On the Fly - Sue Beevers 8" 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.

• 3/4 yard dark purple print (blocks, outer border)
• 2 yards blue leaf print (blocks, inner border)
• 1-7/8 yards pale blue print (blocks, outer border)
• 1 yard dark blue floral (blocks, outer border)
• 2-3/4 yards purple-and-green print (blocks, outer border)
• 1/2 yard green leaf print (blocks, outer border)
• 1-3/4 yards pale green print (blocks, outer border)
• 1/2 yard purple leaf print (outer border)
• 4-1/8 yards backing fabric
• 74" square batting

Finished quilt: 67-1/2" square

Finished block: 8" 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. Cut inner border strips lengthwise (parallel to the selvage).

From dark purple print, cut:

• 160 -- 2-1/4" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 320 small triangles total

From blue leaf print, cut:

• 2 -- 2x67-1/2" inner border strips
• 2 -- 2x48-1/2" inner border strips
• 4 -- 2x8-1/2" rectangles for outer border
• 48 -- 1-3/4x5-1/2" rectangles
• 18 -- 2-1/4" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 36 small triangles total

From pale blue print, cut:

• 64 -- 1-1/4x7" rectangles
• 64 -- 1-3/4x5-1/2" rectangles
• 192 -- 2-1/4" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 384 small triangles total

From dark blue floral, cut:

• 32 -- 5-1/2" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 64 large triangles total

From purple-and-green print, cut:

• 64 -- 5-1/2" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 128 large triangles total
• 128 -- 1-3/4x4" rectangles

From green leaf print, cut:

• 32 -- 1-3/4x5-1/2" rectangles
• 14 -- 2-1/4" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 28 small triangles total

From pale green print, cut:

• 64 -- 5-1/2" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 128 large triangles total

From purple leaf print, cut:

• 48 -- 1-3/4x5-1/2" rectangles

Click on "Download This Project" to download the full-size foundation patterns. Print out each foundation pattern 64 times on printable foundation-piecing material. (Or trace each pattern 64 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 dark purple print small triangles, a blue leaf print small triangle, a pale blue print 1-3/4x5-1/2" rectangle, and a dark blue floral large triangle (Diagram 1).

2. With right sides together, layer a dark purple print small triangle atop a blue leaf print small triangle, aligning triangles' short edges. Put a Body Unit foundation paper atop dark purple print piece, 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 blue leaf print piece 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 blue leaf 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 dark purple print small triangle under trimmed blue leaf 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 dark purple 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 4-1/2" 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 green-wing block. Press seam in one direction. The block should be 8-1/2" square including seam allowances.

8. Repeat steps 1 through 7 to make four green-wing blocks total.

9. Referring to Diagram 8, repeat steps 1 through 7 to make eight multicolor-wing A blocks, replacing one of the green leaf print 1-3/4x5-1/2" rectangle with a blue leaf print 1-3/4x5-1/2" rectangle.

10. Referring to Diagram 9, repeat Step 9, placing the wing colors in the opposite positions, to make eight multicolor-wing B blocks.

11. Referring to Diagram 10, repeat steps 1 through 7 to make 16 blue-wing blocks, replacing the green leaf print 1-3/4x5-1/2" rectangles with blue leaf print 1-3/4x5-1/2" rectangles.

12. Referring to Diagram 11, repeat steps 1 through 7 to make 16 purple-wing blocks, replacing the green leaf print 1-3/4x5-1/2" rectangles with purple leaf print 1-3/4x5-1/2" rectangles.

13. Referring to Diagram 12, repeat steps 1 through 7 to make four corner blocks, replacing the blue leaf print small triangle with a green leaf print small triangle.

1. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out four green-wing blocks, eight each of multicolor-wing blocks A and B, and 16 blue-wing blocks in six rows.

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 481/2" square including seam allowances.

4. Sew blue leaf print 2x48-1/2" inner border strips to top and bottom edges of quilt center. Press seams toward inner border.

5. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, sew together six purple-wing blocks to make an outer border unit. Press seams in one direction. Repeat to make four outer border units total.

6. Sew outer border units to top and bottom edges of quilt center; press seams toward inner border.

7. Sew blue leaf print 2x57-1/2" inner border strips to side edges of quilt center. Press seams toward inner border.

8. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, join two corner blocks, two blue leaf print 2x8-1/2" rectangles, and an outer border unit to make a long outer border strip. Press seams in one direction. Repeat to make a second long outer border strip.

9. Add long outer border strips to remaining edges of quilt center to complete quilt top. Press all seams toward inner border.

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

2. Bind with blue leaf print binding strips.