Thursday, March 5, 2026

St. Paddy's Field Quilt Along - Step 3

 

St. Paddy’s Field Quilt Along Block B Components

 

Four-Patch Units PDF Link

For this step you will make:

  • 64 Dark Four-Patch Units
  • 64 Light Four-Patch Units

Each unit will measure 4½" x 4½" unfinished.


Before You Begin

  • Use a ¼" seam allowance for all piecing.
  • WOF = Width of Fabric.
  • Press carefully to keep units accurate.
  • For best results, chain piece your units whenever possible.

Cutting

All strips are cut 2½" x WOF (Width of Fabric).

Dark Four-Patch Units

Cut:

  • 4 Dark Green strips
  • 4 Background strips

Light Four-Patch Units

Cut:

  • 2 Medium Green strips
  • 6 Background strips

These will be used to create two different strip sets.


Dark Four-Patch Units



Make the Strip Set

  1. Sew one dark green strip to one background strip, right sides together, using a ¼" seam allowance.
  2. Press the seam toward the dark fabric.

Subcut

  1. Cut the strip set into 2½" segments.

Assemble Units

  1. Pair two segments together to form the four-patch unit.
  2. Sew using a ¼" seam allowance.
  3. Spin your seams when you press. See the detailed video on spinning seams. Video Link

Repeat to make 64 Dark Four-Patch Units.


Light Four-Patch Units


The light four-patch units are made using two strip sets.

Strip Set A

  1. Sew one medium green strip to one background strip, right sides together.
  2. Press the seam toward the medium fabric.

Strip Set B

  1. Sew one background strip to one background strip, right sides together.
  2. Press the seam to one side.

Subcut

  1. Cut both strip sets into 2½" segments.

Assemble Units

  1. Pair one segment from Strip Set A with one segment from Strip Set B.
  2. Sew using a ¼" seam allowance.
  3. Spin your seams when you press. See the detailed video on spinning seams.

Repeat to make 64 Light Four-Patch Units.


Quilter’s Tip

Chain piecing your four-patch units will make this step go quickly and keep your pieces organized.


Progress Check

At this stage you should have:

  • 64 Dark Four-Patch Units
  • 64 Light Four-Patch Units

Each unit should measure 4½" x 4½" unfinished.

Tomorrow we will put the four patch blocks together to finish creating Block B


Wednesday, March 4, 2026

St. Paddy's Field Quilt Along - Step 2 and Block A

 

๐Ÿ€ St. Paddy’s Field Quilt Along

Step 2 and Block A

Four Patch Blocks (Strip-Set Method) PDF link

In this step, we’ll create easy, accurate Four Patch blocks using a strip set — fast and perfect for scrappy quilts.

You will need:

  • 2 fabric strips measuring 2½″ x 20″ (cut your WOF strips in half)
    (Use 1 of your dark green and 1 of your background)

✂️ Step 2A — Make the Strip Set

1.    Place the two strips right sides together, aligning the long edges.

2.    Sew along the long edge using a ¼″ seam allowance.

3.    Press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric.

You now have a strip set measuring approximately 4½″ x 20″. Chain piece your strip sets for faster finishing.


✂️ Step 2B — Subcut the Strip Set

4.    Square up one end of the strip set.

5.    Cut the strip set into 2½″ segments across the width.

You will get approximately 8 segments. If you are going scrappy mix and match your segments.


๐Ÿงต Step 2C — Make the Four Patch

6.    Take two segments and place them right sides together, rotating one so the fabrics alternate (light/dark opposite).

7.    Nest the center seams and pin.

8.    Sew along one side using a ¼″ seam allowance.

9.    Press the seam to one side.

๐ŸŽ‰ You now have one Four Patch block measuring 4½″ unfinished (4″ finished).

Repeat with remaining segments.

Quilter Tip from Sister Of The Divide Chain piece your segments for speed — this step goes FAST and is super satisfying ๐Ÿ’š

๐Ÿ€ St. Paddy’s Field Quilt Along

Block A Assembly

In this step, we’ll combine your Half-Square Triangles (HSTs) and Four Patch units to create Block A.๐Ÿงฉ Layout First (Do Not Skip!)

Arrange your units into a 2 × 2 layout:

Top row:
▪ Four Patch — HST

Bottom row:
▪ HST — Four Patch

๐Ÿ‘‰ Pay attention to the direction of the HSTs so the diagonals create the large “windmill” effect shown in the diagram.


๐Ÿงต Sew the Rows

1.    Sew the top row units together.

2.    Sew the bottom row units together.

3.    Press the row seams toward the Four Patch blocks (this helps nesting).


Join the Rows

4.    Place the two rows right sides together.

5.    Nest the center seams carefully and pin.

6.    Sew across using a ¼″ seam allowance.


๐ŸŒ€ Spin the Center Seam

This block has a bulky intersection — spinning the seam makes it lay flat.

7.    From the back, gently loosen the very center stitches.

8.    Rotate the seam allowances so they form a small pinwheel.

9.    Press from the back, then the front.

Your block should now lie beautifully flat ๐Ÿ’š


๐Ÿ“ Finished Size

Block A should measure:

8.5″ unfinished
(8″ finished in the quilt)


Sister Of The Divide Tip

Consistency matters — make sure all Block A units face the same direction so your quilt design emerges correctly.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

PNW Quilt Adventure of The Year!



๐ŸŒฒ๐Ÿงต THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST QUILT ADVENTURE OF THE YEAR ๐Ÿงต๐ŸŒฒ

Oregon • Washington • Idaho — it’s time for the All Pacific Northwest Shop Hop 2026, and this year it’s BIGGER than ever! ๐Ÿš—✨

For two months, quilters will be traveling across the PNW visiting 126 incredible quilt shops, collecting exclusive patterns, prizes, and inspiration at every stop. ๐ŸŽ

But here’s the real magic…

This isn’t just a shop hop — it’s a COMMUNITY experience. ❤️
Road trips with quilty friends.
Discovering hidden gem shops.
Finding fabrics you didn’t even know you needed.
Making memories that last long after the hop ends.

I’ll be sharing my journey, favorite finds, tips for planning your route, and behind-the-scenes inspiration all along the way — so make sure you’re following so you don’t miss a single stop. ๐Ÿ—บ️✨

๐Ÿ‘‡ TELL ME ๐Ÿ‘‡
Which state are you hopping from — Oregon, Washington, or Idaho?

Be sure to get by your local quilt shop to pick up a copy of the All Pacific Northwest Shop Hop Magazine for 2026, just like I did! Here in Idaho Falls, you can get your copy at Day Dreams Quilt N. Sew located at 802 Pancheri Drive. Don't delay, they are going fast. The magazine contains your passport to all the shops, maps for you to plan with, 5 FREE quilt patterns and a complete list of all the prizes that could be yours. You are not going to want to miss it one! 


If you’re new here, I’m Karen — pattern designer, quilt maker, and your guide to building a creative quilting life. Welcome to the adventure. ๐Ÿ’š

#PNWShopHop #QuiltCommunity #QuiltAdventure #QuiltersOfInstagram #ShopHop2026 #OregonQuilters #WashingtonQuilters #IdahoQuilters #SisterOfTheDivide

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Precision, Patience, and Paper Piecing — A Winning Block Story


After more than five decades of quilting, I still feel a quiet thrill walking into a quilt show. This year, I was deeply honored to receive First Place in the Block Contest, at the North Bingham County District Library Annual Quilt Show — the fourth time I’ve been awarded this recognition there.

The block I entered is from a pattern by renowned paper-piecing designer Carol Doak, whose work has influenced generations of quilters. While the structure of the design is hers, the fabric selection and placement allowed me to bring my own voice to the piece — a conversation between designer and maker that I’ve always loved about quilting.

The block contest starts out with a focus fabric that you pick up at the library for a small donation of $1.00. You must then use that fabric in any way you choose to create a block that measures 12.5" square.



For this block, I chose fabrics that balanced bold contrast with a vintage sensibility, carefully considering how color movement would guide the eye around the star. Precision piecing was essential; every point meeting cleanly was part of honoring the integrity of the design. The light blue floral fabric was the focus fabric for this block. In thinking about the fabric pull I opted to focus on a patriotic theme since this is the 250th Anniversary year for our country. I made a template for each of the paper piecing sections and cut and labeled my fabrics for easy in assembly.

