How to Make a Cherish Quilt Block (Two Ways!)
Our Cherish quilt pattern has been in the shop since 2018, and it's still a customer favorite. We're giving it our attention again and inviting you to join us! Whether you've made one before, you've started one in the past and it's hiding in the WIP pile, or you're eager to make your first one we hope this blog post helps you find your favorite way to make each block, as well as demystify some of the common snags you may run into as you make your blocks.
by Lisa Sliva
Let's make a Cherish quilt block!
supplies
- Cherish paper pieces (make sure to choose the size you want!)
- Cherish acrylic templates (double check the size corresponds to the paper pieces you chose)
- Cherish PDF pattern
- Rotary cutter
- Quilt ruler
- Cutting mat
- Small craft glue stick
- Sewing scissors and small snips
- Milliners needles, size 9
- Sewing thread (I use Aurifil 50wt)
- Clover Clips
Begin by basting all of your paper pieces to their fabric shapes with your preferred basting method per the pattern instructions.
Method 1: Make the Border Blocks First
1. Start by making a half star using the 6 point diamonds. Begin by sewing two diamonds together from the wide angle down to the point. DON’T CUT YOUR THREAD.
2. Stitch the third diamond to the pair from step 1 from the narrow angle up to the wide angle. Cut your thread.
3. Stitch two half hexagons along the top edge of the half star. Repeat to make a total of 6 border blocks.
4. Sew all of the border blocks around the perimeter of the center hexagon.
Tip! Use clover clips to line everything up!
5. Sew the border blocks to each other.
Method 2: Stitch the Block in "Rounds"
1. Follow steps 1-2 from Method 1.
2. Stitch all of the half stars around the perimeter of the center hexagon.
3. Stitch the half stars to each other where applicable.
Tip! You will likely benefit from pulling out the center hexagon at this point.
4. Stitch the half hexagons into arrows as shown in the diagrams below.
5. Sew all of the half hexagon arrows from step 4 around the perimeter of the block.
Troubleshooting
Buckling Blocks
Even when using laser cut paper pieces like we sell in the shop, sometimes you sew your block together and it buckles and won’t lay flat. This is completely normal because the little bit of fabric that is folded around the paper piece adds a millimeter or two of extra bulk. If you pull the papers and give it a good press, especially with a steam iron, your block should lay nice and flat! (See the first photo in this post.)
Uneven Edges
The Cherish block is interesting because it features pieced border blocks that need to align with a solid center hexagon. Sometimes, these pieced borders, with their extra fabric folds, end up a little wider than the hexagons edge. Here's two ways to manage this issue:
1. First, use the following two blog posts to help you baste and stitch your half stars as accurately as possible.
2. Next, use Clover clips to center the half star along the center hexagon as best you can, then match up the beginning of the seam before sewing. Once you sew to the Clover clip, line up the end of the seam and continue stitching. The beauty of hand stitching is that you can bend and curve the seam slightly to help them align nicely in the end. Once you pull the papers and give it a good press, no one is the wiser! This can help when stitching the border blocks to each other as well.
Dealing with Tails
While the blog post above talks about dealing with diamond tails, I've found a trick for getting the half hexagon tails to nest nicely as well. When you baste them, always begin basting on the short edge that is directly opposite the longest edge.
It doesn't matter which direction your baste (clockwise or counter/anti clockwise) just make sure you go in the same direction for each half hexagon. See the diagram for reference.
Prefer video? Watch how Jodi makes a complete Cherish Quilt block below!
Ready to make your own Cherish quilt?
We hope that this little tutorial has helped demystify our beloved Cherish quilt block as well as common issues you may run into. Be sure to grab the pattern, papers, and acrylic templates to make the whole quilt below!
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