Tumbling blocks

This Little Gem starts with some scrappy fabrics (prints) - and a larger piece of solid background. First make the "sandwich" of top fabric, batting (I used a piece of old woolen blanket), and backing. Make it a bit larger than the finished size - mine usually start out about 13" x 10".

Then cut 3" squares from your fabrics, and play around with them till the arrangement pleases you.

Put the squares to one side (pin them where they overlap).

The next step is to quilt the sandwich. I used wavy lines from top to bottom, but any free motion pattern will be fine. A variegated thread that tones in with your background is nice, or else a shiny rayon - or whatever you have on hand.

Pin the squares on the quilted background, and then sew them down with a straight stitch round the edges.

The back looks like this - I lifted some of the overlapping squares to be able to sew right the way round.

Once the squares are securely in place, go round the edges with a zigzag stitch - either open or a satin stitch, like here. Leave long thread ends so it's easy to bury them.

If you're doing this part by hand, use any decorative stitch - blanket stitch, feather stitch, or herringbone cover well.

Here's the back at this point. Use an A4-sized piece of paper as a template for cutting the Little Gem to size. (I usually stitch round the outside of the paper first, and remove the paper and stitch again just inside those lines, then trim along the first (outside) set of stitched lines. But you can simply cut round the paper, and then add the binding.)

Finish the edges with a satin stitch or a narrow binding. This one is closely satin stitched in a variegated blue.

Add a label - and it's done!