4 Pull the open edges of the folded square apart and refold with the seamlines matching. Pin, then stitch from each corner to within 1in (2.5cm) of the centre seam, leaving longer threads at the folded ends as before (Fig 4).
Fig 4
5 Trim the two remaining corners and pull the threads as before while finger-pressing the seams open, including the unstitched section across the centre of the square (Fig 5).
Fig 5
6 Turn each folded square right side out through the centre opening. Use a large pin (i.e., one that isn’t too sharp and doesn’t do too much damage) to ease out each corner. Hold the opened seam allowances firmly between thumb and forefinger as you turn so that they stay open. The aim is to finish up with the corners of the square as flat and pointed as possible (Fig 6).
Fig 6
7 Using a steam iron, take one square of fabric and press lightly around the outer folded edges, pulling the corners out as much as possible as you do so. Don’t expect the shape to lie flat at this stage – fabric seldom behaves as you wish it to! If you wish to join blocks by machine, turn to steps 1–12 Joining Square Blocks by Machine page 20.
8 Bring two adjacent corners (A and B in Fig 7) to meet at the centre of the folded square. Ideally they will meet at the centre and make a sharp outer corner. If not, and the outer corner is blunt, don’t worry – this often happens. To correct it, pull corners A and B together over the centre area a little, keeping them level with each other. Pinch the outer corner to make it sharp and press firmly with the steam iron, ironing from the outer corner in towards the centre. The two folded edges of fabric being pressed are on the bias and can be shrunk slightly with a steam iron. Restrict the pressing area to a narrow strip between the outer corner and the centre. Leave the rest of the outer folded sides unpressed at this stage (Fig 8). The important thing is to have a really sharp outer corner. Never press from the centre of the square outwards or you will lose those sharp corners. If corners A and B do not reach the centre of the square but seem too short, just pull them – they are bias and will stretch easily.
Fig 7
Fig 8
9 Bring corner C in to the centre. Adjust corner B if necessary so B and C are level with each other. Pinch the outer corner to sharpen it and press in the same way as the first corner. Treat problems in the same way as before (Fig 9). Press, ironing only a narrow strip from the new sharp corner into the centre. If corners A, B and C are not all meeting dead centre, don’t worry too much – it’s sharp outer corners that matter.
Fig 9
10 Repeat the process with corner D, making a sharp corner between C and D first, then tackling the corner between D and A (Fig 10).
Fig 10
11 Once all the corners are fixed, press the whole block with the steam iron, pressing along the outside edges and then from the outer corners towards the centre.
Stitching the Folded Square
1 Open out the folded corners to reveal the centre with its unstitched section. If necessary pull the folded edges together at the centre until they meet.
2 Using a thread that matches the fabric and a fine sewing needle, knot the end of the thread and pass the needle through the open area into the fabric from front to back at the centre of the folded square (Fig 11). The knot will be hidden under the top layers of fabric. To close the opening in the centre, draw the two edges together and take two tiny stitches to make a cross at the centre through all layers, ending with the needle at the back of the work (Fig 12).
Fig 11
Fig 12
3 Bring the four corners into the centre as previously pressed. Stitch the two opposite corners A and C down with one small stitch though all the layers at the centre. Arrange corners B and D so that they fit snugly alongside A and C, not sitting on top of them. Stitch these two corners down with one stitch through all the layers. The stitches will form a tiny cross at the centre of the folded square. Pull the stitches really firmly and repeat (Fig 13).
Fig 13
4 Finish off at the back with two tiny stitches through the back layer only and run the needle into the back layer for about 1in (2.5cm) before cutting off the thread to keep the back looking neat.
5 Repeat this folding, pressing and stitching on the other 8in × 8in (20.3cm × 20.3cm) square of background fabric.
Joining Folded Squares by Hand
1 The folded squares can be joined by hand or machine – see right for machine instructions. To join by hand, place the two folded squares together with folded sides facing. It is important that the corners match exactly. If this presents a problem, try turning the squares round until you find two sides that match. If one of the sides to be stitched is still shorter than the other, place the squares together with the shorter side on top, nearer to you. Match the corners and fix them with a pin (Fig 14). As you hand stitch, the top fabric will stretch slightly and ease to fit the longer bottom edge.
Fig 14
‘Don’t ask why when two identical squares will not fit together: fabric is totally wayward. Most problems in quilt-making are with trying to get badly behaved fabric to do what we want. Never blame yourself, always blame the fabric. . .’
