The Charlotte Quiltalong Week 4 - Finishing Our Blocks
Welcome to Week 4 of the Charlotte Quiltalong! This is our final week of block construction — which means your quilt top is about to come to magically appear in front of you — just kidding! But we are getting close. I never get tired of seeing stacks of finished blocks ready to be arranged into something beautiful.
Progress Check: Perfect Quilt Blocks Are Rare (and That’s OK!)
Let’s be real — not every quilt block is going to be perfect. Small differences in seam allowance, fabric thickness, or even pressing technique can affect your points, especially when we have lots of little pieces.
The good news? Most of those tiny imperfections will disappear once your quilt is assembled and quilted. If you’d like a refresher on getting an accurate scant ¼” seam allowance, check out my this post from the Luna Quiltalong — figuring out how to get an accurate scant ¼" seam allowance will help you with every quilt.
Tips for Sewing and Finishing Charlotte Quilt Blocks
Here are my go-to strategies for getting great results as you finish piecing your blocks:
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Check your fabric combos before sewing – Make sure you’re happy with the color and value balance in each block.
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Mix it up – Vary colors and fabric values across your quilt to keep things dynamic.
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Press as you go – I press my seams open for flatter blocks. Once finished, I place a large square ruler on top with a book or weight overnight — it keeps blocks crisp and flat for quilt top assembly.
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Stay organized – Keep your blocks in order or be better than me and keep things labeled.
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Pin when it counts – I skip pins for 2.5” pieces but use them for longer seams or when matching points.
🎥 Watch This Week’s Charlotte Quiltalong Video
In this week’s video, I’m sharing some tips about how to pin your blocks to get your seams to line up (or close to it). There is not just one way to do it so do what works best for you!
📸 Share Your Charlotte Quilt Blocks
I love seeing your blocks come together! Post your progress photos on Instagram, tag @kitchentablequilting, and use #thecharlotteqal.
🗓️ Instagram Live Q&A – Block Construction Edition
Join me Tuesday at 1pm PT on Instagram Live for a Q&A. We will probably keep this one pretty short because I am getting ready to go out of town on Wednesday, so let me know ahead of time if you have any questions!
Next week, we are taking a break/catching up so don't feel stressed if you are a little behind.