Making a Corner Store Block

Do you remember the Corner Store quilt? I started this tutorial back in 2012 and decided that I would post it. I don’t know why I never finished it, but here it is, a blast from the past. Good topic for a Throwback Thursday, don’t you think?

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I thought a tutorial might be in order for these Corner Store blocks, so you can start on your own. Why would you want to make these blocks after I felt so miserable about the top I made? Because you can choose a different background. You can make the pieces larger. You can do a better job. I have laid the groundwork. Go forth and do better!

Supplies:

  • Basic sewing kit
  • Rotary kit
  • Square rotary ruler in a size slightly larger than the cut size of your blocks (I used a 6″ x6″ Creative Grids ruler)
  • Sewing machine
  • Leftover triangles or squares cut in half on the diagonal. There is no particular size, though larger triangles will be easier to work with.
  • Background fabric to accommodate the size of your quilt.
  • Optional: Judy Martin Point Trimmer

This tutorial discusses a type of foundation piecing.

(A) 4x4 squares
(A) 4×4 squares

First cut some 4×4 squares of your background fabric. Note, you do not have to use white (or Kona Snow as I selected). I would, in fact, suggest something not in the white or cream realm. I think a nice light yellow or creamy kind of grey would look better. Yes, if you choose something else you may need to eliminate triangles in that color range. It will be worth it, because the triangles will show up better against a background that contrasts well.

Nota bene: The triangles you will cut are right triangles. You can take some squares and cut them in half on the diagonal.

Also, you can choose a different sized background square. You can start with a large square to accommodate very large prints in the triangle portion. The directions are the same regardless of the sizes you use. Experiment and see what look appeals to you.

Next: find scraps or cut triangles from yardage. Cut different sized squares in half on the diagonal or use a triangle ruler to cut the shape. You do not have to be precise and there is more movement in the quilt if the triangles are different sizes. The only guideline on size is to make sure that a little bit of the background shows once you sew the triangles to the background.

Once you have your triangles and background squares, it is time to prepare to sew.

Pin Triangle to background
Pin Triangle to background

Next: Position a triangle on your background square, right side of the triangle down on the right side of your background fabric, and prepare to pin in place.

Before you pin, you will need to fold the triangle back on itself, approximating a quarter inch seam so you can ensure that your triangle covers the foundation/background fabric.

If the ears of the triangle are about a quarter inch over the edge of the foundation/background fabric, you should be in good shape.

If you have the Judy Martin Point Trimmer, you can trim off the ears of your triangle and position the now blunt edges of the triangle against the two sides of the foundation/background square.

Sew and press
Sew and press

Sew along the hypotenuse (the long side) of the triangle using a quarter inch seam allowance, then press the triangle back along the seam line.

Once you are sure your triangle has covered the foundation/background fabric, you can fold back the triangle and trim the excess foundation/background fabric away.

Corner Store block and patches
Corner Store block and patches

You will need to put two triangles on each square, so follow the directions above for the second triangle. Once both triangles are sewn to the foundation, use your square ruler.

After while, you will have a big stack of blocks. My quilt has 288 blocks. It is large enough to top a double bed, but my BIL uses it as a large nap quilt on the couch. You can make more or less blocks, depending on the size you want. (Nobody pays me to do this so you’ll have to lay out the blocks as you make them and figure out your perfect size on your own.)

Layout the blocks. Shuffle them around so different colors are touching each other and you have a pleasing layout. Using my tutorial on Chunking, sew your blocks together.

I wanted to give the quilt blocks some space, so I added an inner border that matched the background fabric and then added my outer border.

Corner Store Finished
Corner Store Finished

And this is what you get if you make a whole lot of these blocks!

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Quiltin Jenny
I am linking up with Jenny over at Quiltin’ Jenny blog

Author: Jaye

Quiltmaker who enjoys writing and frozen chocolate covered bananas.

9 thoughts on “Making a Corner Store Block”

  1. This is a great leader and ender project! I’ve been saving up the triangles from sewing binding strips together and from assorted trimmings from other piecing, so I’ve already got lots of triangles ready to go! Now just need to pick a background and cut squares! Great idea, Jaye! Thanks!

  2. Great quilt, I have tons of small, very small triangles and this would be a good project to use them without a lot off fuss.

    I’ve never seen the triangle trimmer. Do you use it whenever you have these types of projects?

  3. Thanks for the tutorial Jaye! I am always looking for great projects like this to use up scraps. While I’ve seen blocks like this before, I really like how you used different sized triangles. It seems to make the overall pattern more interesting.

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