Celtic Twist Quilt Block

celtic twist block quilt tutorial

Celtic Twist Quilt Block

By Hatun Comak → Monday, February 23, 2026

 The Celtic twist quilt block is one of those blogs which looks hard to make. It looks fascinating with full of movement. 

The woven effect makes it intricate. Good news is that it isn't as hard as it looks. The biggest challenge is to arrange the pieces correctly. Here I prepared a step by step tutorial with manageable steps so you can make this intricate block easily.

 The Celtic twist block is made up of rectangles and squares. You need a background fabric and four different fabrics for the twists.

Fabric Requirements

You need a background and four additional fabrics in coordinating colors.

Step by step Tutorial

• First of all, we need to cut the fabric in to pieces. Below is the cutting list for each color.

Background fabric

4 pieces 3 1/2" × 6 1/2"

1 piece   3 1/2" × 3 1/2"

4 pieces  2" ×2"

Twist fabrics

Cut the following from each fabric:

1 piece 2" × 5"

1 piece 2" × 3 1/2"

3 pieces 2" × 2"

• After cutting the pieces, we begin sewing with the Center square. Pick 3 1/2" background square and the four 2" x5" rectangles. Arrange the strips around each edge of the square. The placement of each rectangle is up to you.

• Take the top strip and the square. Line up the strip along the side of the square with one edge flush with the square's edge. The other edge will be overhanging. Sew along this side. Leave 1/2" unsewn at the end of the square.

• Sew the next rectangle strip to the right side of the square. Sew the other rectangle strip to the bottom of the square, then fold back the first strip, place the last rectangle along the left side of the square. Sew it in place. Do not forget to press toward the rectangle after sewing each square.

• Fold down the top strip and finish off the seam.

• Now it is time to arrange the remaining pieces so that we get the twisted look. Start with placing the background rectangles on each side of the square. Continue working on one side at a time. Pick the remaining fabric pieces that match each strip on the center square. Finish arranging each fabric piece as seen in the image below.

• Next, create the triangle corners on the background rectangles. Flip the squares to make them upside down right sides together.
• Sew the pieces together, squares on top, from one corner of the square to the other corner.

• Repeat with the other square. Trim the triangle piece off the corners. Press towards triangles. Repeat this for four sides of the block.

• Now we make the corner units. Sew together the two squares and then sew the rectangle to the squares.

• Since we have finished sewing the units together, it is time to assemble the block. Lay out the block to make sure that all the pieces are placed correctly.

• Sew the pieces of each row together.  Then sew the three rows together. Pay attention to the points to be perfect. 

                It's finished! It looks complicated with lots of pieces but once you lay it out and work                 carefully, it is not that tough to finish this Celtic twist block.

Scandinavian Star Ornament

diy christmas ornaments

Scandinavian Star Ornament

By Hatun Comak → Thursday, January 8, 2026

 

If you are looking for different and creative ideas to make your Christmas decoration, Scandinavian Star Ornament is a perfect choice.  

You need two contrasting fabric for getting the best effect from the stars. You can choose any color combinations; red and green, blue and white, red and white or whatever suits your decoration. Here I preferred red and Green which Suits the Christmas spirit best and also they are my facourite colors.

As fabric choices you need to use a quilting cotton as you need a fairly firm fabrics.

The woven Star is double sided for two different looks.

Below is my step by step tutorial on how to make a scandinavian Star ornament.

You will need: 

• 2 pieces of fabric 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" 
• double sided iron on fusible interfacing
• hot glue gun

         

Instructions

Step 1:

Place the interfacing between the wrong sides of the fabric squares. Line up the edges of the two squares, right sides of fabric facing outwards. Iron the squares to bond them.

Step 2:

Using a rotary cutter trim down the square to 6"x6". Then cut the square in 1/2" strings with a rotary cutter. Cutting them right is important in order to get a good looking star.

Step 3:

The ornament is two sided; six strips will be used making red side and six strips will be used to make the other green side.

 Take two strips, fold them in half and finger pressed to create a fold. Now we are making the red side. All strips here will have the right side facing upwards. 

Put some glue across the center fold and place the other strip with its fold crease over the glued area. You create a cross as shown in the Picture below. Check the angles are perfect right angles using the grid on the cutting mat.

Step 4:

The cross is laid out in front of you, line up two more strips; one on each side of the center vertical strip. They should go over the horizontal strip with a space around 1/8" inch from each other. All ends should be in a straight line. Fold back one vertical strip and put some glue on the horizontal strip before pressing it back down. Repeat with the strip on the other side of the center strip.

