Crazy Ann Quilt Block Tutorial: 5", 7½", 10", 12½", and 15" finished

Get ready to jazz up your quilting game with the playful and dynamic jaunty Crazy Ann block.

With its sharp 45 and 63-ish degree angles, this block creates eye-catching points.

And we get it, angles can be a bit challenging at first—potentially intimidating some quilters.

But don't worry, we've got your back!

Our technique will help you master those angles with ease. With just a bit of patience and practice, you'll be amazed at the precision and accuracy you'll achieve. Not only will this take your Crazy Ann block to the next level, it'll also have a ripple effect on your overall quilting skills.

So let's dive in and have some fun with the Jaunty Crazy Ann block!

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Download and print paper piecing pattern

After cutting the #1s you should have 4 triangles that look like this.

Repeat this step exactly for the lighter #2s, ending with 4 identical triangles of the background fabric. (They look just like the ones above except they're background fabric.)

Subcut the BW-2, BW-3, and BW-4 squares in half once on the diagonal as shown below.

Starting your stitching before the line between BW-1 and BS-2 by 1/4" and ending a good 1/4" after it ends.

Press.

With RST, add BW-3 in the same manner.

Below you can see how we've stitched a generous 1/4" before and after the solid lines (red arrow).

Make a trip to the ironing board for a quick pressing.

Move to your cutting mat and with the paper side up, fold the pattern back on itself on the line between BW-2/BW-3 and BW-4. You'll have to tear the paper away from the stitches a bit.

Don't worry. This is perfectly normal.

Line up the 1/4" mark on your ruler (red arrow) with the folded edge.

With your rotary cutter, cut away the excess fabric to create the perfect placement line (and 1/4" seam allowance) for BW-4.

With RST, align the long bias edge of BW-4 with the freshly cut #BW-2/#BW-3.

Sew from outside edge to outside edge. This seam is ideal for chain piecing, just like any other seam that runs from one side of a quilt block to the other.

One last turn at the ironing board for this unit, and we're ready to trim.

With the sewn BWs, pattern side up, on your cutting mat, align the 1/4" mark on your ruler (red arrow) with the solid square that surrounds the block. 

Cut away the excess fabric. Repeat for all four BWs.

These patches clean up nicely with the trimming. Notice what a crisp point there is on the square at the center. This is what paper piecing does for you. Perfection without the hassle.

We trim these to size just like we did the BWs. Shown below is before trimming from the pattern side (left), the fabric side (middle) and perfection (right). 

All this quilty goodness and no specialty ruler to shell out for and store. :)

To complete the job, remove the paper pattern from all the sewn patches.

A little nervous about removing the paper? 

Don't be. We cut all our over-sized patches so the outside edges of the units are on the straight of grain for stability. The paper has done its job and serves no further purpose.

[Click here to learn more about grainline and how it affects your piecing.]

Stitch the units in each row together. 

If you've been careful stitching on the line—particularly where the line crosses the solid square or rectangle that represents the finished size of the block—your points will virtually match themselves.

If you're off just a bit and want a refresher on pinning points, click here.

Remember as you stitch up to a SA, if it gets a bit bulky

1. Stop with the needle down through the fabric. 
2. Lift the presser foot up and then set it back down by hand. 
3. Then slowly continue stitching. 

This helps your presser foot get over that bumpiness and makes it easier for the feed dogs do their job.

The SAs are pressed towards the BW in the top and bottom rows, and towards #3 square in the center row.

Stitch the rows together, pinning as needed.

One last trip to the ironing board and Our Crazy Ann quilt block is finished. 

And a look at the back of the block to see how all the SAs fit together.

It's easy to see that if we'd pressed the SA in the middle of the HRTs toward the dark #1s there'd have been a wicked bit of bulk at those skinny points.

Not fun to piece.

Not fun to press.

Not fun to quilt. 

I prefer to make things easy on myself. Quilting should be FUN!