I knew that the best use of the Island Batik fat quarter bundle I was randomly selected to win for my participation in the 2026 SAHRR was to turn them into more Mini Square in Square charity blocks for Many Hands and Many Hearts. The fat quarters were beautifully sized at 18″ x 22″. Looking at my options for using the bundle as efficiently as possible, I was able to figure out how to make 76 blocks from the 20 fat quarters.
FQ Cuttting – 16 FQs following left, 4 FQs following the right
The illustration above is for a 17½” x 21½” fat quarter. I cut 16 of the fat quarters (the saturated greens, green/orange, and orange fat quarters) following the illustration on the left. The left illustration makes (4) 4½” x 8½” rectangles, (4) 2½” x 8½” rectangles, (4) 2½” x 4½” rectangles, and (5) 2½” squares: enough for the background of four blocks and the mini square in one block. I cut the last 4 fat quarters following the illustration on the right. The right illustration makes (3) 4½” x 8½” rectangles, (3) 2½” x 8½” rectangles, (3) 2½” x 4½” rectangles, and (19) 2½” squares: enough for the background of three blocks and the mini square in sixteen blocks.
Fat Quarters Cut and Organized, Ready to Sew Mini Square in Square Blocks
It took me a few days to get all the fat quarters cut. Once cut, I organized them so that a large 4½” x 8½” rectangle had the other pieces needed for a single block on top of it. It was an impressively tall stack of cut pieces!
Mini Square in Square Charity Blocks
Over the course of a week, I was able to get all 76 of the blocks pieced. Each of the saturated prints (green, green/orange, or orange) have a light tan mini square, and each of the lighter prints have a saturated mini square.
Mini Square in Square Blocks
I sewed ⅛” away from the edge of the block to secure the seams at the edge of each block. This extra seam adds just a bit more security for all the handling that these blocks will undergo until they are sewn into a quilt top.
Yvonne with Mini Square in Square Blocks
I figured I might as well document that I sewed these blocks, so I took a quick timer selfie with them before packaging them up to send to Cynthia and Many Hands and Many Hearts. In combination with the 42 other blocks I sent in April, I guess I made 118 charity blocks this quarter. Wow! These blocks truly sew together quickly and are fun to piece; you still have time to sew up a few Mini Square in Square blocks before the end of the month!
Wow, that is a lot of blocks! I’m sure Cynthia will really appreciate them.
It looks like you made a quilt’s worth of blocks! Nicely done.
Dang!! you went crazy this quarter – and i LOVE these. your diagrams are so cool. I saved them – thats a great way to cut. Great blocks!!!
What a great batch of blocks for a great cause. They are beautiful and you did a great job with your photo, too.
That’s amazing, Yvonne. Good for you!! It was generous (and made sense) to use the batiks in this way.
I always love how you approach a task — this one is a real learning lesson for me, in that I should think about how cutting can ease a project’s progress, or slow it down. I love that stack of pieces. What a great use of your prize from SAHRR, and I love that final photo!
Gorgeous fabrics, and I like the simple but effect blocks you did! Love the photo of you—your turquoise shirt is a perfect complement to all that orange :-)
Wow! You made really good use of those fat quarters. Those will make a beautiful quilt mixed all together. That’s a lot of sewing!
These are great blocks and will make a great quilt. I love seeing how you cut your fat quarters to get the most of them. Thanks for sharing that!