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Some quilt block patterns, such as Woven Ribbons, require the use of the partial seam technique to complete the sewing of the design. These designs typically have a center square surrounded by four identically shaped pieces in a sort of whirling effect. If you want to practice this technique before using it in a project, cut the following fabric pieces and follow the steps below.

• one 3” center square
• four 3” x 6” rectangles

Although the practice block uses rectangles around a center square, it is possible to have pieces of other shapes if the center square is rotated or off-center. (For example, Woven Ribbons has triangles surrounding the center square.)  The technique is the same no matter what the surrounding shapes are.  In fact, the center piece doesn’t even need to be a square!

I often use this method to sew borders on my quilts, since I find it easier and quicker than mitered borders, and yet more interesting than two strips sewn first to the sides, then to the top and bottom. Try it yourself!

Step 3: Now fold over the nearly completed block along the very first, partially sewn seam. Line up the raw edges and finish sewing the seam as shown by the dotted red line in figure 3. Press block and you’re done!

Figure 3: Finish sewing the seam that joins rectangle 1 to the center square and along the side of rectangle 4, as shown by the dotted red line.

Step 2: Place the second rectangle as shown in figure 2, to the left of the first rectangle and the center square.  Sew the seam and press toward the center square. Add the third rectangle in the same way, and then add the fourth rectangle, pressing the seam each time toward the center square.

Figure 2: Sew rectangles 2, 3, and 4 around the center square counter-clockwise, sewing each seam completely.

Figure 1:  Sew along the first part of the seam (red line). Leave the second part of the seam unstitched for now.

Step 1:  Place the first rectangle next to the center square exactly as shown in figure 1. Sew only the first part of the seam as indicated by the red line, stopping and backstitching midway along the seam line on the center square.