This week’s Moda Blockheads 5 Block 3 is a little different than a traditional block. It’s a paper pieced block! This week’s block is designed by Brigitte Heitland. Brigitte Heitland is the mastermind behind Zen Chic. Her quilt patterns and fabrics have a modern simplistic feel even though sometimes they are anything but simple.
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Related Post: Moda Blockheads 5: A Quilt Along
The Moda Blockheads quilt along offers 2 different block sizes: 12 inch and 6 inch. This year it is being split into two parts. Part 1 will be a shorter quilt along to allow for a project to be finished before the holidays. Then after the first of the year, it will resume with more blocks for a second project that will be larger with a higher number of quilt blocks. I am using Songbook fabrics by Fancy That Design House.
Assembly Process
I have discussed foundations paper piecing before. And while it is a different skill that stretches the brain a bit, it can add so much to a quilt. With just a few extra tools and a little patience you can achieve great results.
First I recommend labeling your paper pieces according to where you want each fabric to be placed. I used the diagrams on the Blockheads instruction sheet to help me “see” where each fabric would end up in the finished block. Paper piecing results in a mirror image, so this can be confusing. Just take your time.
To simplify the process, I chose to only use four colors in my block. In this manner, I made 2 different sections 4 times each to make my completed block. Blocks A, C, E, and G are identical. Blocks B, D, F, and H are also the same. This gives the spiral appearance in the final block.
The steps to make a paper pieced block are as follows:
- Identify where you want each color fabric to go.
- Cut apart the paper sections. ***TIP: Use thin printer paper. The cheap stuff
- Fold and crease all of the solid lines that are going to be stitched on. For this block, it’s the three lines of the center triangle. I folded and creased in both directions. This will help it tear off easier later.
- Use a bit of Sew Line glue and attach the first piece to the back of A1. Make sure the fabric extends past all of the edges by at least 1/4″
- Flip the paper over so the writing is facing up again. Fold back the A2 piece on the crease you’ve already made.
- Place the Add-A-Quarter ruler on the edge of the paper and trim the starting piece of fabric.
- Flip the paper back over and place the edge of the A2 fabric along the edge you just trimmed. You can pin this or just hold in place with your fingers
- At the sewing machine, holding the fabrics in place, flip the paper printed side up and stitch along the line between A1 and A2 with a short stitch length.
- Press piece A2 to the side
- Repeat Steps 5-9 until all the pieces are added to the section. And then repeat for all 8 sections.
Assembly Tips
After the sections are all complete, you will trim out each triangle along the dotted line. At this point, I remove my paper. Some people sew the sections together with the paper still attached. I find that it makes it more difficult to remove the paper. Instead I remove it before putting the sections together.
Lay out the block how it needs assembled and pin each pair of triangles together to get the pieces into 4 squares.
Once you have it assembled into squares, pin the sections and assemble them like a 4 patch. Pressing seams open where you can or press them so they will nest.
Moda Blockheads 5 Block 3: Stellar Elegance
I really love how my Moda Blockheads 5 Block 3 came out.
Blockheads 5 Progress
Here is a look at how the blocks look all together. The blue floral helps pull the blocks together so they don’t look too disjointed to my eye.
Until next week, happy quilting!
