Beyond Basic Borders – 4 Patch Block

One of the simplest blocks to make, the Four Patch is a fun easy border to start with. From two colours to multi-colour, this will brighten any quilt.

Beyond Basic Borders is a new series of how to elevate the quilting border to the next level. Whether you use the leftover fabric from your quilt top, or introduce some new colours, this is going to be fun!

To begin with, we will base the borders on using your GO! Qube Mix & Match sets although we will transition into other dies. Experimenting with colours and layouts, we will show you how simple design changes can alter the appearance of the block.

Finished width size borders:

The length will depend on your quilt top.

Materials:

  1. AccuQuilt GO! Big or GO! Fabric Cutter
  2. Shape 2 from any GO! Qube Mix & Match Qube

Cutting Instructions:

  1. Cut (4) Squares per unit.

Pressing Instructions:

Pressing seams to one side or open is another discussion within itself, although the two general thoughts are:

Open Seams allow for a smoother flatter quilt top, which doesn’t allow fabric colour to appear through your quilt top.

Side Seam Pressing is faster, and the seam is usually pressed towards the darkest colour. It makes it easier when you want to ‘nest’ seams in place, giving a clean seam intersection.

My suggestion – try both and see what works for you! There are no Quilt Police here.

Sewing Instructions:

All seams are ¼” unless otherwise specified.

  1. Sew two squares together. Press.
  2. Repeat for remaining two squares. Press.
  3. Sew rectangle together, matching seams. Press
4 Patch Border Picture 1

Finishing Options:

Adding different colours, in different sequences can totally change the look and appearance of the design. Below is the original two-colour design, which in itself is stylish, although you can see, adding more colours can change the appearance. Scrappy happy also works well, although, adding a base colour can add stability to the border.

Original Design4 Patch Border Original DesignAdding 1 extra colour4 Patch Border adding 1 extra colourAdding 2 extra colours 4 Patch Border adding 2 colours 1 4 Patch Border adding 2 colours 2Scrappy Happy 4 Patch Border Scrappy HappyScrappy Happy with a Base Colour 4 Patch Border Scrappy Happy with base colour

This is just a few ideas, on how to use this simple block.

Don’t forget to share your projects and follow us on our Facebook page, AccuQuilt Australia or Instagram, tagging @accuquilt_australia and using the hashtag #accuquiltaustralia

*Although dies refer to the GO! Qube’s, any individual square die will produce the same result.

Congratulations on finishing your project!

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