45-Degree Angle Strip Tube Quilt Block Tutorial

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Sometimes it is fun and relaxing to create a fast and easy quilt block that can turn into a future quilt project, especially if you haven’t been doing much quilting lately like me.

Yesterday I pulled out some of the 5-inch strips I had received from Island Batik and decided to make a few 45-degree angle quilt blocks.

45-Degree Angle Strip Tube Quilt Block

45-degree angle strip quilt block

Follow along with me!

Grab some fabrics from your stash and cut some 5-inch strips of fabric. This is a great way to use up some of those beautiful fabrics you’ve been holding on to.

Choose your fabrics

Pick two different fabrics that coordinate or just look good together. I used batiks but any quilt fabrics will do.

I lucked out and had three 5 inch strips of a beautiful multi-color batik and some yardage of the teal batik that I had used for my Churn Dash placemats which I cut into 2½” strips.

Choose two different coordinating fabrics for your quilt block

Strip Tube Quilt Blocks

I decided to make some easy strip tube blocks. Have you ever made them?

The first thing you want to do is cut your fabric into 2½ inch strips. You will need two 2½ inch strips of both colors to make a tube.

At first, I wasn’t sure what I was going to make so I just cut and sewed enough strips to make one tube.

For a project like this, I usually just use my O’Lipfa Ruler which has a lip edge. The lip edge fits along the edge of my cutting board and works like a T-square to help you make a straight cut. There are several different rulers, but I prefer the 5-inch wide by 24-inches long. I am on my third one (over about 10 years) as the measurement lines on the bottom eventually wear off. This time I put Omnigrid InvisiGrip on the back of the ruler to protect the lines and so far that has really made a difference.

If you have an AccuQuilt GO! cutter and the AccuQuilt 2½ inch strip cutter will make fast work of cutting strips for you.

Cutting the fabric in strips for the strip tube quilt block

Cutting

  • Cut 2 – 2½” x WOF (width of fabric) strips of the batik multi-print
  • Cut 2 – 2½” x WOF strips of the teal batik

Sew strips together

  • Sew strips of both colors together lengthwise with a Âĵ” seam allowance
  • Carefully press the strips toward the dark fabric
  • Your strip set should be 4Âĵ inch wide
Sew the fabric strips together

Make a tube

Now that you have two strips sets sewn, place them right sides together with opposite fabrics facing. Sew down one side of the tube and then turn around and sew the other side in the opposite direction to keep your tube from bowing. Both sides are sewn with a Âĵ inch seam allowance to form the tube.

Sew the strips into tubes

Strip Tube Blocks

First cut

Most long rulers have a 45-degree line on them, I laid that line on the seam allowance of my strip tube and then cut off the corner.

Ruler with 45-degree mark

The rest of the cuts

Next, turn the ruler around so the writing is backward and line up the 45-degree line with the seam allowance again and cut the block. There will be a couple of stitches at the top of the block but they will pull out easily.

Note: I had to turn the ruler around because I was using a ruler that is only 5 inches wide. If you are using a larger square ruler just slide the ruler up to the top seam allowance, line it up to the point and then cut.

Cutting the strip tube blocks with the ruler

Simple but not perfect cuts

Many times I have said that I don’t get stressed about perfect blocks. I know some of you will cringe when you find out how I cut the rest of the blocks. I just laid the first one on the tube and cut another one. Then I kept repeating this.

Are the blocks exactly the same size? I didn’t measure them but they are close enough for a small quilt project.

Would I use this method with a large quilt? No

Simple but not perfect way to cut the quilt blocks

I was able to cut nine small blocks and I only need eight small blocks to make two four section large blocks.

The blocks have bias edges so be very, very careful pressing.

I almost forgot to show you the oops that I did. Take a look at the photo of the first cut that I made. I didn’t pay attention to the fact that the strips weren’t the same length.  I was lucky that I ended up with one extra block that I didn’t need.

Cut the strip tube wrong

It would be impossible to use this block. Don’t worry, I’ll use it for something else!

Strip block shown that is cut incorrectly

4 Blocks

Here you can see the way I am thinking of sewing my blocks together.

45-degree strip block shown 2 difference ways

Here is the block arrangement I decided to go with. In my next post, I’ll show you what I decided to make with the blocks.

Update: I have finished the 45 degree strip piecing quilt project with these blocks, check it out!

45-degree ruler quilt block in 4 sections

Other quilt tutorials you might enjoy

Flooding update:

The Mississippi River is finally going down and restaurants along the river have been able to open. We have left our wall and sandbags up and will until the water is down a couple more feet.

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Connie with her dogs

About Connie

Hi, I’m Connie Kresin Campbell, the quilter, writer, and photographer behind Freemotion By the River. I enjoy inspiring others with my quilt tutorials and patterns. You’ll also see my sweet adopted dogs from time to time.

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17 Comments

  1. Joyce Wigsten says:

    I love your tutorial and color choices! I too agonize about neatness and just need to let it go. Do you have any advice for making larger diamonds? I found a quilt that has smaller and larger diamonds offset from each other and would love to try it soon. The larger diamonds are 5 layers deep.

  2. I want to make this block using 6″ strips. How do I figure out the size I need to make the other pieces for the block? Thank you!

  3. I am a real beginner and don’t know what the term strip tube means. I have a lot of fabric and am anxious to begin with some of your smaller projects before jumping into a quilt.

    1. Hi Judith,

      A strip tube is made by sewing two or more strips of fabric together lengthwise – both sides are sewn. You can make a tube with as many strips as you like. Good luck!

    2. Judith, if you go to Missouri Star quilt Co, they have a lovely tutorial for tube stripping. I think it is called Summer in the Park.

  4. I understand the flooding issue. I have just finished getting our house finished following flooding from Florence Last fall. I love your color combination and how it is placed within the block. Glad you had time to do something fun.

  5. Great tutorial Connie. You couldn’t have paired more perfect strips.

  6. Beautiul colors, Connie. I like making strip tube quilts.

  7. Forgot to mention that I also like the Strip Tube ruler and she starts us off with one right away. I did and it came out great. Made a breast cancer awareness one using a variety of pinks. So much fun.

  8. I like your attitude about not obsessing. For me, quilting is fun and relaxing. Yes, I try to do my best and match seams, etc. but sometimes it doesn’t happen. If it is not really obvious it stays. My first quilt teacher alsaid to use the three foot rule: if you don’t see it from three feet don’t worry about it so I don’t. I’m happy.

  9. Diana nelson says:

    So glad to hear from you. Living rooms make great temporary sewing rooms. Love the blocks and design idea.

  10. Those colors are so pretty – makes me think of the water in the Caribbean.

  11. Nancy. Davis says:

    Thanks for this tutorial, I’ve got some left over strips and, like you, need to locate my strip tube ruler. No flooding here, just travelling and yard work. Rainy days are housework and quilting.
    Nancy

    1. Hi Nancy, using the Strip Tube ruler makes it much easier, if we ever get moved I know I’ll find mine!

  12. I love your tutorials — so easy to follow. And bless you for ‘fessing up to boo-boos. We all make them and feel so foolish when we do, but your confession makes you a real person and makes us less-skilled folks feel a lot better about the ones we make. Good luck with the aftermath of the flooding.

    1. Hi Ginny,

      I’m all about sharing my boo-boos! I’m not perfect and have no desire to be. For me, quilting has always been a fun and relaxing hobby and I am hoping others will feel the same way. So many people stress over exact seams or hesitate to free motion quilt…..I say just do it!