SHOO FLY QUILT BLOCK-Finished 12"

Shoo Fly Block.

This block only takes two different fabrics. I cut two strips 4 7/8" wide at the same time.

These are the only little patches it takes, and that's it.

Take the two 4 7/8" squares and fold in half to make a crease in the center diagonally ( from corner to corner) or you can draw a line with a pencil from one corner to another corner diagonally.

I'am showing a mark I made from one corner to another so you can see the line.

I'am showing you both of the 4 7/8" squares where, one I pressed with the iron to get a center crease, and the other one where I drew a line through the center. It's up to you which one you want to use.

First, sew down along one side of the line 1/4" from the line; the sew along the other side of the line 1/4".
Those are your 1/4" seams that are on each side of that line.

After you have sewed on both sides of the line 1/4", cut on the line that you either drew or pressed. That will cut it apart into two seperate patches now.

Trim off the corners ( also called "rabbit ears") Ouch! You should have four patch blocks now.
Take to the ironing board and press the seams towards the dark.

You should have 4 patches.

Lay out the patches to make the shoo fly pattern. You could also "fussy cut" in the squares if you want to. Like put a flower or something in the center. Mayby a little animal for a child, etc. If you do that, use a clear piece of template and put over the area you want centered and draw around it and cut it out.

Sew the first two rows together, and don't cut the threads.

Sew the third row on, and don't cut the threads.

Take the block with threads attached, to the ironing board and press the seams to one side or the other, alternating them.

Take the block to the machine and sew the first two rows. Don't cut the thread.

Sew the final row on. Take to the ironing board and press the seams and entire block.

Congradulations! Finished. You can make beautiful quilts just using this one block, but various fabrics. You can use lattice strips in between, or just use blocks. I really like quilts that are all blocks right to the end instead of borders. Just keep making a lot of these blocks little at a time and you'll have enough for a quilt. I make blocks every now and then, using scraps. They're nice in pillows, totes, etc.
I'am a traditionalist quilter. I gravitate towards the old old patterns. I love the simple traditional patterns. I make other kinds also, but my favorite are the old traditonal. patterns. That's what I will mainly be showing you on here. Hope you will enjoy them. Have fun making these block from all sorts of those scraps you have in your collections. Happy Quilting!