Skip to content
Q is For Quilter
Menu
  • Quilts
  • Quilt Patterns
  • Embroidery
  • Embroidery Patterns
  • WIPs
  • Children’s Books
  • Aprons
  • Other Needlework
  • Crafts
  • Vintage Finds
Menu

Cog Wheels Block — Hand Piecing

Posted on March 7, 2010July 27, 2015 by Martha

Some quilters like to make their templates the finished size so they can mark the sewing line on their quilt pieces. I don’t do this — after adding a scant 1/4″ around each template, I draw the cutting line on the fabric and then just eyeball the seam allowance when stitching the pieces together.  Because the blocks Ann selected are complex, I thought they might be nice in just two colors.  Of course, I still want them to be scrappy, so I decided to use vintage indigo fabrics from my stash.  Also, because the suggested sizes were varied on the four blocks and one has way more pieces than the others, I decided to make them all 14″.  It’s probably not necessary to point out that this is a fairly challenging block, and would not be my choice for a first attempt at hand piecing.

When planning how you’re going to put a block together, you want to avoid any sharp curves or inside corners. On this block, I will sew together two basic units (AB and DEFF) and then combine them to make the three colored units you see below. This way I am always sewing a gentle curve when attaching these units to the center C piece. The sewing order will be blue (AB), pink (AB-DEFF) and then green (DEFF-AB-DEFF).

Sew AB (blue unit – make 6)

 

Sew DEFF (make 6)

 

Join AB to DEFF (pink unit – make 2)

 

In hand piecing, you never sew through more than 2 layers.  You get right up against the seam, make a back stitch, pass the needle through the seam, make another back stitch right next to the seam, and then continue sewing.  This is a nice perk to hand piecing — since the seams are never sewn down, they can be pressed in any direction and you don’t have to make a decision about this until the block is completed.

 

Sew 2 DEFFs to AB (green unit – make 2)

Now, it’s time to put the circle together.  Sew the six units above to the middle C piece, starting with the two blues, then the pinks, and finally the greens.

Finally, join the four corner pieces and stitch them to the circle.

There are several problems with this block that make me unhappy.  First, I meant to attach the 4 corner pieces so the grain in the middle C piece was vertical.  Second, although the points match pretty well, the center circle is not perfectly round (in my opinion, this is the worst problem).  Third, the design is not perfectly aligned vertically.  I hope to do better on the next block.

15 thoughts on “Cog Wheels Block — Hand Piecing”

  1. kathie says:
    March 7, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    beautiful fabrics and I think the block looks beautiful too
    I think your being too hard on yourself
    this is a tough block yours looks amazing!
    can’t wait to see the next one!
    Kathie

    Reply
  2. Amy says:
    March 7, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    We always are the most critical of our own work. I think this is absolutely gorgeous!!

    Reply
  3. Ann says:
    March 7, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    Let’s see… you drafted a VERY complex block while having to recline on the sofa… and this is your very first run through of the block… which you pieced while still being unable to sit for long periods. Definitely not your usual working conditions!!!

    I agree with Kathie. You are too hard on yourself and you have done a fabulous job! I know that you pay close attention to detail and that that quality has resulted in absolutely BEAUTIFUL quilts, but while you can see a couple small problems in this draft (which I have no doubt you will solve), don’t forget to feel giddy about what you have done with this block already!!! Seeing it unfold on your blog is quite inspiring – thanks!

    Reply
  4. Chris Jurd says:
    March 7, 2010 at 3:41 pm

    What a fantastic result – I love it and want to make one!

    Reply
  5. Ann Champion says:
    March 7, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    Oh wow! Are you kidding me? You drafted such a difficult block and pieced it beautifully! I love your choice of fabrics too.
    Just wonderful piecing. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Bunny says:
    March 7, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    Thanks for this Martha, it really helps to visualize how the block is put together step by step. It’s such a pretty pattern.

    Reply
  7. Jan says:
    March 7, 2010 at 7:13 pm

    I think it is pretty stunning and I don’t see the ‘problems’, even when you pointed them out. Of course, your critical eye results in wonderful work, but this block is nothing to apologise for! Thanks for showing the steps of how you put it together. It is complex, but very beautiful in the fabric that you used.

    Reply
  8. Allie says:
    March 7, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    Wow – I can’t tell you how impressed I am with this. I started out hand-piecing, because I didn’t have a machine, but didn’t get very good at it before getting one…and now the arthritis is too bad to do it. I am in awe of your skill, Martha. This is really beautiful.

    Reply
  9. Holly says:
    March 8, 2010 at 10:17 am

    Wow! That is just lovely. There is a romance to a hand pieced quilt that is so appealing. I think that hand stitching involves the maker being so closely associated with the quilt. I imagine that’s why you can see small faults that are not apparent to the rest of us. That is the blessing and the curse of hand work!

    Reply
  10. Cathi says:
    March 8, 2010 at 11:43 am

    This is a gorgeous block! Your explanation of how you sew it together is fabulous!

    Reply
  11. Jane Swanson says:
    March 8, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    Awesome! I love this block and thank you for the explanation of making it!

    Reply
  12. pratima says:
    March 9, 2010 at 6:42 am

    Wow! your work is so stunning, Martha! I’m in awe of your dedication and attention to detail.
    Thank you for the peek into how you work with these blocks. Very inspiring 🙂

    Reply
  13. Dawn says:
    March 9, 2010 at 2:09 pm

    Absolutely Stunning!

    Reply
  14. My 1st Bambina ! says:
    July 21, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    This is lovely !!! Thanks so much for the clear explanation and tips !!!

    Reply
  15. NancyinSTL says:
    August 3, 2011 at 11:00 am

    What a gorgeous block! It’s even my favorite color–blue. This looks like a block that would be perfect to English paper piece. If I make one, I will post a photo on Flickr.

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

A small blog about Martha's quilting hobby.

More About Me

Popular Posts

Categories

  • Quilts
  • Quilt Patterns
  • Embroidery
  • Embroidery Patterns
  • WIPs
  • Children’s Books
  • Aprons
  • Other Needlework
  • Crafts
  • Vintage Finds

Archives

  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • December 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008

Search

© 2023 Q is For Quilter | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme