One of our newest technique sheets, Compound Wedge, allows you to use your Wedge Star® tool to put a Wedge Star inside of another Wedge Star. This unique block is a 45° version of our popular Shaded Four Patch technique. This blog post, along with your technique sheet, will allow you to make perfect blocks. Make sure you have your tool instructions nearby to help you with some of the steps.
Use the chart that comes with the technique sheet to determine the size block you'd like to make, and cut your strips. Start by stitching a diamond strip to an inner wedge strip. Make sure you offset the strips by the width of your inner wedge strip. This can easily be done by making a small mark on the diamond strip. Press towards the diamond strip. Pressing direction is important! It will allow everything to nest nicely as you put the finished block together.
Now it's time to cut sections from the strip set. Start by setting the 45° angle using your Wedge Star tool and a ruler. Next, sub-cut sections that are the same width as your diamond strip. We like to use our First Choice™ rulers for this, lining up the 45° line with the center seam to keep that 45° angle as we make cuts.
Right Handed Left Handed
We're going to make two units at a time, just like with the Shaded Four Patch process. Line up two of the sections with the diamond fabric pointing in opposite directions. Offset these sections by 1/4". You should have a dog ear on each side when you place them right sides together. Stitch on the long side, then fold the unit in half and snip down to the seam allowance. It's okay if you go a few threads past the seam.
Press the seam allowance away from the diamonds
To get two separate units, stitching lines will need to be marked on the back of the piece you just made. Line up one of the horizontal guidelines on the Wedge Star tool with the last sewn seam. Make sure the edge of the tool is lined up with the seam intersections. Draw a line and then repeat the process on the other side of the unit.
Right Handed Left Handed
Now it's time to cut the outer point shapes. Find the Outer Point Strip size on the chart that corresponds to the finished block size you're making. Lay the strip open and right side up on the cutting mat. To set the 45° angle we find it easiest to use the Wedge Star tool and a First Choice™ ruler. Then cut sections from the strip using the number from the Outer Point Sub-Cut column on the chart.
Right Handed Left Handed
Position the outer point shape right sides together on with the pieced unit and stitch on the marked lines. Your outer point shape will be slightly larger than the pieced unit, and it may not be the exact same shape as the pieced unit.
Cut the sections apart by lining up the Outside Edge Trim Lines with the seams of the diamonds. You should be cutting 1/4" away from the seam intersections.
Right Handed Left Handed
Be sure to repeat the process for the other side to get rid of the excess seam allowance.
Right Handed Left Handed
Once you have the sections cut apart, press towards the outer point. To finish the unit you will add small wedges to the outer point. Since it is oversized it needs to be trimmed first. Use the Horizontal Guideline number from the chart, and line it up on the seam between the outer point and the inner wedges. The vertical guideline should run through the center of the unit. It's okay if it doesn't pass through the opposite point! Because the outer point is so oversized, you'll be trimming off more than what you might expect.
Use the chart that came with the tool instructions to determine what size to cut the small wedges that will be sewn to the outer point. Next you'll follow the tool instructions to add the small wedges. Press the first small wedge towards the outer point and the second small wedge towards the small wedge. Now you can trim the wedge using the Diamond Trim Down lines for your finished block size. The horizontal guideline you used to trim the outer point should also line up on the seam between the outer point and the inner wedges.
To finish your block, follow steps 1.12 to 1.18 in the tool instructions. You may find that pressing the seams open when you add the small wedges to the outer point makes it easier to assemble the final block. Experiment with the process to find out what works best for you.
We hope you enjoy making your own Compound Wedge blocks! Share your blocks with us on social media using the hashtag (#compoundwedge)!
