Midnight Circus: April Three Quarter Square Units

vafibrearts
Apr 7
5 min read

Hello Friends and Welcome Back!

Last week, it turns out I was a little too optimistic thinking the internet would be set up and the blog back to its regular schedule. Instead, today I've found myself at a local library!

It's nice to get out of the house and explore the new community, though I would have preferred to do it in warmer weather. Why has the start of April brought more snow?!?

I suppose more cold weather just means more time for staying in a working on the next step of the Midnight Circus quilt along!

April Units

This month, we're making another repeat unit, the Three Quarter Square! We made the first set of these units back in January from fabrics F and E, but for the month of April, we'll be making some new ones from fabrics A and E!

As in January, you'll notice a long diagonal seam through the unit. In the photo above, it runs from the upper left corner to the bottom right, but when making your units, it doesn't matter which direction that seam travels!

And once again, you'll have three construction methods to choose from when assembling your Three Quarter Squares; patchwork piecing using templates, stitch and flip, and four at a time! If you're happy with the method you chose last time, you can use that again, or you can try something new this time!

Pattern Notes

pattern assumes 44" usable width of fabric (WoF)
sew all seams using a ¼” seam allowance
press each seam before sewing the next and before trimming units
read all pattern instructions and notes before beginning to piece
optional printable templates can be downloaded here:

Patchwork Pieced Three Quarter Square Units

This method makes one unit at a time using smaller pieces, accommodating the use of fabric scraps and remnants.

Pieces are cut using printable templates.

Cutting Instructions

Cut the pieces that correspond to your chosen quilt size.

Single Three Quarter Square Unit:

Fabric A - 1 large triangle

1 medium triangle

Fabric E - 1 medium triangle

Small Quilt:

Fabric A - 4 large triangles

4 medium triangles

Fabric E - 4 medium triangles

Medium Quilt:

Fabric A - 12 large triangles

12 medium triangles

Fabric E - 12 medium triangles

Large Quilt:

Fabric A - 20 large triangles

20 medium triangles

Fabric E - 20 medium triangles

Piecing Instructions

Select one medium triangle each of fabrics A and E.

Place them right sides together and sew along one short side to make a large pieced triangle.

Place the pieced triangle on the large fabric A triangle with the right sides together. Sew along the long side.

Trim the finished Three Quarter Square unit to 4½” square.

For a small quilt, make 4.

For a medium quilt, make 12.

For a large quilt, make 20.

Stitch and Flip Three Quarter Square Unit

This method makes one unit at a time using smaller pieces, accommodating the use of fabric scraps and remnants, but does produce some fabric waste.

Pieces are cut using quilting rulers.

Cutting Instructions

Cut the pieces that correspond to your chosen quilt size.

Single Three Quarter Square Unit:

Fabric A - 1 rectangle at 4½” x 2½”

1 square at 4½”

Fabric E - 1 rectangle at 4½” x 2½”

Small Quilt:

Fabric A - 4 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”

4 squares at 4½”

Fabric E - 4 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”

Medium Quilt:

Fabric A - 12 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”

12 squares at 4½”

Fabric E - 12 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”

Large Quilt:

Fabric A - 20 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”

20 squares at 4½”

Fabric E - 20 rectangles at 4½” x 2½”

Piecing Instructions

Select one rectangle each of fabrics A and E.

Draw a 45° diagonal line on the back of one of the rectangles, starting in one corner and touching the middle of the opposite long side.

Place the two rectangles right sides together with the drawn line facing up. Sew along the drawn line.

Trim the excess fabric from the corner, leaving 1⁄4” for seam allowance.

Draw a 45° diagonal line on the back of the pieced corner unit, running from the fabric E corner to the fabric A corner.

Place the pieced corner unit on the remaining fabric A square with the drawn line facing up.

Sew along the drawn line.

Trim the excess fabric from the incomplete corner, leaving ¼” for seam allowance.

Trim the finished Three Quarter Square unit to 4½” square.

For a small quilt, make 4.

For a medium quilt, make 12.

For a large quilt, make 20.

Four at a Time Three Quarter Square Unit

This method makes multiple units at a time using large squares of fabric, requires yardage or large fabric remnants.

Pieces are cut using quilting rulers.

Cutting Instructions

Cut the pieces that correspond to your chosen quilt size.

Four Three Quarter Square Units:

Fabric A - 1 square at 5½”

2 square at 5"

Fabric E - 1 square at 5½”

Small Quilt:

Fabric A - 1 squares at 5½”

2 squares at 5"

Fabric E - 1 squares at 5½”

Medium Quilt:

Fabric A - 3 squares at 5½”

6 squares at 5"

Fabric E - 3 squares at 5½”

Large Quilt:

Fabric A - 5 squares at 5½”

10 squares at 5"

Fabric E - 5 squares at 5½”

Piecing Instructions

Select one large square each of fabrics A and E. Draw a 45° diagonal line on the back of one of the squares, running from corner to corner.

Place the two squares right sides together with the drawn line facing up. Sew ¼” to either side of the line.

Cut along the drawn line to separate into two half square triangles.

Trim to 5" square.

Draw a 45° diagonal line on the back of one half square triangle, running from the fabric E corner to the fabric A corner.

Place the half square triangle on one of the small fabric A squares with the drawn line facing up.

Sew 1⁄4” to either side of the line.

Cut along the drawn line to separate into two units.

Repeat with the remaining half square triangle and small fabric A square.

Trim the finished Three Quarter Square units to 4½” square.

For a small quilt, make 4.

For a medium quilt, make 12.

For a large quilt, make 20.

Full pattern instructions for all three assembly methods, including a few additional tips, can be downloaded here:

Unfortunately, since I'm still dealing with moving and all affiliated changes, I don't have an update on my sample quilt this month, but I hope to share something about that soon!

Friends, it has been so nice to revisit my regular routine with this month's Midnight Circus update! Please let me know how your quilt is coming along in the comments below, by sending me an email, or by tagging your posts on social media using #midnightcircusquilt!

The next step of the quilt along will release next month on 05 May, so don't forget to visit me again then!

In the meantime, I hope my home internet will be installed soon and that I'll be able to get back to my regular social media updates and blogging schedule!