Make a Memory...Quilt Block...That Is!

Our Memory quilt block stitches up in a flash.

Quick-pieced half square triangles.

Paper pieced Flying Geese.

Both make all this pointy goodness doable...quickly.

In this tutorial you'll find:

• A downloadable paper piecing pattern for Flying Geese

• A downloadable cutting chart in three sizes

• A downloadable coloring page

• Step-by-step illustrated instructions

• A downloadable design scheme and cutting chart for a 3-fabric Memory block

It's time to cut up and sew!

Each time you press, the first time is with the patches 'closed', just as they were sewn. This sets the seam. Then open the patches and press again with SAs towards the darker fabric unless otherwise noted.

Paperpieced SA are always pressed toward the last added patch.

The block can be a little lumpy between the units. Check out my favorite (super simple) pressing technique to squash them into submission.

I've recently acquired a Magic Pressing Mat—2 actually—and it's really upped my pressing game. Read my review here to see if one might make it into YOUR bag of tricks.

With RST, align the long, bias edge of a #2 sky with one short side of #1. The point of the patch should be lined up with the corner (white arrow).

Stitch starting and ending a good 1/4" before and after the solid line between #1 and #2. 

I do not backstitch at either end.

However, if you are a backstitcher, only the outside edge is a good candidate here because no future line of stitching crosses these stitches until after the paper is removed and the FG is sewn to other patches in Step 3.

Press this #2.

Add the second #2 in the same manner and press.

Next we trim to establish the placement line for #3.

At your cutting mat, place the stitched pattern printed side up. Tear the stitches away from the paper a bit at the solid line between #2s and #3 so that you can fold the paper pattern back along this solid line.

I position my line on that line creasing the fold with my thumbnail.

Fold the pattern back along the line.

Now position the 1/4" mark on your ruler along the fold line to identify the 1/4" SA. Trim with your rotary cutter.

Align the long edge of #3 with this cut edge for perfect placement!

The point on #3 should be opposite the point at the top of the Goose (white arrow).

Stitch starting and ending a generous 1/4" outside the solid line between #2 and #3.

Since we're stitching from edge to edge, you can chain piece this part of the unit

See that pesky thread tail in the center of the unit?

Since it doesn't bother me, I don't trim threads from the printed side of the paper until the unit it completely stitched. 

However, I ALWAYS trim to remember to trim the thread from the fabric side of the unit as I go. Much easier that way.

Time to trim again. Again to establish the placement lines for the #4s.

Fold the pattern back on itself along the solid line between #3 and #4.

Position the 1/4" mark on your ruler on the fold line and trim. Repeat for the other side.

With RST, position a #4 with one side of the #3.

Stitch.

Just as with #3, we're stitching from one edge to the other so we can chain piece these units from here on out.

After stitching the unit looks like a hot mess (left).

But after trimming, it's perfect.

Trim by aligning the quarter inch on your ruler with the solid outline of the unit and trim, repeating for all four sides of all four units.

Don't forget to remove the paper after trimming.

Give the units a final pressing.

Press flat to set the seams.

Find your Finished Block size in the chart below.

HST Dimensions
Finished Block Size	Center Measurement	Trim HST to…
6"	2-1/8"	1-1/2" x 1-1/2"
9"	2-5/8"	2" x 2"
12"	3-1/8"	2-1/2" x 2-1/2"

Using the Center Measurement (2⅝" for our 9" sample) cut your sewn #5/#6 into four equal squares. Then cut each in half along the drawn line. 

You now have eight HSTs ready to trim.

Referring again to the chart, trim your HSTs to the 'Trim to...' dimensions. For our sample it's 2".

Below is a HST after cutting in eight patches (left), pressed with the SA towards the dark (middle) and after trimming to the perfect size (right).

Repeat for all eight HSTs.

Pinning helps if you have trouble keeping all the edges even...you can chain piece to speed things up.

With RST and nesting the SA join one of each unit together, pressing SA in the direction of the white arrow.

Stitch the rows together to create your Memory quilt block. Again, pinning as needed to help you hold the patches in position.

These last two seams are pressed away from the center.

Here is our finished 'Memory' in all its pointy goodness.