No-Waste Stitch & Flip Quilt Blocks

If you’ve ever made quilt blocks using the Stitch & Flip method, then you might have noticed that there is quite a bit of wasted fabric that gets cut off. I hope you will consider using this no-waste method to turn those wasted bits into useful quilt blocks. This No-Waste Stitch & Flip technique turns your excess fabric into Half Square Triangles which can easily been used in another project!

I want to begin by saying this technique is nothing new and I did not create it, but it is really neat and I want to share! The Connector Quilt pattern, which is available here, uses both Stitch & Flip Quilt blocks and some traditional Flying Geese — which both tend to result in some fabric waste. Fabric waste is sad, so here’s how I remedy that by reducing waste! This method teaches you how to turn that extra corner into a Half Square Triangle Quilt Block for a fun scrappy HST project later on!

First things first, a Stitch & Flip block will require that you draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of your fabric across the middle. To implement the no-waste technique, you will also want to draw another line 1/2″ away from that line.

My favorite tool for marking my lines depends on what fabric I am working with. In the example shown here I’ve used a heat-erasing pen, but I also love using a water-soluble marker at times for thinner fabrics or ones that may be slippery or stretchy like rayon or knits. If you are marking on dark fabric, consider using a chalk pencil so it will show up.

Once your lines are drawn, match up your smaller corner piece where it should go (with right sides together) and stitch along both lines. Next, use your rotary cutter and a ruler to cut directly down the middle between the two lines (1/4″ away from each one, creating your seam allowance on both pieces.)

Using the No-Waste Method for Flying Geese

The Connector Quilt pattern also includes a handful of Flying Geese blocks, made with the traditional method. You’ll be happy to hear that can use this same technique while making Flying Geese as well! The steps are the same as above, but here is a visual that may help clarify the specifics for Flying Geese.

See the Video Tutorial on YouTube: