Stitching a Castle Wall Block

All we’ve heard for the past few days is that there’s a big snowstorm headed right for us so I decided yesterday I needed to make a block that really felt like summer. So pinks and greens were my choice for another Castle Wall block.

The first thing I did was use my window template to audition some fabrics to fussy cut for the centre octagon. The fabric in this photo wasn’t the one I used.

Instead I used what was probably the last useful bit of this fabric for fussy cutting. I have been fussy cutting bits from this fat quarter for years and this is all that’s left. I’m not quite ready to toss this, though. I might be able to get one more fussy cut bit out of it.

Then I chose the fabrics to go with the octagon and printed and cut out all the shapes.

As usual, I look for as many continuous stitching possibilities as I can. I used the Inklingo 6″ Castle Wall collection to make this block but this stitching sequence will work for any of the sizes.

The first stitching I did was to join the four HSTs to four of the trapezoid shapes. That’s the only stitching that wouldn’t be continuous stitching, so I wanted to get that done.

Then it’s time to start building the castle wall. For the first bit of continuous stitching, the octagon together with a square and two diamonds are needed.

Begin by stitching the square to one of the diamonds.

Then stitch the next side of the square to the octagon.

And then to the side of the second diamond. So far three seams have been stitched without having to knot and cut the thread, but once the square is stitched to that second diamond, it is time to make a knot and cut the thread. (And yes, you do see some extra printed lines in red on the back of the octagon. I made a mistake when printing and, as that was the last piece of the fabric that was usable for the octagon, my solution was to just reprint using a different ink colour. I have no worries about that extra ink as I have tested and know that the ink will wash right out.)

For the next step, another square and diamond are added.

So pick up the next square and repeat the steps by stitching it to the diamond attached to the previous square, then to the octagon and then to another diamond. And so on until all the diamonds and all but one square have been attached.

Then there will be one square left, which is attached by the same sequence – attaching to one diamond, then the octagon and then to the final diamond side.

Once that square is added in, it looks like this.

At this point, I like to grade and press the seams.

Now it’s time to start adding the trapezoids. And that means loads and loads of continuous stitching. Because I’ve already joined the HSTs to four of the trapezoids, I will just alternate adding a trapezoid and the trapezoid/HST combination and then, once I finish this step, the block will be done.

Just start adding either a trapezoid or trapezoid/HST combo to the diamonds and squares and keep stitching until they’re all added. Once all eight trapezoids are added, all that’s left is to grade the final seams and then press the block.

The front of the finished block.

And the back.

“Design Wall.”

Jake was a little sleepy, I think.

This may be my favourite shot of Baxter. But I say that a lot. He just is a very photogenic kitty!

22 thoughts on “Stitching a Castle Wall Block”

Cathi I love the fabrics you chose for this block. I really like the step by step of how to piece as well. Beautiful block!

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