Spectrum QAL 2020 Block 12: Wave Texture collection by Benartex

Lately, I’ve been writing about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We’re now in the final stretch of the tunnel and, I’m happy to say that by the end of today we’ll through the tunnel and finished with my version of all 12 quilt blocks!!

There’s no time like the present to make the Spectrum Quilt-Along (QAL) 2020 Block 12, featuring fabrics from the Wave Texture collection by Benartex.

Today, we’ll make eight flying geese units and four-diamond units. The flying geese technique was demonstrated in many previous blocks in the Spectrum QAL 2020 series, but here’s a link to the most recent one, Spectrum QAL 2020 Block 11.

Spectrum QAL 2020 Block 12

First things first. Below is the design layout diagram for Block 12. Keep this diagram handy; you’ll need it to assemble the block towards the end of this post.

TIP Remember to read the entire post before starting to work on the block.

Design layout diagram for Block 12

Only five different colored fabrics from the Wave Texture collection are needed to complete Block 12.

The fabric cutting directions are as follows:

Fabric A Cut four 2″ x 2″ squares from 2966-20 Cayenne

Fabric B Cut two 4¼” x 4¼” squares from 2966-20 Cayenne

Fabric C Cut four 2″ x 3½” rectangles from 2966-20 Cayenne

Fabric D Cut eight 2⅜” x 2⅜” squares from 2966-19 Dark Red

Fabric E Cut four 3½” x 3½” squares from 2966-32 Amber

Fabric F Cut sixteen 2″ x 2″ squares from 2966-19 Dark Red

Fabric G Cut four 3½” x 3½” squares from 2966-46 Basil

Fabric H Cut one 3½” x 3 ½” square from 2966-46 Forest

The five Wave Texture collection fabric colors cut, labelled and ready for Block 12 piecing.

In the past, I’ve begun by demonstrating how to make half-square triangles (HSTs) or flying geese units. Today, I’ll start by showing you how to make the diamond units using Block 12 Fabric F and G squares.

The first step is to draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the sixteen Fabric F squares.

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the sixteen Fabric F squares.

With right sides together, place two Fabric F squares on two opposite corners of a Fabric G square. Make sure the corners and edges are aligned.

Note: The marked diagonal lines on the wrong side of the Fabric F pieces are placed so that the line starts at the center of the side of the Fabric G square.

Place two Fabric F squares on opposite corners of each Fabric G square.

Note: All seam allowances are ¼” unless otherwise indicated.

Sew a seam along the marked lines; cut ¼” away from the seam line on the outer edge of the square (as shown below) and press unit open.

After sewing the seams, cut excess fabric away and press open.

Take the remaining Fabric F squares and place them, right sides together, on the remaining corners of the Fabric G pieces as in the step above. Sew a seam on the marked lines; cut ¼” away from the seams towards the outer edges of the Fabric G piece and press unit open. You’ll have four diamond blocks.

Making the diamond blocks.

Now for the flying geese units needed for this block. We need eight flying geese units!

Draw a diagonal line across the wrong side of each of the eight Fabric D squares. Set four aside. Place a Fabric D square, right sides together, on opposite corners of both Fabric B squares. Make sure all corners, edges and diagonal lines are aligned, as shown below:

Place two Fabric D squares, right sides together, on opposite corners of each Fabric B square.

Sew a seam on both sides of the diagonal line drawn on the Fabric D squares. Cut along the marked line and press the units open.

Place Fabric D squares on opposite corners of the Fabric B squares, then sew, cut and press units open.

With right sides together, place the remaining four Fabric D pieces on opposite corners of each Fabric B section. The marked line on the back of each Fabric D piece starts at the corner of the Fabric B piece (as shown below).

Sew a seam on both sides of the marked diagonal line for each set, then cut along the marked lines and press units open. You now have eight flying geese units.

Place four Fabric D squares on the corners of each Fabric B section. Sew a seam on both sides of the diagonal line, then cut the new units apart along the marked line.

Now that every constructed unit of Block 12 is sewn, the quilt block is ready to be assembled!

Lay out all the fabrics and units, using the design layout diagram for Block 12 as a guide for positioning.

Using the Block 12 design layout diagram as a guide, place all fabric and units into their correct places.

Sew each piece and sewn unit, right sides together, to form five horizontal rows as shown below:

Sew each piece to its neighbor to make five horizontal rows.

The very last step is to sew the rows together.

Block 12 is now complete.

The twelve blocks that make up my Spectrum QAL 2020 quilt design are now complete. We are now officially out of the tunnel!

Watch for Elaine Theriault’s version of Block 12 this week and stay tuned for the piecing instructions in April.

Stay tuned for an important announcement in our QUILTsocial newsletter for the upcoming big reveal of the quilting for all three Spectrum QAL 2020 quilts. If you’re not signed up to our newsletter do so now to receive important announcements!

It’ll be fun to see how all three of us, using the same block designs, but with different fabric collections, will be creating totally unique quilts.

Join us!

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