SUMMER SEW A LONG 2025

 Let's do a SEW A LONG! 

The Old Italian Block is one of my favorites, simple, easy, classic, the perfect block for a Scrappy Quilt.

 And it is the block in my antique top I am replicating:

Detail shots: 

When I first wrote about this project, My Next Lifetime Quilt, there was a lot of interest in doing this as a Sew A Long. So, here you go.

I am providing the cutting sizes for 3 different size blocks: 3", 5" and 6". You are free to make any other size you like. Either use design software like EQ8 or simply draw the block size you want on paper and figure out how to cut the pieces the correct size. My TUTORIAL SIMPLE MATH FOR QUILTERS makes that easy.

 

SHAPE	3” BLOCK	5” BLOCK	6” BLOCK
Triangles  4	3.25” square cut QST	5” square	5 7/8” square
Center Square  1	1.25”	1 3/8”	1.5”
Bkgnd Strips  4	1.25” X 3”	1 3/8” x 4”	1.5” x 4.5”

Originally, I planned to make 4 of each block, so I cut rectangles 6.5" x 8". That would provide 4 squares 3.25" each for the Quarter Square Triangles, and 4 Center Squares, 1.25" each. As I am making 289 of these that would use 73 fabrics. After cutting ALL OF THOSE, I changed my mind and decided each block would be a different fabric. 

To make ONE 3" block I cut a rectangle 3.5" x 5". This allowed me to carefully cut the square 3.25" for the QST and one center square 1.25". You could be more precise, cutting 3.25" x 4.5" but your cutting would have to be perfect. It was faster to cut a hunk 3.5" x 5" from 289 fabrics as preparation for the project.

I stacked up two fabrics for faster cutting. As I am using only one background fabric I cut strips of it 1.25" x WOF, cutting that into 3" lengths, 4 needed for each block. Here are TWO blocks cut and ready, the dark fabric is under the print:

Here is the way I sew these blocks, three rows on the diagonal. And my pressing plan. Since I know I am not sewing these block to block, I am pressing them all this way. If I were sewing block to block, I would press half like this and half the opposite way so the seams would nest:

There is SO MUCH MORE INFORMATION on my earlier post I hope you will go read it first:

BUCKET LIST #5: MY NEXT LIFETIME QUILT  

The ONLY SPECIAL TOOL I RECOMMEND for this project: a quality SQUARE RULER the size you will trim your blocks: 3.5", 5.5", or 6.5". The best brands are Quilters Select and Creative Grids.  I used a black Sharpie Fine Line marker to draw a diagonal line on the back from the upper left to lower right--that makes it easy to see the ruler is aligned properly:

I find these the perfect LEADER/ENDER blocks so I always have at least two of them cut and ready to sew while working on other projects. To understand that process, see my Tutorial about it: TIME MANAGEMENT FOR QUILTERS

To test the sizes for the larger blocks I made 5" and 6" blocks:

5" block

6" block

Here are 3" blocks in brighter colors than my 1800's reproduction fabrics, these would make a good baby quilt: :

There are many ways to set these blocks so I will offer those options next month. For now, choose your size and start making blocks. It's scrappy, you can't run out of fabric. 

Feel free to ask any questions you may have. Have fun using your favorite fabrics. AND if you want to post your progress on social media please use this hashtag:  #olditalianblocksewalong 

Please share this with all your quilty friends--the more, the merrier. It is easy to share this blog on your Feeds: Facebook, X, and Pinterest; or you can email it directly to anyone you like. Click on the icons at the bottom of the page to do this:

Let's quilt.

Barbara