Spectrum QAL 2020 Block 7: Anthology Fabrics Little Girl in the Blue Armchair

Welcome to my first block post of the year! I would like to wish you the very best for 2021 including lots of wonderful quilting projects to be made! Let’s begin by finishing Block 7 from the Spectrum Quilt-A-Long (QAL) 2020. I’d love to see the first 6 blocks you made in the fall, so please feel free to post them in the comments below.

I can’t wait to see my finished project in my room featuring the fabrics from the Little Girl in the Blue Armchair collection by Anthology Fabrics.

Here are the cutting instructions for Block 7 of the Spectrum QAL 2020 using the Little Girl in the Blue Armchair collection from Anthology Fabrics. For a photo for each of the following fabrics you can find them in this post: Spectrum QAL 2020 Block 4.

For Block 7, I decided to only make one flying geese and the other block with half-square triangles. The purpose is to demonstrate that even though a half square triangle is easier to make, the flying geese allows for easier alignment when building the units together. Don’t worry, you’ll soon see what I mean.

Once more, we’ll 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 accurately make a Flying Geese!

Step 1

1. Take 4 B3 squares and, on the 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 centerline.
2. Take 2 B3 squares and align diagonally on your C square.
3. Stitch on the two dotted lines.
4. Cut on the full line.

Step 2

1. Take a B3 square and align on the corner of a unit made in Step 1.
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 2½” x 4½”.
5. Press open the triangle on each unit.
6. Repeat to make 4 units.

Step 3

1. Take 4 B6 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 centerline.
2. Align a B6 square with a B3 square, right side together, and stitch together on both dotted lines.
3. Cut on full line.
4. Press the seams to the darkest fabric and open.
5. Makes a 2½” square (trim off excess).
6. Repeat to make 8.

Step 4

1. Stitch 2 and Step 3 together.
2. Makes a rectangle size 2½” x 4½”.
3. Repeat to make 4 units.

Step 5

1. Stitch a Step 4 to a Step 2.
2. Makes a 4½” square.
3. Repeat to make 4 units.

This is where I can clearly demonstrate why I prefer making flying geese units instead of joining two half square triangles. If you look at the seam alignment of Step 4 with Step 2, it really demands precision piecing to have the seam aligned perfectly to the point of the flying geese. If you would simply align two flying geese together, you wouldn’t have to worry about that center seam.

Step 6

1. Take a B5 square 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. Align a B5 square with a B1 square with right sides together and stitch together on both dotted lines.
3. Cut on full line.
4. Press the seams to the darkest fabric and open.
5. Makes a 2½” square (trim off excess).
6. Repeat to make 2.

Step 7

1. Take a B5 square 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. Align a B5 square with a B2 square with right side together and stitch together on both dotted lines.
3. Cut on full line.
4. Press the seams to the darkest fabric and open.
5. Makes a 2½” square (trim off excess).
6. Repeat to make 2.

Step 8

1. Stitch a Step 6 to Step 7.
2. Makes a rectangle size 2½” x 4½”.
3. Repeat to make 2 units.

Step 9

1. Stitch two Step 8 together.
2. Makes a 4½” square.

Step 10

1. Take four B4 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. Align a B4 square with a B1 square with right sides together and stitch together on both dotted lines.
3. Cut on full line.
4. Press the seams to the darkest fabric and open.
5. Makes a 2½” square (trim off excess).
6. Repeat to make 8.

Step 11

1. Stitch a Step 10 to an A1 square.
2. Makes a rectangle size 2½” x 4½”.
3. Repeat to make 4 units.

Step 12

1. Stitch a Step 10 to an A2 square.
2. Makes a rectangle size 2½” x 4½”.
3. Repeat to make 4 units.

Step 13

1. Stitch a Step 11 to a Step 12.
2. Makes a 4½” square.
3. Repeat to make 4 units.

You’re almost done! You can now align all your units on the design wall!

Step 14

1. Stitch 2 Step 5 units to Step 9 unit.
2. Makes a 4½” x 12½” rectangle.

Step 15

1. Stitch 2 Step 13 units to a Step 5 unit.
2. Makes a 4½” x 12½” rectangle.
3. Repeat to make 2.

Step 16

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

Congratulations! You just completed Block 7 of the Spectrum QAL 2020! Be part of our sewing and quilting community by adding #TheSewGoesOn when showing off your blocks on Facebook or Instagram. We’ll all enjoy seeing the great blocks that are being made throughout 2021!

Come back next week to see how Paul and Elaine will be making their blocks using different fabrics. Elaine has chosen to make the quilt using fabric from the Blue Stitch collection by Riley Blake Designs and Paul has chosen Wave Texture from Benartex. Same design, completely different look. I’ll be back in two weeks with the instructions for Block 8 of the Spectrum QAL 2020.