On the Fly (10" Block)

Quilt designer: Sue Beevers

The last 30 years of Sue Beevers' life have been spent immersed in the fiber world, first as a spinner, weaver, and a dyer, and now as a fabric painter and quilter.

• 1-1/3 yards violet blue print (blocks, border)
• 2/3 yard white floral (blocks)
• 1 yard dark teal print (blocks)
• 2/3 yard purple print (blocks)
• 1 yard light green print (blocks)
• 3/4 yard dark purple print (blocks)
• 1 yard periwinkle print (blocks, binding)
• 1/2 yard lavender print (blocks, binding)
• 1/4 yard brown paisley (blocks)
• 1/4 yard each pale purple floral and dark coral print (blocks)
• 3-1/2 yards backing fabric
• 63" square batting

Finished quilt: 57" square

Finished block: 10" square

Quantities are for 44/45" wide, 100% cotton fabrics. Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together, unless otherwise stated.

To make the best use of your fabrics, cut the pieces in the order that follows.

Designer Sue Beevers used a variety of different combinations in her dragonfly blocks, but kept the background fabric consistent within each set of blocks. To follow her lead, mix up your use of prints for the dragonflies, remembering to make wing units symmetrical.

From violet blue print, cut:

• 6--3-3/4x42" strips for border
• 6--7" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 12 large triangles total
• 17--3" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 34 small triangles total (you'll use 33 of the 34 cut)

From white floral, cut:

• 4--7" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 8 large triangles total
• 11--3" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 22 small triangles total

From dark teal print, cut:

• 12--7" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 24 large triangles total
• 33--3" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 66 small triangles total

From purple print, cut:

• 4--7" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 8 large triangles total
• 11--3" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 22 small triangles total

From light green print, cut:

• 12--7" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 24 large triangles total
• 33--3" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 66 small triangles total

From dark purple print, cut:

• 8--7" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 16 large triangles total
• 22--3" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 44 small triangles total

From periwinkle print, cut:

• 7--2-1/2x21" binding strips
• 4--7" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 8 large triangles total
• 11--3" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 22 small triangles total

From lavender print, cut:

• 6--2-1/2x21" binding strips

From scraps of all prints above plus brown paisley, pale purple floral, and dark coral print, cut:

• 13--7" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 26 large triangles total (you'll use 25 of the 26 cut)
• 50--2-1/2x7" rectangles (25 sets of 2 matching rectangles)
• 25--2-1/2x6" rectangles
• 25--1-1/2x8-1/2" rectangles
• 50--2-1/2x4-1/2" rectangles (25 sets of 2 matching rectangles)
• 13--3" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 26 small triangles total (you'll use 25 of the 26 cut)

Click on "Download This Project" to download the full-size foundation patterns. Print out each foundation pattern 25 times on printable foundation-piecing material. (Or trace each pattern 25 times onto lightweight tracing paper, tracing all lines and numbers.) Cut out on outer dashed lines to make foundation papers.

1. For a Body Unit, you'll need five violet blue print small triangles, an assorted print small triangle, an assorted print 2-1/2x6" rectangle, and an assorted print large triangle (Diagram 1); refer to the Quilt Assembly Diagram for ideas on mixing and matching your assorted prints in the dragonfly blocks.

2. With right sides together, layer a violet blue print small triangle atop the assorted print small triangle, aligning triangles' short edges. Put a Body Unit foundation paper atop violet blue print small triangle, positioning fabric under area 1 and aligned edges 1/4" beyond stitching line between areas 1 and 2 (Diagram 2). To check placement, pin through all layers on stitching line and flip assorted print triangle open. It should completely cover area 2 and extend at least 1/4" on all sides. If it doesn't, reposition pieces and check again. With foundation paper on top, use a short stitch to sew on first stitching line through all layers.

3. Trim seam allowance to 1/4" and press assorted print piece open (Diagram 3). Trim both triangles to scant 1/4" beyond adjacent stitching lines and even with edges of foundation paper.

4. With right sides together, position another violet blue print small triangle under trimmed assorted print piece with triangle's short edge 1/4" beyond second stitching line (between areas 2 and 3). Sew on second stitching line (Diagram 4). Trim seam allowances to scant 1/4", press violet blue print piece open, and trim edges to scant 1/4" beyond adjacent stitching lines (Diagram 5).

5. Continue adding pieces in numerical order, trimming and pressing after each addition. Trim all fabric pieces even with foundation paper edges. With blunt edge of seam ripper, remove foundation paper to make a pieced Body Unit. The Body Unit should be 5-1/2" square including seam allowances.

6. Referring to steps 2 through 5 and Diagram 6, add specified pieces to appropriate foundation papers to make pieced Right Wing, Left Wing, and Tail units.

7. Referring to Diagram 7, sew together Body, Right Wing, Left Wing, and Tail Units in pairs. Press seams in opposite directions. Join pairs to make a block. Press seam in one direction. The block should be 10-1/2" square including seam allowances.

8. Repeat steps 1 through 7 to make three blocks total with violet blue backgrounds.

9. Using white floral small and large triangles instead of violet blue triangles, repeat steps 1 through 7 to make two blocks with white floral backgrounds.

10. Using dark teal print small and large triangles instead of violet blue triangles, repeat steps 1 through 7 to make six blocks with dark teal backgrounds.

11. Using purple print small and large triangles instead of violet blue triangles, repeat steps 1 through 7 to make two blocks with purple backgrounds.

12. Using light green print small and large triangles instead of violet blue triangles, repeat steps 1 through 7 to make six blocks with light green backgrounds.

13. Using dark purple print small and large triangles instead of violet blue triangles, repeat steps 1 through 7 to make four blocks with dark purple backgrounds.

14. Using periwinkle print small and large triangles instead of violet blue triangles, repeat steps 1 through 7 to make two blocks with periwinkle backgrounds.

1. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out blocks in five rows. (The bodies of the dragonflies should all be parallel, but every other one faces the opposite direction.)

2. Sew together blocks in each row. Press seams in one direction, alternating direction with each row.

3. Join rows to make quilt center. Press seams in one direction. The quilt center should be 501/2" square including seam allowances.

4. Cut and piece the violet blue print 3-3/4x42" strips to make:

• 2--3-3/4x57" border strips
• 2--3-3/4x50-1/2" border strips

5. Sew short border strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Add long border strips to remaining edges to complete quilt top. Press all seams toward border.

1. Layer quilt top, batting, and backing. Quilt as desired.

2. Join periwinkle print and lavender print 2-1/2x21" strips into one long binding strip. Bind with pieced binding strip.