Fall Into a Quilt Along Block 4: Sunflower
Today is Block 4 release day for the Fall Into a QAL and I'm excited to share my Sunflower block pattern! Click the button below to download the pattern and then read through this post for my tips. I am so excited to see what everyone does with my block! If you are new to this QAL please visit the Partners in Design Facebook Group for all the details.
Get the block pattern: This QAL is over, so this block pattern is no longer available for free. It is available for sale in the shop here: Sunflower Quilt Block Pattern.
Fabric Choice
For my sample block I chose golden yellow for the petals, brown for the center, and green for the background. I think the dots on the brown add great texture for the seeds in the center. Of course you don't have to be so traditional. Who says sunflowers have to be yellow?
Tips for Flipped Corners
This block uses the flipped corner technique to easily add a triangle corner to a square or rectangle base piece. You will just line the smaller square up with a corner and sew on a diagonal line. Then trim the seam allowance and flip the triangle corner.
- Make sure the smaller square is squared up exactly with the corner underneath.
- Make sure the diagonal line is oriented the way the pattern indicates. Sometimes the flipped corner needs to go to the right, sometimes to the left.
- Start sewing the diagonal line from the end that is in the middle of the base piece. If you start from the other end the pointy corner might get rumpled under the needle.
- Sew ever-so-slightly outside the marked line, just the width of a thread. This will allow space for the fold in the fabric when you flip the corner.
- Before you trim the seam allowance, do a test flip of the corner to make sure it lines up with the base corner. I know from experience that it is impossible to resew after you trim!
- For more about flipping corners see my earlier post here.
Making the Units
Here is an example of flipping the corner for one piece in the pattern. The sample on the top left is how it should look. The flipped corner lines up with the base corner and nicely completes the rectangle shape. It is safe to trim the seam allowance. In the three samples on the right the diagonal seam got wonky and the flipped corner does not line up with the base piece. Time to rip and resew!
Put It All Together
Once you have flipped all twenty corners in this block you will be an expert flipper, I promise! Then you just arrange the units, sew them into rows, and then sew the rows together. Hello Sunflower!
Enter the Block Prize Giveaway
Of course there is a great prize drawing for Block 4. If you are the lucky winner you will receive two lovely quilt patterns from Amanda Murphy Design.
The winner will be randomly selected from those who post photos of their completed blocks by the deadline. Although creativity is encouraged, the block must follow the block design to be considered for the prize. You also must be 18 or older to enter. To be entered in the prize drawing just post a picture of your finished Block 4 in at least one of these three places by midnight Eastern time on Monday July 9.
- Facebook Group
- Instagram with hashtag #fallintoaqal
- Or link up your blog post of your finished block with the linky party below on this post.