1 quilt block, 3 disappearing quilt block options!

Yesterday I showed how to use the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 to make a simple, disappearing quilt block. Today I’ll make 2 quilt blocks, rearranging the fabric placement in each one for a different effect.

fabric for 18″ block

• 5 different fat quarters or scraps from your stash. I used leftover Banyan Batiks Island Vibes fabric from my QUILTsocial post Curved strip piecing with the NEW Banyan Batiks Island Vibes – March 2019. Check it out!

cutting instructions

Fabric 1

• (1) 9½” square

Fabric 2

• (4) 2¾” x 9½” rectangles

Fabric 3

• (4) 2¾” x 9½” rectangles

Fabric 4

• (2) 6″ squares

Fabric 5

• (2) 6″ squares

sewing instructions

Half Square Triangles

I’ll use the laser light on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 in a little different way than I did on yesterday’s quilt block. By default, the laser line is in the center. The screen will show a reading of 3.5mm. But today, I’ll move it to the left as far as it will go. So easy to do on the Brother BQ3050! Just press the – button beside the laser light button until the reading is –3.5mm. Of course I can move it to any position in between center and left, but this is the setting I need today. I can also move the laser line to the right by pressing the + key.

• Place 2 different 6″ squares, right sides together, and press.
• Line up the red laser line so it goes from corner to corner on the 6″ square.
• Start sewing, making sure to keep the laser line going corner to corner. Just watch the red line while sewing, not the needle.
• The stitching line will be about ¼” from the center line.

• Sew on the other side of the center laser line in the same way.
• Cut between the 2 stitching lines to make 2 half square triangles.
• Press seams to one side.

• Repeat with the other 6″ squares to make 2 more half square triangles.

Trim the half square triangles so they measure 5″. My favorite tool for this step is the Bloc-Loc half square triangle ruler. You can also place the 45° line of an Omnigrip ruler on the seam and then trim the square.

Now the pieces are all ready to sew together to make an 18″ (finished size) block.

It’s such a pleasure to sew on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050, with its 5″ x 11¼” workspace, excellent LED lighting and the wide extension table that comes with the machine. I just wish there were more hours in the day!

• Put on the ¼” foot.
• Sew the 2¾” x 9½” strips together in pairs to make 4 strip sets.
• Sew 1 strip set to two sides of the 9½” square.
• Sew a half square triangle to each end of the remaining strip sets.
• Sew these units to the remaining sides of the center section.

I could recut this block now, rearrange the sections and sew it back together. But it makes a more interesting new block if I make another block the same as the first. Cut out the pieces following the instructions for the first block, but this time cut pieces from different fabrics than the first block. Now comes the disappearing fun!

• Cut each 18½” block through the center of each side to make 4 squares.

• Sew the sections back together again, rearranging the squares, and I’ll have a whole new block.

There are many ways to sew the pieces back together. Here are some versions that I came up with. If you make 3 or 4 different blocks to start with, you’ll have even more possibilities.

Be sure to come back tomorrow to learn how to make a quarter square triangle block, again using the laser light on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 for exact and accurate placement of stitches. And, yes, I’m cutting it up and putting it back together again – another disappearing block design!