An idea for layer cake squares

Not long ago, I came across this tutorial from Noodlehead for using up 10 inch squares.  I had quite a few stored away that I had bought from Connecting Threads last summer.  (Mostly because I wanted to bring my total up to what I needed for free shipping!) The squares I have are a mixture of bright solids, some tone on tone brights, and a set of prints called Saltwater, that have cute little creatures on them like mermaids and whales.  I decided to give this a try!  The tutorial I linked to has great directions, but I also took a bunch of photos to show how you make a block.  Something I really like about these blocks is that you get four 9 inch blocks out of four 10 inch squares!

You start by making HSTs out of two of your squares, using the method where a line is drawn from corner to corner and you sew 1/4 inch on either side of the line.

Before cutting these HSTs apart on the drawn line, turn the squares the other direction and cut across the sewn line.

Then you cut each of those pieces in half, and you will end up with four units like these below.

After pressing, they should look like these.

Using two of the four above units, lay them out on a third square as shown below.

At this point, the tutorial emphasizes that you should pin carefully because you are working with the bias edge of the fabric, and it will stretch easily.  After pinning, stitch a 1/4 inch seam across both sides where you have pinned.

Then cut from corner to corner across the square.

After pressing, your new block will look like these.  Remember, you get four of these out of four 10 inch squares.  They do need to be trimmed, and will end up to be 9 inches, unfinished.

I made 36 of these blocks, and here's one way they could be laid out.  Depending on the colors you are using (mine is pretty bright and uncontrolled!), you could end up with a variety of fun designs!

I'm thinking this one will make a great donation quilt, so after I trim up the blocks, I'll get busy sewing the rows together and finish it up!

Linking up with Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is More Fun than Housework today!