Planning

The key to this mini quilt is the fabric selection. To select your own unique fabrics, I suggest auditioning your choices for the fabrics side by side to evaluate the effectiveness of the color value and color gradient between each transition. Taking a photograph of the fabric you are auditioning and looking at the image in grayscale is a helpful method to evaluate the transition in value more effectively.

The fabric requirements and instructions are written with Fabric A being the lightest value, Fabric B being a mid tone, and Fabric C being the darkest value.

Fabric Requirements

Fabric A – Fat Quarter or ¼ yard

Fabric B – ⅔ yard

Fabric C – Fat Quarter or ¼ yard

Binding – ¼ yard | (3) 2 ½ʺ x WOF strips

Backing – ¾ yard | 27ʺ x 27ʺ

Cutting Instructions

WOF = Width of Fabric

Fabric A (Fat Quarter)

• Cut (2) 5 ½ʺ x WOF strips
  • Subcut (4) 5 ½ʺ x 5 ½ʺ squares

Fabric A (¼ yard)

• Cut (1) 5 ½ʺ x WOF strip
  • Subcut (4) 5 ½ʺ x 5 ½ʺ squares

Fabric B

• Cut (2) 5 ½ʺ x WOF strips
  • Subcut (8) 5 ½ʺ x 5 ½ʺ squares
  • Subcut (4) 4 ½ʺ x 4 ½ʺ squares
• Cut (1) 8 ½ʺ x WOF strip
  • Subcut (1) 8 ½ʺ x 8 ½ʺ square
  • Subcut (4) 4 ½ʺ x 8 ½ʺ rectangles

Fabric C (Fat Quarter)

• Cut (2) 5 ½ʺ x WOF strips
  • Subcut (4) 5 ½ʺ x 5 ½ʺ squares
• Cut (1) 4 ½ʺ x WOF strip
  • Subcut (4) 4 ½ʺ x 4 ½ʺ squares

Fabric C (¼ yard)

• Cut (1) 5 ½ʺ x WOF strip
  • Subcut (4) 5 ½ʺ x 5 ½ʺ squares
  • Subcut (4) 4 ½ʺ x 4 ½ʺ squares

Pool Tile Piecing Instructions: Hourglass Blocks

Half-Square Triangles (HSTs): Two at a Time Method

1. Place two squares right sides together.
2. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the lightest fabric.
3. Sew a scant-¼ʺ seam allowance on either side of the marked diagonal line. Press to set seams.
4. Cut along the marked diagonal line to form (2) HSTs. Press seams open.
5. Using (4) Fabric A and (4) Fabric B 5 ½ʺ x 5 ½ʺ squares, make (8) A/B HSTs. Leave untrimmed.
6. Using (4) Fabric B and (4) Fabric C 5 ½ʺ x 5 ½ʺ squares, make (8) B/C HSTs. Leave untrimmed.

Half-Square Triangles

Hourglass Blocks

1. Place an A/B and a B/C HST, right sides together, matching the direction of the HST seam for both blocks and alternating the colors.
2. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner running perpendicular to the HST seam.
3. Sew a scant-¼ʺ seam allowance on either side of the marked diagonal line. Press to set seams.
4. Cut along the marked diagonal line to form (2) A/B/C/B hourglass blocks. Press seams open.
5. Trim hourglass blocks to 4 ½ʺ x 4 ½ʺ square.
6. Repeat to create (16) A/B/C/B hourglass blocks.

Tip: To get a crisp point in the center of your hourglass block, line up the seams accurately. I use 2 positioning pins (each pin 1″ from the marked center line). Insert a pin from the top layer directly through the seam (seams that are pressed open make this easier). Turn the fabric over to confirm that the pin is passing through the other seam. Adjust if necessary.

Hourglass Blocks

Pool Tile Mini Quilt Top Assembly

Noting the orientation of the hourglass blocks, follow the assembly sequence illustrated below to sew the pool block together, pressing each seam open. The pieced mini quilt top should measure 24 ½ʺ x 24 ½ʺ square.

Pool Tile Mini Quilt Assembly Sequence

Quilt Construction

1. Layer backing (wrong side up), batting, and quilt top. Baste the layers together using your preferred method. Quilt as desired.
2. From your binding fabric, cut (3) 2 ½ʺ x WOF strips and join the strips together using your preferred joining technique to create a double folded binding roll. Trim quilt square and bind using your favorite binding technique.

Congratulations! You have completed a Pool Tile Mini Quilt! I would love to see what you create. If you are on Instagram, tag me (@QuiltingJetgirl) and any images of your quilt using #PoolTileMiniQuilt. Or send an email to jetgirl8(at)gmail(dot)com with a photograph or a link to a blog post about your quilt!

Linking up with Tips and Tutorials Tuesday.