Quilting has been part of my life for over 50 years. It has seen me through seasons of change, growth, and creativity, and it continues to challenge and inspire me. Awards are lovely, but the true reward has always been the process — the quiet rhythm of stitching and the satisfaction of bringing something beautiful into the world.

One of the things I treasure most about the North Bingham County District Library Quilt Block Contest is that it’s a blind competition.

Visitors to the show vote for the block they love most — without knowing who made any of them. Names are only revealed at the very end.

So this First Place Honor means something especially meaningful to me. ๐Ÿ†
It was chosen purely on the work itself.

Here are some photos of the Pieced Blocks portion of the Block Contest, So many talented contributions! All of the blocks are then raffled off and given to the winner of that raffle!





If you’re interested in more of my work, original designs, patterns, and curated vintage fabrics, you can find them here at Sister of The Divide as well as on our Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.

Sunday, February 22, 2026

St. Paddy's Field Quilt Along - Step 1 The HST Units



✂️ Half Square Triangle Unit for St. Paddy's Field Quilt Along 

4.5" Finished

Method: 2-at-a-Time HST   PDF Instructions


๐Ÿ”ข Quilt Requirement

You will need:

64 finished Half Square Triangle (HST) blocks

Each pair of 5" squares yields 2 HST units.

64 ÷ 2 = 32 pairs needed

✂️ Cutting Instructions

  • Cut 32 green 5" × 5" squares
  • Cut 32 background 5" × 5" squares

Additional Supplies

  • Sewing machine & coordinating thread
  • Fabric marking pencil or pen
  • Quilting ruler with 45° diagonal line
  • Rotary cutter & cutting mat
  • Iron & pressing surface

๐Ÿงต Instructions

1. Mark

On the wrong side of each background square, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner.

2. Layer

Place one green square and one background square right sides together. Align edges and pin if desired.

3. Sew

Sew a scant ¼" seam on each side of the drawn diagonal line.
(A scant ¼" seam is slightly less than a full ¼" to account for fabric and pressing.)

4. Cut

Cut directly on the drawn diagonal line to create two triangle units.

5. Press

Open each unit and press the seam toward the green fabric.

6. Square Up

Using the 45° diagonal line on your ruler, square up each HST unit to measure 4.5" × 4.5".



C 2026 Sister of The Divide. All rights reserved. This pattern and its instructions are protected by copyright law. No part of this pattern may be reproduced, redistributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the designer. You may sell items made from this pattern on a home-based, small-scale basis and may use for charity purposes. Mass production is prohibited. Please credit the design to Sister of The Divide.

Friday, February 20, 2026

St. Paddy's Field - Cutting Instructions

St. Paddy’s Field Quilt Along

Cutting Instructions

Quilt Block size 8.5” will finish in the quilt at 8”

Quilt Finish Size 64.5” x 64.5”

PDF LinkYardage requirements:

Main color: 2.78 yards (buy 3 yards)

Secondary color: 3/8 yard

Background color: 3 ¾ yards

Binding: ½ yard

You will need:

 a rotary cutting mat

 a rotary cutter

 a quilting ruler

For ease of instruction we will assume the following, you can substitute with any color you wish or use scraps

Main Color – Dark Green

Secondary color – Light Green

Background – White or Neutral

WOF = width of fabric = minimum 40”

If you are making your quilt using yardage you will cut as follows:

From your Main color cut:

4 strips measuring 5” x WOF

     Sub cut into 32 - 5” squares

32 strips measuring 2.5” x WOF

From your Secondary color cut:

4 Strips measuring 2.5” x WOF

From your Background color cut:

4 Strips measuring 5” x WOF

     Sub Cut into 32 – 5” squares

44 strips measuring 2.5” x WOF

Binding cut:

7 Strips 2.5” by WOF

 

If you are cutting scrappy, you will want to have enough fabric to equal the above measures.

 C 2026 Sister of The Divide. All rights reserved.

This pattern and its instructions are protected by copyright law. No part of this pattern may be reproduced, redistributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the designer. You may sell items made from this pattern on a home-based, small-scale basis and may use for charity purposes. Mass production is prohibited. Please credit the design to Sister of The Divide.