Spectrum QAL 2020 Block 3

Welcome back to the exciting Spectrum QAL 2020! How did you do with your Block 1 and Block 2?

And now on to Block 3! Here are the cutting instructions using The Little Girl in the Blue Armchair collection from Anthology Fabrics. You might remember the post about the fabric requirements showing the complete cutting instructions, this block is a good example why I mentioned not to start cutting right away. Here we go!

Presenting QAL2020 – Spectrum Block 3

Outline of Spectrum Block 3

I decided to fussy cut block C to center design and pick the right color for the center of the block. I wanted a green color design in the middle to show off the colorway I want in the quilt, the yellow color would have not given the balance I wanted.

Fussy cutting block C

The Little Girl in the Blue Armchair collection by Anthology Fabrics

Step 1

• Take one unit of B2 and B3 and cut each unit into 2 triangles.
• Take your 2 triangles from B2 and stitch on opposite ends of your C square.
• Press and open triangles.
• Take your 2 triangles from B3 and stitch on the other two opposite ends of your C square.
• Press and open triangles.
• Makes a 4½’’ square.

Step 1A: Cutting a square into two triangles

Step 1B: Stitch each set of triangles on opposite ends of your C square.

Step 2

• Take all your B2 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.
• Align a B4 square with a B2 square, right side together, and stitch together on both dotted lines.
• Cut on full line.
• Press the seams to the darkest fabric and open.
• Makes a 2½’’ square (trim off excess).
• Repeat to make 8.

Step 2

Step 3

• Take all your 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.
• Align a B3 square with a B4 square, right side together, and stitch together on both dotted lines.
• Cut on full line.
• Press the seams to the darkest fabric and open.
• Makes a 2½’’ square (trim off excess).
• Repeat to make 4

Step 3

Step 4:

• Stitch a Step 2 unit to the left side of a Step 3 unit.
• Makes a 2½’’ x 4½’’ rectangle.
• Repeat to make 2 units.

Step 4

Step 5

• Stitch a Step 3 unit to the left side of a Step 2 unit.
• Makes a 2½’’ x 4½’’ rectangle.
• Repeat to make 2 units.

Step 5

We will be making some Flying Geese blocks in steps 6 and 7. 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 accurately make a Flying Geese!

Step 6

• Take your B1 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.
• Take 2 B1 squares and align diagonally on your D square.
• Stitch on the two dotted lines.
• Cut on the full line.
• Makes two units.

Step 6

Step 7

• Take another B1 square and align on the corner of a unit made in Step 6.
• Stitch on the two dotted lines, beginning on the corner edge to ensure stability.
• Cut on full line.
• Makes two flying geese rectangles size 2½’’ x 4½’’.
• Press open the triangle on each unit.
• Repeat to make 4 units.

Step 7

Step 8

• Stitch a Step 4 unit to a Step 7 unit.
• Makes a 4½’’ square.
• Repeat to make 2.

Step 8

Step 9

• Stitch a Step 5 unit to a Step 7 unit.
• Makes a 4½’’ square.
• Repeat to make 2.

Step 9

Step 10

• Take your B4 squares and cut each unit into 2 triangles.
• Makes a total of 8 triangles.

Step 10

Step 11

• Stitch 2 Step 10 units to a Step 2 unit.
• Repeat to make 4.

Step 11

Step 12

• Take your A squares and cut each unit into 2 triangles.
• Makes a total of 4 triangles.

Step 12

Step 13

• Stitch a Step 11 unit to a Step 12 unit.
• Makes a 4½’’ square.
• Repeat to make 4.

Step 13

Step 14

• Stitch two Step 13 units to opposite edges of a Step 9 unit.
• Makes a 4½’’ x 12½’’ rectangle.
• Repeat to make 2.

Step 14

Step 15

• Stitch two Step 8 units to opposite edges your Step 1 unit.
• Makes a 4½’’ x 12½’’ rectangle.

Step 15

Step 16

• Stitch two Step 14 units on opposite edges of your Step 15 unit.
• Makes a 12½’’ square.

Step 16

Congratulations! You just finished your Block 3 of the Spectrum QAL2020! Please, do take a picture and add in the comments below. You can also be part of this exciting sewing and quilting community simply by adding #TheSewGoesOn when showing off your first three blocks on your favorite social media platform.

And stay tuned next week, as Paul Léger and Elaine Theriault will show you their versions of Block 3 using their colorful fabric collections for a completely different look! I’ll be back in two weeks with the instructions for Block 4 of our Spectrum Quilt-A-Long 2020.

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