Spectrum QAL 2020 Block 11: The Little Girl in the Blue Armchair collection from Anthology Fabrics

Welcome!! Here are my instructions for Block 11 of our Spectrum QAL 2020. I’m using The Little Girl in the Blue Armchair collection from Anthology Fabrics and I can’t wait to see the finished quilt – we’re only two blocks away from finishing this beauty! Do keep on sending us your comments as we love to read them all. What’s your favorite block so far? Which project size do you prefer, and which fabric line are you using?

Here are the cutting instructions for Block 11 of the Quilt-Along. Now, you might want to fussy cut the D and E squares for this block. Centering a design in each square and also ensuring the colors are equal in the E squares really does make a difference in the balance of the block.

Let’s start with some Flying Geese blocks. If you feel like you need more information on how to make them, you can read my blog post on 4 best kept secrets to perfecting the flying geese quilt block!

Step 1

1. Take 8 – B1 squares and, on the wrong side of the fabric, mark a full line diagonally in the center, as well as two dotted lines at ¼” on each side of the centerline.
2. Take 2 – B1 squares and align diagonally on a C2 square.
3. Stitch on the two dotted lines.
4. Cut on the full line to make 2 units.
5. Repeat to make 4 units.

Step 2

1. Take a B1 square and, on the wrong side of the fabric, mark a full line diagonally in the center, as well as two dotted lines at ¼” on each side of the centerline. Align on the corner of a Step 1 unit.
2. Stitch on the two dotted lines, beginning on the corner edge to ensure stability.
3. Cut on the full line.
4. Makes two flying geese rectangles size 2″ x 3½”.
5. Press the triangle to open on each unit.
6. Repeat to make 8 units.

Step 3

1. Take 4 – B3 squares and, on wrong side of fabric, mark a full line diagonally in the center as well as two dotted lines at ¼” on each side of the center line.
2. Take 2 – B3 squares and align diagonally on a C1 square.
3. Stitch on the two dotted lines.
4. Cut on the full line to make 2 units.

Step 4

1. Take a B3 square and align on the corner of a Step 3 unit.
2. Stitch on the two dotted lines, beginning on the corner edge to ensure stability.
3. Cut on full line.
4. Makes two flying geese rectangles size 2″ x 3½”.
5. Press the triangle open on each unit.
6. Repeat to make 4 units.

Step 5

1. Take 2 – F triangles and stitch on opposite ends of a E square.

Tip: I suggest finding the center of your E square edge and aligning to the center of the hypotenuse of the triangle for a perfect alignment.

1. Press and open triangles.
2. Repeat to with your 4 – E squares.
3. Take 2 more F triangles and stitch on the other two opposite ends of your E square.

TIP I suggest finding the center of your E square edge and aligning to the center of the hypotenuse of the triangle for a perfect alignment.

1. Press and open triangles (trim off excess).
2. Makes a 3½” square.
3. Repeat to make 4.

Step 6

1. Stitch a Step 2 unit to an A square.
2. Makes a 2″ x 5″ rectangle.
3. Repeat to make 4.

Step 7

1. Stitch a Step 2 unit to a D square.
2. Makes a 3½” x 5″ rectangle.
3. Repeat to make 4.

Step 8

1. Stitch a Step 4 unit to a Step 5 unit.
2. Makes a 3½” square.
3. Repeat to make 4.

Step 9

1. Stitch a Step 6 unit to a Step 7 unit.
2. Makes a 5″ square.
3. Repeat to make 4.

Step 10

1. Take a B2 square and, on the wrong side of the fabric, mark a full line diagonally in the center as well as two dotted lines at ¼” on each side of the center line.
2. Align a B4 square with your B2 square, right side together, and stitch together on both dotted lines.
3. Cut on the full line.
4. Press the seams to the darkest fabric and open.
5. Makes a 2″ square (trim off excess).
6. Repeat to make 2.

Step 11

1. Take a B3 square and, on the wrong side of the fabric, mark a full line diagonally in the center as well as two dotted lines at ¼” on each side of the center line.
2. Align a B4 square with your B3 square, right side together, and stitch together on both dotted lines.
3. Cut on the full line.
4. Press the seams to the darkest fabric and open.
5. Makes a 2″ square (trim off excess).
6. Repeat to make 2.

Step 12

1. Stitch a Step 10 unit to a Step 11 unit.
2. Makes a 2″ x 3½” rectangle.
3. Repeat to make 2.

Step 13

1. Stitch two Step 12 units together.
2. Makes a 3½” square.

Step 14

1. Stitch 2 Step 9 units to your Step 8 unit.
2. Makes a 5″ x 12½” rectangle.
3. Repeat to make 2.

Step 15

1. Stitch 2 Step 8 units to your Step 13 unit.
2. Makes a 3½” x 12½” rectangle.

Step 16

1. Stitch 2 Step 14 units to your Step 15 unit.
2. Makes a 12½” square.

Congratulations! You’ve just completed Block 11 of the Spectrum QAL 2020! Be a part of our sewing and quilting community by adding #TheSewGoesOn when showing off your blocks on Facebook or Instagram. We all enjoy seeing the great blocks and quilts being made!

Once more, I’ll be checking in next week to see how Paul Léger and Elaine Theriault are making their blocks using their very own choice of fabrics. Elaine is using fabrics from the Blue Stitch by Riley Blake Designs while Paul is using the Wave Texture from Benartex. Same design, completely different look. I’ll be back in two weeks with the instructions for Block 12, the final block of our Spectrum Quilt-Along 2020.