How to Make Hourglass Units – A Peek Inside the Dilly Dally Quilt Class

In today’s video, I’m sharing a fun and easy tutorial all about making hourglass units (also known as quarter-square triangle blocks). These little gems are a key building block in many quilt patterns, and once you get the hang of them, you can use them in so many different designs! This video is a sneak peek from my Dilly Dally Quilt class, where I walk you through this technique step-by-step.

If you enjoy this video and want to dive deeper into the Dilly Dally Quilt class, you can either:

👉 Purchase the full class here, or

👉 Join the monthly membership for just $15/month and get access to all my quilt classes, including the full Dilly Dally Quilt class, as well as future releases and a wonderful quilting community! Get details here.

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Tips for Making Hourglass Units

Hourglass units are a fun and versatile block, and they can add tons of charm to your quilts. Here are a few of my favorite tips to help make sure your hourglass units come out perfectly every time:

1. Use a scant ¼” seam allowance. This is key for keeping your hourglass units the right size and making sure your points line up exactly where they should.

2. Press your seams open or to the side. This can make a huge difference in how your blocks turn out, keeping everything nice and flat, which is essential for a neat quilt top.

3. Trim your blocks to size. After you’ve sewn and pressed your hourglass units, take the extra time to trim them down. This small step makes a big difference in the final quilt’s precision.

4. Starch before cutting. Pre-starching your fabric helps minimize shifting or stretching while cutting, which will help your hourglass blocks stay nice and sharp.

Making hourglass units can be so rewarding, and I hope this video makes the process fun and easy for you! If you want to learn more techniques like this and join a community of quilters, remember to check out the full Dilly Dally Quilt class or join the membership. Happy quilting! 💕

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Products used in the demo

• My Pressing Station (underneath my wool mat, I have a flannel/vinyl tablecloth protecting the table):
  • Iron
  • ​Wool pressing mat
  • ​Pressing spray
  • ​Misting bottle
  • Dingo pressing and cutting table 
• Cutting Station:
  • Rotary cutter
  • Smaller subcutting ruler
  • Rotating cutting mat
  • 6 1/2″ square ruler or another one I like
  • Washi tape
  • Ruler Grips
• Sewing Machine Station:
  • Juki 2000 on Amazon or Juki 2000 at Sewing Machine Plus
  • Sewing machine light
  • Daylight Slimline lamp 
  • Washi Tape
  • Diagonal Seam Tape
  • Sew Laser
  • Sewing cabinet 
  • Sewing chair 

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