How to Sew a Monkey Wrench Quilt Block
The "Monkey Wrench" is thought to have been among the first designs in use to signal the impending escape by advising slaves to gather the tools for the journey. The pattern was used by free African Americans and abolitionists as a sign of one's willingness to be a "tool" in the process.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Cotton fabrics
- Sewing and quilting threads
- Sewing and quilting needles
- Straight pins
- Pencil
- Disappearing marker
- Rotary cutter and mat
- Iron and ironing board
- Sewing machine
- Ruler and straight edge
- Scissors
Instructions
-
Cutting and Speed Piecing
-
1
Use a light-colored pencil or a disappearing marker and draw a line 4 7/8 inches from the short side of Fabric C rectangle to divide it in half. Draw a diagonal line on each half starting at the top center and moving out to the bottom corner at either side.
-
2
Place the marked rectangle atop the same-sized piece of Fabric A. Line up the edges, right sides together. Sew along either side of the diagonal lines, 1/4 inch from the line.
-
-
3
Cut along the center line and then along both diagonals. Open the fabric to create four two-color squares, each 4 1/2 inches. Press flat.
-
4
Piece the two 2 1/2 inch by 11 inch strips of Fabric B and C together along the long edge. Press the seam allowance toward B.
-
5
Lay the two-colored strip on the cutting mat. Use the rotary cutter and straight edge to even up the left edge. Cut every 2 1/2 inches to create four rectangles 2 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches.
Piecing the Block
-
6
Take two of the rectangle created in Step 5, Section 1 and sew them together with a 2 1/2 inch square of Fabric A. Place the Fabric B ends to either side of the A square. Stitch to create one long strip that has Fabric C at either end.
-
7
Position two of the two-colored squares on the flat work surface so that the Fabric C corners are pointing down and out from the center.
-
8
Place a two-colored 2 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch strip vertically with the Fabric B up between the two squares. Pin and stitch. Repeat to create two identical strips.
-
9
Set the two strips created in Step 3 on the work surface. Position them parallel to one another. Leave approximately 2 1/2 inches of space between the upper and lower strips.
-
10
Lay the strip created in Step 1 horizontally between the two strips. Pin and stitch together so that the triangles of Fabric A touch the corners of the central square. Position Fabric C around the outer edges of the block.
-
11
Finish the block by layering it with batting and backing fabric. Machine or hand-quilt through all three layers to highlight the design. Frame or use as a pillow top.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Cut a rectangle 4 7/8 inch by 9 3/4 inch from Fabric A and C.
Cut a strip 2 1/2 inches by 11 inches from Fabric B and C.
Cut a 2 1/2 inch square from Fabric A.
Use 1/4 inch seams throughout. Press and block all seams.
More Like This
Comments
-
twoblucrows
Jan 07, 2010
Your "cutting Tips" should have been Step One, and a picture of the finished block or steps would be more helpful, too. This looks like a "Mystery Quilt"
