Scrapdash Quilt Tutorials ⋆ How to Use a Cat's Cradle Ruler

It’s time for #QuiltBlockMania! The challenge for this month is to create a beach related block. Here is a way to make a large fish block, also known as a Shaded Four-Patch or a Cat’s Cradle Quilt Block. The method shown on this page uses the Creative Grid Cat’s Cradle Ruler, but an alternative is given.

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To Make the Follow Me Fish Quilt Block

Assemble:

(1) 4″ Blue square
(1) 4″ Multi-color square
(2) 4″ × 5″ Blue rectangles
(1) 7-1/2″ × 8-1/2″ Multi-color rectangles

Quilt Tutorial: Fabric Selections for the Free Follow Me Fish Table Runner Pattern — These are my fabrics.

Sew a 4″ Multi-color square to the end of a 4″ × 5″ Background rectangle. Make 2. Press to the rectangle.

Quilt Tutorial: How to Make a Cats Cradle Quilt Block

Sew these two units together, alternating colors. The center seams will not match up. Press the seam open. (picture below)

On the back of this unit, draw a line from the upper right corner at a 45-degree angle. It should just touch the edge of the left Red square. Note that it will not end at the other corner. This will be your sewing line. (picture below)

Here is the Creative Grid Cat’s Cradle Ruler

How to Use the Large Cat's Cradle Ruler by Creative Grid — I am going to show both how to use your long ruler and how to use this cat’s cradle ruler.

If you are using the Creative Grid Cat’s Cradle ruler, just place the ruler on the Multi-Color block seam lines as shown above. Then you can draw one of your sewing lines. (picture below)

Turn the block around so you can draw the second line from the lower-left corner at a 45-degree angle. It should just touch the edge of the right Multi-Color square. Note that it will not end at the other corner. These two lines will probably be 3/4″ apart.

Notice that I placed the 45-degree line of my long ruler along the edge of the unit so that the line I am drawing is at an exact 45-degree angle. (picture below)

If you are using the Creative Grid Cat’s Cradle ruler, just place the ruler on the Multi-Color block seam lines as shown above. Then you can draw the other sewing line.

Place the 7-1/2″ × 8-1/2″ Multi-Colored rectangle right sides together with this unit. Sew on the lines you drew. Cut this unit apart. You may want to trim your seams to 1/4″. (picture below)

Quilt Tutorial: Sewing the Shaded Four Patch Quilt Block

Making the Fin of the Fish

Draw a diagonal line on the back of the 4″ blue square. Place it over the Multi-Colored square corner so the line intersects both edges. This line will be your stitching line. (picture below)

Making the Fish Tail for the Follow Me Fish Block

Stitch on the line and flip the square up so it meets the corner. If it is perfect, you can trim the underside. Press your blocks to the large triangle and square up to 6-1/2“. (picture below)

Please note: I cheated a little here. I used larger sizes because they would photograph better. Your block should finish at 6-1/2″ square, not 8-1/2″. Use a 6-1/2″ Square-Up ruler.

And here is the final Follow Me Fish block! Put four of them together to make the 12″ block shown at the top of this page. (picture below)

This is not the only method of making a Cat’s Cradle or Shaded Four Patch Block. You can find more information here.

The Cat’s Cradle Creative Grid Ruler

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