16 herringbone block tutorial.

Want to learn how to make a herringbone block?  Here's your chance!

You will need:

• 14 strips of fabric, 2.5" x 11" long (this is a great use of scraps or a jelly roll!)
• 6.5" x 24" ruler, or a template of a rectangle, 6.5" x 12.5".

Note: all seam allowances are 1/4".

1.  Cut 14 strips, 2.5" x 11" long.  You can cut 2 strips from 7 different fabrics, or just 1 strip from 14 different fabrics, if you want to go scrappy. (This method creates a bit of waste on some of the strips.  While you can always use those bits as part of the back of your quilt, keep this in mind when using your favorite fabrics!  Use those precious strips in the middle of the block, not on the ends.)

2.  Sew two sets of three strips together.  Sew your the fourth strip onto one of the sets of three, 1.5" from the left edge (take a look at the picture below to see what I mean).  Then sew your second set of three onto your fourth strip, 1.5" from the left edge of that strip.  Press all seams open.

3.  Turn your block on it's side so that the left edge of the first three strips are on a diagonal.  Place your 6.5" x 24" ruler or template on top as shown.

4.  Align the left corner of the ruler/template with the intersection of the edge of strips 2 and 3.  Align the right corner of the ruler with the edge of strip 1.

5.  Cut along the bottom edge of your ruler/template.

6.  Cut along the right and left edges of your ruler/template, all the way to the top of the block.

7.  Square up your block to 6.5" x 12.5" by cutting the top side of the block. (If you are using a template, you can just cut along the top side of the template.)

8. One half of your block is finished!

9.  Repeat step 2 with your remaining 7 strips, except stagger your strips from the right side of the first set of three, rather than the left.  The layout of your strips should look like a mirror image of the block in the picture in step 2.

10.  Turn your block on it's side so that the right edge of the first three strips are on a diagonal.  Place your 6.5" x 24" ruler or template on top as shown.  Align the right corner of the ruler/template with the intersection of the edge of strips 2 and 3.  Align the left corner of the ruler with the edge of strip 1.

11.  Cut along the bottom and sides of your ruler/template.

12.  Square up your block to 6.5" x 12.5" by cutting the top side of the block. (If you are using a template, you can just cut along the top side of the template.)

13.  Now both halves of your block are finished!

14.  Pin your blocks together at the center, matching up the seams as you go.

15.  Sew the blocks together, press seams open, and you have a finished block! This block finishes at 12.5" square.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial!  If you make any of these blocks, please post them to the Bijou Lovelies flickr group.  I would love to see how they turn out!