Dewey Dream Quilt Block Tutorial:
5", 7½", 10", and 15" finished blocks

From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library

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Don't let your quilting dreams become nightmares, follow our step-by-step fully illustrated instructions in the Dewey Dream Quilt Block tutorial and make them come true!

In this tutorial, you'll find:

A cutting chart in four sizes with downloads of the chart and block design

A coloring/planning page to download and print

Step-by-step illustrated instructions

No time to quilt? Pin this to make and enjoy later.

It's time to cut up and sew!

The Dewey Dreams quilt block tutorial starts here

General Instructions

If you need help printing this page, you'll find it here.

Several abbreviations are used on this page. They are:

SA - seam allowance

RST - right sides together

HST - half square triangles

1/4" SA are used through this tutorial.

Pressing instructions are highlighted in yellow throughout this tutorial to make them easy to spot.

When instructed to press, first press the patches in the closed position just as they came off your sewing machine. This sets the seam, melding the fibers of the threads into the fibers of the fabric.

Then press the SA to the dark unless otherwise noted.

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Step 1: Cutting for a Dewey Dream quilt block

Sample Block Size: 10" finished / 10½" unfinished

Grid: 5x5

Design Type: 5-patch, Uneven 9-patch-large center, Star

Please label all your patches. We refer to their numbers throughout this tutorial.

The sample uses a print from Art Gallery Fabrics, and my go-t0 for a neutral background, Moda's Grunge.

To print a copy of the block design and cutting chart to use at your cutting table, click here.

			Cutting Chart for a Dewey Dream Quilt Block ~ Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size
Patch	Fabric	Qty	5''	7½''	10''	15 ''
1	Dark	9	1½'' x 1½''	2" x 2"	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''
2	Light	4	1½'' x 1½''	2" x 2"	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''
3	Dark	6	2¼'' x 2¼''	2¾'' x 2¾''	3¼'' x 3¼''	4¼'' x 4¼''
4	Light	6	2¼'' x 2¼''	2¾'' x 2¾''	3¼'' x 3¼''	4¼'' x 4¼''
Unfinished Block Size			5½''	8''	10½''	15½''
Grid Size			1"	1½''	2"	3"

Step 2: Assemble the units for a Dewey Dream block

NOTE: I've chosen to piece this as an uneven 9-patch with a large center (as shown below). It could also be pieced as an uneven 9-patch with a small center, or in five rows of five patches each.

As always, YOU get to decide which method works best for you. The cutting requirements are the same for all assembly methods.

9-Patch Unit

Make 1

With RST, sew a #1 to a #2, pressing towards the darker #1.

I have better results with pressing as I go—a nice flat seam with no tucks.

Waiting to press the two SAs in each group makes it harder to get the iron into the SAs.

Stitch 3 pairs.

Sew #1 to #2, repeat for a total of 3 pairs

Add a #1 to two of the pairs, and a #2 to the third pair. Again, pressing towards the darker #1.

Add a #1 or #2 to each pair as shown here

Here are the 3 units...

Sew the units together with the #1s in the outside corners and center.

The finished center 9-patch after pressing the SAs out from the center, this is so the SAs will nest together when we assemble your Dewey Dreams block.

Sew the 3 units together to create your center 9-patch

Beautiful!

Half Square Triangles

Make 12

On the back side of the lighter #3 mark a diagonal line from corner to corner as shown below.

With your favorite 1/4" presser foot installed, stitch 1/4" away from BOTH sides of the drawn line.

NOTE: Alternatively, you could use your Magic Wand or Quick Quarter ruler to draw lines 1/4" away from the center diagonal, and stitch on those lines for the same result.

Sew 1/4" away from both sides of the drawn line

Stitch a 1/4" away from both sides of the line. While not my preference for this type of sewing, the 1/4" foot with the guide worked out just fine.

Press the sewn pair flat to set the seams. With scissors or rotary cutter, cut in half diagonally between the stitching lines.

Find your Finished Block Size in the chart below and trim your HST to the perfect size.

HST Dimensions
Finished Block Size	Trim HST to…
5"	1½" x 1½"
7½''	2" x 2"
10"	2½" x 2½"
15"	3½" x 3½"

For the 10" sample block, the HST are trimmed to 2½" square.

Below shows how the #1 and #2 squares became HSTs.

After pressing and trimming your HST looks like that on the far right

From left to right, seams sewn, cut in half between the stitching, pressed, and finally trimmed to perfection

Side Units

Make 4

With RST, add a #3/#4 HST to both sides of a #1 square.

Press these SA toward #1 to reduce bulk.

Add a HST to each side of a #1 square for a total of 4

A completed side unit

Step 3: Assemble the Dewey Dream quilt block

Arrange your HSTs, sides and center 9-patch as shown below. The corners are light, and the outside edges of the side units are dark.

With RST, stitch the units in each row together. If you followed the pressing instructions, the seams in the middle row will nest to help you match the points.

The SAs in the top and bottom rows are pressed out from the center. The middle row SAs are towards the center.

After one final turn at the ironing board, your finished Dewey Dream quilt block looks like this. A nice little star-like quilt block.

And as always, a quick peek at the backside to see how all those seam allowances were pressed.

🔭 Looking for something truly stellar?

You've finished your star quilt block, and you're ready for more!

Browse our collection of 60 stellar star quilt block patterns. All have instructions and cutting charts in multiple sizes. If templates or paper piecing is used in the tutorial, there's a free download for you of those materials.