Take the next two strips and place them on either side of the horizontal strip and do the classic under and over to create a weave at this point. Do not forget to place some glue on the points where they cross with the vertical strips in order to secure the weave in place.

Step 5:

Put some glue on each spot where vertical strips intersects with the two horizontal strips that are on either side of the central horizontal strip.

Step 6:

Take one of the outer strips and turn it, so you see the contrasting fabric, put some glue on the end and then pick up the piece at the right angle closest to it, turn it also to see the contrasting fabric, then place its end over the glued
end. It looks like a flower petal. Repeat this with the other three sides, so you have four petals and two central strips flat. You do not use the central strips at this point.

Step 7:

Put the half-finished red star aside and repeat steps 3 to 6 with the other six strips with the green sides uppermost.

Step 8:

Now you have two half stars finished. Place the red half with the star points facing upward on your worktop. Now place the green half star with the star points facing upwards diagonally across the base half. The star points should equally be distant from each other.

Place the four flat strips into star points and tuck each one under a star point on the one side.  Make sure that the strips are flat.

Step 9:

Flip over the star and lift the ends of the pieces tucked into the star points. Add some glue and press them together. Do the same for the other pieces.

Step 10:

Trim off the tiny bits at the end of each star.

Step 11:

Thread the piece of ribbon through one point star in order to create a loop or you can prefer to  glue the ribbon. 

Your ornament is ready  now.

Making Scandinavian star ornament is a tradition in Nordic countries. It is not only easy but also fun to make. You can have a good time making your own ornaments at home. And not only for Christmas, they are perfect as decorations all year round.

How to make your own diamonds and hexagons for English paper piecing

How to make your own diamonds and hexagons for English paper piecing

By Hatun Comak → Thursday, December 18, 2025

 I like to draft my own templates for English paper piecing. Once I've created a master template I make copies of it and use for my epp projects. You can also draft your own template. I find it easier than searching the net, finding the appropriate ones, downloading, printing and copying. 

Here I Show how to make your own diamond and hexagon templates. 

You'll need graph paper, mechanical pencil and a ruler with 60 degree angle.

If ready, here we go!

• Draw a horizontal line on the graph paper.

• Decide on the size of the diamond. I make them of 3.5 cm. Draw another horizontal line 3.5 cm away.

• Line up the 60 degree mark on your ruler on a horizontal line on the paper. Draw a diagonal line.

• Line up the 3.5 cö mark on the ruler on the 60 degree line that you have drawn. Draw a line. Move the ruler over 3.5 cm and draw onether line. Repeat this until the sheet is full of 60 degree lines.

There it is- a sheet full of diamonds. With these diamonds I am planning to make Lone Star Quilt. A combination of diamonds with other shapes will definitely make amazing motifs.

You can create hexagon templates by using the diamond shape. Red lines show how to draw the hexagon. In this way you can create a page full of hexagons.

Hourglass Quilt Block Tutorial

hourglass quilt block

Hourglass Quilt Block Tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Friday, December 5, 2025

The hourglass quilt block is one of these blocks that has been around and popular in the early twentieth century. It is quite easy to make. For this block I have made a traditional 4-patch block with four hourglasses. With this method you can make different varieties depending on your fabric choices. 
 

Step by Step Tutorial

Step 1: Cutting 

For this block you will need:

Fabric 1 (white) 2 of 7.25" x 7.25" squares

Fabric 2 (red) 1 of 7.25" x 7.25" square

Fabric 3 (newspaper) 1 of 7.25" x 7.25" square

Use the cutting measurements above to get your pieces cut out.

Step 2: Make Half Square Triangles(HSTs) 2-at-a-time.

Place Fabric 1 and Fabric 2 square right sides together. 

Draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner. 

Sew along on both sides of the diagonal line with 1/4" seam allowance.

Using a rotary cutter, cut along the pencil line. Press seams to one side.

Step 3: Quarter Square Triangles 2-at-a-Time

• Arrange your HSTs in correct layout as shown in the picture below. Place opposite colors on top of each other. The seams should be lined up. Secure with a pin.

• Using a pencil, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner, bisecting the seam.
• Sew along on both sides of the diagonal line with 1/4" seam. 

• Cut along the pencil line.

•  Press each completed squares, trim away, dog ears. Each square should be 6.5"

Step 4: Block Assembly

• Arrange your hourglass squares in correct layout.

• Sew together the top row. Press seams in same direction.  Repeat the same for the bottom row.

• Join both rows with 1/4" seam allowance.

• Press your completed block and trim down to 12.5" square.

This block is fun and easy to make with many possibilities.