Stack ‘n’ Slash allows quilters to escape from rigid grids and formal designs. If two fabrics are used, when the fabrics are stacked, cuts are complete and the fabrics shuffled there will be two blocks, one the reverse of the other. If more fabrics are used, more blocks will be created. These instructions will create two 9-patch blocks (like the two shown top left) about 6.5” square. If you make two more using the same instructions you can join them into a 12.5” block. Or you could make two star blocks and alternate the stars and 9-patches in your 12.5” block.
Collect
Two fabrics that go together but differ in pattern, colour or contrast.
Cut
One 8” square of each of your two fabrics.
Construct
Stack the two fabrics exactly on top of one another, right sides both facing up.
Slash along two vertical lines and two horizontal lines through both squares at the same time using a ruler and rotary cutter. Do not move the fabrics when you move the ruler.
Shuffle the units you have created as follows:
In the four corners and centre of the 9-patch move the top fabric to the bottom of the pile.
Leave the four other fabric pieces where they are.
Separate out the pieces for the two 9-patch blocks, the top layer and the bottom layer.
Sew each strip of 3 pieces together then joining each strip to form the final 9-patch block. The easy bit is that you do not have to butt the points and they will look a little skewed.
Note that as you join all the pieces together the edge of the block will be very rough. Don’t panic.
Trim the blocks to 6.5” squares.
Stack and Slash Stars
To make the star block there will be more cuts made so more fabric will be taken up in seams. To make a more symmetrical star make sure the centre is roughly pentagonal. Cut out a small rough pentagon and place it in the centre of the star before making your slashes. It is also best to allow the slash lines to cross by a small amount (about ½”) at the edges of the fabric. This is shown in the diagram below. The small cross over pieces will disappear when the joins are made.
When shuffling the two fabrics for the star move the background pieces to the underneath and leave the star pieces as they are.
When sewing the strips for this star the two side strips of three will be easy to see but the two “feet” of the star should be attached as follows before joining the centre strip:
Join the left hand “foot” to the background piece between the two “feet”.
Join the right hand “foot” to the correct side of the centre of the star.
Join these two units together.
Join this 4-piece unit to the top point of the star.
Trim excess bits from both sides of this triangle to create straight edges.
Now the three strips can be pressed then joined together without trying to butt the points. Use the straight edges of the centre strip as your sewing alignment to ensure you sew a straight line.
Variations
You can use any number of slashes and any number of fabrics (as long as you can cut through them) to create blocks with this technique.
You might like to try a 9-patch block with nine fabric squares or even a star using four fabrics as shown below.
Notes and Tips
If you are unsure of the technique experiment first using left over fabrics.
Helpful Resources
Try searching the internet for Stack ‘n’ Slash or Stack ‘n’ Whack.
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