Piece a Monkey Wrench Quilt Block – Mini Block Monday #26

by LeahDay · Published August 3, 2020 · Updated July 31, 2020

It’s time to piece a Monkey Wrench Quilt Block! This block makes me smile when I think of the character Pin from Mally the Maker and the Queen in the Quilt. My original goal when I drafted this pattern was to have a monkey doll ready to share, but alas, life got in the way… and honestly piecing this block is more than enough of a challenge!

Do you know what helps me the most? Sharing the video! Please share this video with your quilting friends, or even consider including the photos in your guild newsletter. I would LOVE that!

Looking for a pattern for this Monkey Wrench quilt block? It’s all in the video! I’m trying something new with these Mini Block Monday videos and including all the information in the video itself. Just hit “pause” when you need to and write down the pieces to cut.

Is that just not your thing? Here’s a snapshot of the patchwork pieces to get you started:

Mini Monkey Wrench Quilt Block Piecing Instructions

A Monkey Wrench quilt block is actually a Square in a Square block, but with a four patch block in the center. Pay close attention to your piecing arrangement with each “ring” of triangles to ensure you keep the colors spinning in the right direction.

This block is pieced from the center with 2 triangles pieced at a time. When you piece the first set of triangles, make sure to trim off the little “flags” that extend beyond the edges because they can get in your way when piecing the second set.

After you have a ring of triangles pieced to your Square in a Square block, trim it down to the size indicated in the video. Here’s a list just in case you missed it:

1st row of triangles – trim the Square in a Square to measure 2 inches square.

2nd row of triangles – trim the mini block to measure 2 5/8 inches square.

3rd row of triangles – trim the quilt block to measure 3 1/2-inches square

And here’s what it looks like when you finish your Monkey Wrench mini quilt block!

Learn more about the sewing machine I’m using – the Janome 1600P.

Click Here to find a tutorial with my 5 key tips to piecing precisely.

Now if you really want to geek out on quilt piecing, check out my book How to Piece Perfect Quilts to learn the WHAT, WHY and HOW behind everything I do.

Let’s go quilt,

Leah Day