Block 16: Smocked tucks – Textured quilt sampler

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This block requires hand stitching.

Block type: log cabin

Block size: 11 inches

Colour scheme: reds and neutrals

Texture/fabric manipulation:  smocked tucks

Quilt size: The finished quilt is 52 ½ x 52 ½.

Needs:

• one 16 in x 5 in rectangle in red
• two 5 in x 3 ½ in rectangles and two 11 in x 3 ½ in rectangles for the border

Making the smocked tucks

one 16 in x 5 in rectangle in red and make marks at 3/4 in intervals starting at 1 inch for the first interval off the side.

Iron each mark well.

Now, stitch each ironed fold leaving a 1/4 inch allowance.

This will be your centre square when all tucks have been stitched.

Iron the tucks to both sides lightly just enough to flatten the fabric between tucks.

Turn around tucked piece and mark it at 3/4 in intervals.

Start stitching two tucks together on the 3/4 in intervals. Stitch tucks a couple of times.

Each time the needle goes down, do a double stitch on the back to avoid pulling down the tucks you just stitched together.

Do a double stitch as well when you move from one pair of stitched tucks to the next pair to avoid pulling.

When you finish the first line, start on the second line.

Make sure you stitch the tucks in a honeycomb shape, i.e. in the first line you started stitching tuck 1 and tuck 2 together and so on; on the second line you will start stitching tuck 2 and tuck 3 together and so on.

Complete the honeycomb stitching.

Either iron the ends of the tucks or add a stitch to each couple of tucks as per photo. This will help when stitching the square to the border.

Stretch the square on to a padded surface and pin.

Steam it with the iron and let it dry.

Unpin when dried.

Trim to 5 inches square.

Cut two 5 in x 3 ½ in rectangles and two 11 in x 3 ½ in rectangles for the border.

After stitching the side tucks will come right up to the seam.

And here is the finished block!

Textured blocks tutorials

This is the 16th block in a series of 25 exploring texture in fabric.

Each block is made out of a centre 5 inch square featuring some fabric texture such as pin tucks, smocking, shirring and the like. Then a 3 1/2 wide border encloses each centre square.

The colour scheme is red and white/cream alternating reds and white/cream for the centre square and border.

Some of the textures show better on plain colours than on heavily patterned fabric.

See all Textured quilt sampler tutorials for this quilt.

Share your pictures

Are you making this quilt? Share your pictures on Flickr’s TeresaDownUnder group.