Begin Building the Quilt Top

9-patch blocks in desired design

After I got the individual blocks laid out in the desired design, I decided to build the quilt top a little differently than some of the experts would advise.  Normally, they would tell you to assemble the quilt row-by-row.  However, keep in mind, I'm using very small blocks where the smallest portion of the block is only 1" square.  Using Eleanor Burns' (quiltinaday.com) technique to create the 9-patch blocks renders beautiful corners where nothing overlaps.  However, as you begin putting those smaller blocks together, handling them creates the opportunity for the fabric to stretch.  Then, when assembling the quilt top row-by-row, you have more trouble getting those crisp corners.

2-block units (bottom left)
4-block units (top left)

So, I decided this time I would assemble the 9-patch blocks in units of four blocks and then gradually build those units into yet even larger units to ultimately be joined into the quilt top.  The beauty of strip piece quilting is the ability to get clean, crisp corners.  So, I try not to compromise that goal, at any cost.  Since tearing out sewn blocks is my least favorite part of the process, I thought this new tactic would work well. Indeed, it worked out easily in the beginning but then I hit a snag.