The old-fashion Monkey Wrench quilt block is easy to sew and makes up into a sweet little quilt. Here is a fast and easy way to make the time honored quilt block called Monkey Wrench by using precut 5” charm squares. Using this method, you get a 10 1/4 inch Monkey Wrench quilt block.
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To begin with, you will need seven of the 5” charm squares as follows:
- 2 matching medium or dark prints for the corners
- 2 matching light or medium prints for the corners
- 2 coordinating prints for the rectangles
- 1 print for the center (Cut this square into 4ths, evenly. You will only use 1/4 of this square.)
For my square, I chose the following prints:
Take each of the two matching medium or dark print squares and lay them out with one of the two light or medium print squares on top, right sides together, matching all four edges evenly. Draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner on each of the two sets. For the two coordinating prints, lay them right sides together, matching all four edges evenly.
Starting with the corner sets, stitch 1/4 inch away from each side of the diagonal line you drew.
For the coordinating set, stitch a scant 1/4 inch seam along opposite sides.
When you are done stitching, your pieces should look like this:
Using your rule, cut along the line you drew on the diagonals of the corner pieces.
Cut your coordinating rectangle piece into fourths, evenly.
Press open each piece, pressing the seam allowance to the darker side.
Snip off the rabbit ear pieces from the corner pieces.
Now lay out your pieces in three rows of three segments each, as shown below. Be sure your diagonal seams are all going in the same direction and the diagonal seams run from outside edge to outside edge.
If you don’t like the way your block looks, you can rotate the corner pieces so the prints swap places. Do the same for the rectangle pieces. Play around until you have what looks best to you. Stitch each row’s segments together. Then stitch the rows together, matching seams.
Press the seams flat from the back side. Turn and press smooth from the front side.
Sit back and admire your handiwork and marvel at how quick and easy it was to make this beautiful 10” Monkey Wrench block from 5” charm squares!
Thank you to susies-scraps.com for a great idea! You can see her tutorial and quilt by visiting: https://www.susies-scraps.com/2015/03/13/charmed-by-monkeys-quilt/
Looking for some 5-inch charm packs? Uses my affiliate link to buy your own 5-inch charm packs.