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Ready to turn your fabric odds and ends into a quilting masterpiece? 🧵✨ Meet the Odds and Ends quilt block—;a charming design that's as fun to make as it is to look at! 🎨

This block is perfect for quilters of all levels, combining simple techniques to create a stunning result. 🌟 We use the quick pieced method for Half Square Triangles 📐 and easy strip piecing for the sides and four-patches. 🧩 Before you know it, you'll have a beautiful block that looks complex but comes together in a snap. ⚡

So, grab your favorite fabrics, 🧶 fire up that sewing machine, 🪡 and let's start stitching some magic with the Odds and Ends quilt block. Your scrap basket is about to become a treasure trove! 💎🪄

This tutorial uses these abbreviations:

• SA - seam allowance
• RST - right sides together
• BAC - background fabric
• HST - half square triangle

SA are 1/4" and pressed towards the darker fabric unless noted otherwise.

Starch your quilt fabric for more accurate cutting and sewing (in my humble opinion). 

Not sure how to do it? Click here to learn how.

✂️Cut patches for your Odds and Ends quilt  block

Sample Block: 8" finished / 8½" unfinished

Grid: 8×8

Attribution:  Ladies Art Company

Design Type: Uneven 9-patch, large center

Our version of Odds and Ends uses two fabrics with strong contrast. 

I love a blue and white combination—even though I don't consider myself a 'blue and white' kind of gal!

It always looks so fresh and clean.

The blue print fabric in the block is from Alison Glass' Sun Print line. I've been having a lot of fun playing with the bright colors!

You can find more fabrics from Alison Glass here and here.

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

			Cutting Chart for a Odds and Ends Quilt Block ~ Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size
			6''	8''	12''
1**	Light	1	2⅜'' x 2⅜''	2⅞'' x 2⅞''	3⅞'' x 3⅞''
2**	Dark	1	2⅜'' x 2⅜''	2⅞'' x 2⅞''	3⅞'' x 3⅞''
3	Dark	2	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''
4	Light	1	1¼'' x 25''	1½'' x 31''	2'' x 43''
5	Dark	1	1¼'' x 25''	1½'' x 31''	2'' x 43''
Unfinished Block Size			6½''	8½''	12½''
Grid Size			¾"	1''	1½''

**I prefer to cut my patches extra large for HST, stitch, and then trim them to size. If you prefer to do the same, add a bit extra to the measurements for Patches #1 and #2 above.

There is a chart further down in these instructions where you need it for trimming them to size.

🧵Stitch the units for your Odds and Ends block

HST

Make 2

We'll use the Quick Pieced method for making our HST—the perfect method when you just need a couple of units.

Making oodles of blocks?

For more efficient piecing, consider another HST method like 8-at-a-time or triangle paper. 

Let's get started.

On the backside of the #1 or #2 square draw a diagonal line from corner to corner—mark whichever one it's easier to see the line on.

Here I've used my Bohin Mechanical Chalk Pencil for this marking. Because it's a white chalk, I've marked the darker #2 square.

After stitching a quarter inch away from both sides of the line, press the unit flat to set the seams.

Cut the unit in half with a rotary cutter or scissors along the line you drew.

Press the two resulting HST with the SA toward the darker fabric.

Use the chart below to check the accuracy of your stitching. Trim your HST as needed. 

HST Dimensions
Finished Block Size	Trim HST to…
6"	2"
8"	2-1/2"
12"	3-1/2"

These are the two, perfectly trimmed HST.

Center

Make 1

Arrange your HST and #3s as shown below.

Stitch the units into rows and press toward the #3 squares to avoid bulk.

Press SA toward the #3 to avoid bulk.

The finished center from the front.

Check the accuracy of your Center using the chart below.

Center Dimensions
Finished Block Size	Edge-to-Edge
6"	3½"
8"	4½"
12"	6½"

To reduce bulk in the center, pick out the stitching to the seam line and twirl the seam allowance.

Press the SAs counterclockwise.

It looks like this from the backside.

Side Units

Make 4

With RST, stitch the #4 and #5 strips together along their long edge.

Press the pair flat to set the seam and then open with the SA toward the dark fabric.

Use the chart below to check the width of your sewn strip set. Make any adjustments needed before subcutting.

StripSet Widths and SubCutting
Finished Block Size	StripSet Width after stitching	SubCut Width #1 Cut 4	SubCut Width #2 Cut 8
6"	2"	3-1/2"	1-1/4"
8"	2-1/2"	4-1/2"	1-1/2"
12"	3-1/2"	6-1/2"	2"

Straighten one short end of your stripset.

Referring back to the chart above, make the required subcuts.

For this 8" sample block, that means four 4-1/2" and eight 1-1/2" subcuts.

Set aside the four longers units. The remaining eight little ones are used next.

Four Patches

Make 4

Arrange four pairs of #4/#5 patches so that the background and Fabric A alternate as shown below.

Pin as needed.

With RST, stitch the pairs together.

Press flat to set the seams.

In order for the seams to nest when assembling the block, press this last sewn SA toward the #5 dark square. It's in the lower right corner of the four patch.

This is how the four patches look from the backside after pressing.

🧩Put your Odds and Ends together

Arrange the units into the Odds and Ends pattern. The darker patches are on the outside edges and corners.

Stitch the units in each row together. If you've followed the pressing directions, all the seams will nest together.

And finally, sew the rows together. Use pins if you need to to keep everything lined up.

Give you block a final press.

The finished Odds and Ends quit block looks like this from the front...

...and like this from the back.

📌 Don't let this tutorial become the odd one out! 🧵

 Pin it to your board and keep your creativity in stitches. 🪡✨

Variations on an Odds and Ends Block

This first variation uses three fabrics instead of two—a light, a medium and a dark.

This one completely loses the center HST. It'd be perfect for showcasing a machine embroidery collection.

Same name, different block

This Odds and Ends block reminds me of an Ocean Waves design.

The only thing in common with our sample are the HSTs.

Beautiful design, though. It'd be a terrific scrap-buster!

For even MORE blocks to make... 🧩🎨

...visit our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library, with over 230+ blocks to choose from in multiple sizes.

Free downloads are included in all sizes for any blocks require paper piecing patterns or templates.

This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com