Spectrum QAL 2020 Block 9: Wave Texture collection by Benartex

Hello and welcome to this week’s version of the Spectrum Quilt-A-Long (QAL) 2020 Block 9 featuring fabrics from the Wave Texture collection by Benartex.

Block 9 is made up of a combination of squares, half-square triangles (HST) and flying geese.

Here’s a picture of Block 9 when finished!

Spectrum QAL 2020 Block 9

I always rely on a layout sketch or diagram as my guide when constructing quilt blocks. The design layout diagram below will be today’s guide. I’ll refer back to it often throughout this post.

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

Design layout diagram for Block 9 of the Spectrum QAL 2020 quilt project

Six different colored fabrics from the Wave Texture collection by Benartex are required for Block 9. The fabric cutting directions are as follows:

Fabric A  Cut four 2½” x 2½” squares from 2966-20 Cayenne

Fabric B  Cut one 6″ x 6″ square from 2966-20 Cayenne

Fabric C  Cut four 2⅞” x 2⅞” squares from 2966-20 Cayenne

Fabric D  Cut one 6″ x 6″ square from 2966-19 Dark Red

Fabric E  Cut one 5¼” x 5¼” square from 2966-53 Cobalt

Fabric F  Cut four 2½” x 2½” squares from 2966-39 Tangerine

Fabric G  Cut four 2⅞” x 2⅞” squares from 2966-53 Cobalt

Fabric H Cut one 5¼” x 5¼” square from 2966-55 Sky

Fabric I Cut four 2½” x 2½” squares from 2966-39 Tangerine

Fabric J Cut one 4½” x 4½” square from 2966-32 Amber

Six Wave Texture fabrics cut, labelled and ready for Block 9 piecing

Let’s begin today by making HSTs (Half Square Triangles). With right sides together, pair the Fabric B and Fabric D squares. On the wrong side of one of the two fabrics squares in the pair, draw four lines as follows:

• two diagonal lines going from corner to corner (they’ll intersect to make an X); and
• two lines going from center edge to edge both vertically and horizontally as shown below.

Intersecting diagonal, horizontal and vertical lines drawn on the wrong side of one of the fabric pieces in the BD pair

Note: All seam allowances for this block are ¼”.

Sew a seam on both sides of both diagonal lines. When you have sewn all four seams, cut along each vertical, horizontal and diagonal line to separate as shown below.

Sew a seam on each side of both diagonal lines, then cut along each marked line to create HSTs.

As shown below, press open and trim the eight BD Fabric HSTs to measure 2½” x 2½” square.

Press and trim each HST to 2½”x 2½” square.

With eight BD Fabric HSTs completed, the next step is to create the flying geese units for Block 9.

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the Fabric C and Fabric G pieces.

Take two of the Fabric C squares and place them, right sides together, on opposite corners of the larger Fabric E square. Repeat with two Fabric G squares on the Fabric H square. Align all corners, edges and diagonal lines, as shown below. There will be a small overlap where the smaller squares of Fabric C and Fabric G meet in the center of the larger squares.

With right sides together, place two Fabric C squares on opposite corners of the larger Fabric E square. Repeat with Fabric G and Fabric H squares.

Sew a straight seam on each side of the diagonal lines drawn on the back of the Fabric C squares. Cut along the diagonal line; press. Repeat as described above with two Fabric G pieces and one Fabric H piece.

CEC and GHG units created by cutting along the diagonal line.

After the seams are sewn, cut along the diagonal line to separate.

Using the photo below as a guide, take the two remaining Fabric C pieces and place them, right sides together, on the corners of each Fabric E section of the CEC units. The diagonal line should align with the corner of Fabric E.

Sew a straight seam on each side of the diagonal line. When the seams are sewn, cut along the diagonal line. Repeat with this step with the remaining Fabric G squares and the GHG units.

Place Fabric C squares on the corners of Fabric E sections of the CEC units. Sew a seam on each side of diagonal line and cut. Repeat with the GHG units.

With the flying geese units completed, the block’s center can be assembled.

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong sides of the Fabric I squares.

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the Fabric I squares.

With right sides together, and ensuring the corners and edges are aligned, place a Fabric I square on opposite corners of the Fabric J square.

Compared to making flying geese units, in this case the diagonal line is oriented so that it starts from the center of the edge of the Fabric J square as shown in the photo below.

With right sides together, place Fabric I squares on opposite corners of the Fabric J square.

With the Fabric I and Fabric J pieces paired, sew a straight seam along the diagonal lines. Cut ¼” away from each of the diagonal line towards the outside edge of the IJ unit and press.

After sewing the two seams, cut ¼” away from seams towards the outer edge and press.

Next, take the remaining two Fabric I squares and place them, right sides together, on the two remaining corners of the Fabric J square in the same fashion as the steps above. Sew a seam on the diagonal line, then, cut ¼” away from the seam towards the outer edge and press.

Sew along the marked diagonal line, cut and press.

With every unit of the block completed, Block 9 can now be assembled!

Lay all of the pieces and sewn units out as shown below, using the Block 9 design layout diagram at the start of this post as a guide.

Using the Block 9 design layout diagram as a guide, place all fabric pieces and sewn units into their correct places.

First, sew each piece and unit into five horizontal rows.

Sew each piece to its neighbor to make horizontal rows.

With all of the separate pieces sewn into rows, the last step to complete the construction of this block is to sew all of the rows to each other.

Block 9 in the Spectrum QAL 2020 is now completed.

With Block 9 finished and looking spectacular using Wave Texture collection by Benartex, we now wait patiently to see Elaine Theriault’s version in a couple of days. Do share your version of Block 9 with us using #TheSewGoesOn, I’d love to see it!

Come back next week when Claire Haillot introduces us to Block 10 in the Spectrum QAL 2020 quilt design project.

Enjoy sewing!

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