Crazy Little Triangles Block
Hello Dear Friends, Readers, Patchworkers and Quilters, and warm welcome to today’s post.
Let’s launch right in!
I had a lovely comment from Lisa, one of my readers, who said she loved the block of the Crazy Little Strings Diamond Charms. Crazy Little Strings Diamond Charms Her question was….” could you make the same block but without the strings?”
After some contemplation, I realized that it would be easy to make these blocks in the same kind of way. But in this case, it would be done with triangles. They are made by Foundation piecing.
As always, you could definitely use up a lot of scraps to make this into a quilt, a tabletop runner or even just a small mini quilt, which is a nice way to try something out and see if you like it . If you didn’t want to use scraps, this could also be achieved by cutting from strips.
If cutting from strips or yardage, one could choose more ordered colours rather than scraps of fabric, if that was the preference. I am choosing to make these blocks with some charming 1930’s style prints.
I should think that these blocks would be good for making charity quilts too as they would be much faster than the string version.
Choose your background fabric for make the Foundation squares. This could be any low volume fabrics, or even a bright stark contrasting coloured squares, cut int o 5″ Charm Squares. Depending on the size of the quilt you want to make, will dictate how many 5″ squares to cut. Four of the Foundation units sewn together create the block.
Fat quarters are ideal for these blocks.
Seam allowance 1/4”.
Block size 9 1/2″ x 9 1/2″.
Requirements and Cutting for the Crazy Little Triangles Block
Neutral or solid background fabric cut into 5″ width of fabric strips. Subcut into 5″ x 5″ units. Cut 4 to make one block. These will be the foundation squares.
Contrasting fabrics cut into 6″ width of fabric strips. Minimum of two fabrics for a more ordered design. Or many for a scrappy result.
Important. Begin by putting the two 6″ Width of Fabric (WOF) strips right sides together.
Sub cut into 4″ lengths. Making units 6″ x 4″. Cut 2.
Cut these 2 units carefully once on the diagonal, revealing four sets of triangles.
One set for each unit.
Making the Crazy Little Triangles Units
On one side of the square, measure 2″ exactly from the corner. Using a pencil, mark that point, then make another 2″ mark on the other side of the same corner. The area in between will stay blank down to the opposite corner point. On the diagonally opposite corner point, place two marks 1/4”from each side of the corner. The outside areas will be filled with the triangles.
Begin by placing a triangle right side down on the right side of the 5″ square and overlapping the 2”pencil mark by 1/4 inch. Line up the same edge of the hypotenuse of the triangle with the 1/4” mark on the right side of the diagonal of the foundation square. Ensure that the tips of the triangle are overlapping by approximately the same length on each end. Sew down the hypotenuse of the triangle using a 1/4 inch seam.
Lining up the outside edge of the triangle with the corner will ensure that there is at least a 1/4 inch overlap at the corner point where the fabrics meet. This will ensure the points are not lost when the blocks are sewn together.
Turn the triangle back. Finger press the triangle nice and flat.
Put the next triangle right side down on the unit overlapping the corner 2″ pencil mark overlaying it by 1/4 inch. Line up the other end of the triangle with the 1/4” mark on the opposite diagonal. Sew down the along the hypotenuse of the triangle, using a 1/4 inch seam.
Turn the triangle back towards the outside and finger press flat. Press the unit.
Repeat to make three more units.
Turn the blocks over to the wrong side. Use the rotary cutter to trim the excess from the triangles to line up with the original neutral foundation square.
Optional. To remove bulk, trim with scissors the excess foundation fabric from the wrong side the neutral square to leave a single layer.
Assemble the Units to make the Crazy Little Triangles Block
Position the four units so that the neutral corners of the units meet in the centre to make a star shape.
OR…position the four units with the neutral areas facing each corner to make a block similar to a “Greek Cross”.
Sew together to make a four patch.
OR… you could mix them all up as pictured here.
It is up to you. I have not sewn mine together yet as I am still deciding! Thank you Lisa for the great question!
I sure hope you enjoyed this post and if you have come this far then I hope it all makes sense. Please feel free to comment or email me with any questions or comments.
Happy stitching!
Susie.
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© Susan Stuklis 2025