method starts the same way as the Shaded Four-Patch block but instead of the square at one end, you use an HST. This gets a bit tricky. You need to make sure the point is going in the correct direction. (Ask me how I know…)
Make a test block first!
To make the unit in the graphic above, you would sew a 2-1/2″ unfinished Orange HST to a 2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ White rectangle. Make (2) and sew them together as shown. Keep pressing those seams open. It really will make things easier later on.
Place this unit right sides together with a 4-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ Gold rectangle. The dark line is the sewing line. The dotted line is the cutting line. Cut on the dotted line. One unit like this will make two blocks like the one on the left below. Make 24. Repeat this process with the Green HSTs. This time you will only need to make 16.
Do it again! Make a unit like the one above, this time using Green HSTs. Place it right sides together with a 4-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ White rectangle. Cut on the dotted line. One unit like this will make two blocks like the one below. Make 24. Repeat this process with the Red HSTs. This time you will only need to make 16.
methods three uses a clipped corner
This is the method used in Follow Me Fish.
This time you start with a unit like the one below. That’s a 2-1/2″ square matched to a to a 2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ White rectangle. You will also need a 2-1/2″ square to snub the corner after the unit is completed.
Cutting directions are coming!
Sewalong Schedule
- Introduction
- Week One: 5/10/25. Making HSTs with Magic
- Week Two: 5/17/25. Three Methods of Making the Cat’s Cradle block.
- Week Three: 5/24/25. Making the Cat’s Cradle Red Blocks
- Week Four: 5/31/25. Making the Cat’s Cradle Green Blocks
- Week Five: 6/7/25. Catchup and Cutting Ahead
- Week Six: 6/14/25. Four Methods of Making Flying Geese Blocks
- Week Seven: 6/21/25. Making More Flying Geese
- Week Eight: 6/28/25. Catchup and Cutting Ahead
- Week Nine: 7/5/25. Finally putting the blocks together
- Week Ten: 7/12/25. Adding the borders and finishing. Whew!
