Granny Square Quilt Block Tutorial - Part 1

Last week I posted about my completed Granny Square baby quilt and expressed my desire to share a tutorial about the Granny Square.  I was disappointed that I had not thought through the whole process before I began making my blocks.  And wished I had considered the block layout before I began.

As I said last week....

In real estate they say, "Location, location, location!"
In quilting we should always first consider, "Layout, layout, layout!"

Other than fabric selection, the first thing you should take a look at is how you want your blocks to be displayed.  Square or On Point?  With sashing or without?

Today I will cover some ideas for....

• fabric selection,
• show examples of possible layouts,
• and methods for making Granny Squares according to the layout options.

For this portion of the tutorial, I will briefly discuss fabric selection and show examples of possible layouts.

Part 2 of this tutorial, showing the methods for making Granny Squares, can be found linked here.




FABRIC SELECTIONS:

What a crazy square that granny is.  The individual patches in the block are traditionally displayed as though on point.  However the individual blocks they make are squared.

The traditional Granny Square block is made using a three colour combination of rings plus a background fabric.  Additional rings can be added.  A four colour combination block has been known to be called the Great Granny Square.

Most Granny Squares are made using high contrasting choices to highlight the rings and center square.  This granny has a black center square, a blue inner ring, and an orange outer ring.




LAYOUT OPTIONS:

Your method of making the Granny Squares will depend on the layout you choose.  If you are planning a layout that includes sashing, making traditional blocks makes sense.  But, as I learned, if you do not wish to use sashing, making traditional blocks is not the best or easiest way.

The following are some examples of layout options.
All of these photos were used with permission and links are provided to the quilt makers' blogs.
I encourage you to visit using the links and read about each of these quilts.
Please, if you would like to pin, pin from the blog owner's page.


With Sashing:

This quilt, made by Melissa of Missouri Mel, was made using 1930's prints in an aqua and orange palette.  Melissa explains in her post, that using the sashing helped to aid in the squaring of the blocks.




With Sashing and Cornerstones:

Mary of The Tulip Patch, created this quilt using a black text print to make cornerstones between the sashing.  Her granny squares also include an additional outer row of blocks, each block using a four colour combination.  And I love the addition of her signature Scottie block.

Without Sashing:

This quilt by Jessica of Sew Crafty Jess, is made without sashing.  But SHE was thinking ahead.  This quilt is not made using blocks.




Without Sashing:

Great Granny quilt, made using solids and a gray background, by Rachel of Farm Gal Designs.




Another way to layout the granny squares would be to put them on point.

An interesting variation is this scrappy Giant Granny Square by Diane {from Blank Pages.

So, as you can see, there is more than one way to use that old granny square!
Please do check out Part 2 of this tutorial here.


Keep On Quilting On!

 

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