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1 quilt block, 3 disappearing quilt block options!

by Jean Boyd

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

Fat quarters from Banyan Batiks Island Vibes collection

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

The pieces are all cut out and ready to sew.

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.

Center default setting for the laser line

Laser line moved to the left to the -3.5mm setting

LCD screen shows the laser line setting at -3.5mm

  • 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.

Laser line goes from corner to corner on the square. Stitching will be about ¼” away.

  • 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.

Cut the square between the stitching lines.

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

Half square triangles pressed and ready for trimming

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.

Trim the half square triangles to 5″ using Bloc-Loc half square triangle ruler.

Trim the half square triangles to 5″ using 45° line of Omnigrip ruler.

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

Pieces ready to sew together

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.

Unfinished block should measure 18½”.

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.

Cut the block apart to make 4 equal 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.

Rearrange the squares to make a new block design. Design option 1

Rearrange the squares to make a new block design. Design option 2

Rearrange the squares to make a new block design. Design option 3

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!

This is part 2 of 5 in this series.
Go back to part 1: FUN with disappearing quilt blocks!

Go to part 3: Turn 10-inch squares into quarter square triangle disappearing quilt blocks

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2 comments

Sandy Allen December 17, 2019 - 7:16 am

I have only seen a 4 patch or 9 patch done this way. Now I am going to have to see what else I can use as a disappearing block!

Reply
Jean Boyd December 17, 2019 - 8:19 am

Hi Sandy. There are lots of design possibilities with this technique. Have fun exploring!

Reply

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