• Home
  • About
    • About the Bungalow
    • My Publications
    • Shop Hours
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Tutorials
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Shop Hours
    • Facebook
    • Instagram

Bungalow Quilting & Yarn

Bungalow Quilting & Yarn - The Uptown in Any Town

Sunshine and Shadows Block

September 28, 2016 by Judy

As promised, I am going to do a tutorial on one of my favorite blocks from my book “Quilts for Scraplovers: 16 Projects Start with Simple Squares”, published by C&T Publishing.

It’s a great block, and partly why I love it is because it’s so versatile in terms of layout. It can be laid out in so many different ways. Here are some of the various ways that it can be done.

img_0028

This first one is actually the layout that is in my book.  I have continued to add in a concentric fashion with this one. In my book, I have done individual blocks with this layout, and included blanks in the corners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, there’s this layout:

 

img_0024

I like this one, as it looks like flying geese. If you like that triangular look or the chevron look, then you might like this one:

img_0020

This one is like a chevron across the quilt. But, you can’t do any of these unless you know how to make the block. So here is the tutorial.

You will need my template set available from C & T Publishing, or from my website, or, from your local quilt shop. I do believe that Amazon has it as well.

Each template set includes a 3 1/2, a 4 1/2, and a 5 1/2 inch block template. Every single quilt in the book uses just three sizes of squares, and that is what these squares are for.

And, every single quilt in the book uses only scraps. There are no pre-cut commercial fabrics, only scraps. That’s not to say that you couldn’t use up some of your fat quarters or throw new fabrics in, but it makes it so easy to use those scraps. Just pull them out of the scrap bucket and iron them. Then start cutting.

All seam allowances for this block are 1/4″.

For this block you will cut a 5 1/2 inch square from a dark or a medium scrap.

img_9986

Flip it to the wrong side and draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. Then you will cut it diagonally from the opposite corners, not along the line.

img_9987

Do you see the line? You will be cutting on the diagonal that is not on the line. You will see why this is important.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

img_9988

This is how it will look. Set aside one of the half squares. Pick up the 3 1/2 inch template and lay the diagonal line of the 3 1/2 inch template over the line that you drew.

img_9990

img_9989

Cut along the edges of the template.

You will be left with a little square and two little triangles. Set these triangles aside for the snippets quilt that is in the book.

img_9994

Now it is time to cut the light triangles. The light triangles come from the 4 1/2 inch template. Take the 4 1/2 inch template and cut out a square from a light scrap. This should be some type of background fabric.

img_9995

Divide that square into 4 triangles by cutting along the diagonal once, and then once again in the opposite direction.

img_9996

img_9997

Here is how your block will eventually be laid out.

img_9998

Stitch the triangles onto the little square just as they are laid out. Stitch one on, and then press it open. Then stitch the next one on.

img_9999 img_0001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

img_0003

This is how it will look.

img_0004

Now you are ready to stitch this unit, that quite frankly, looks like a fish, to the large triangle that you had set aside. This is the remaining triangle from the 5 1/2 inch square.

img_0005

Put these two right sides together and stitch a 1/4 inch seam.

Open out and press. Then, trim the entire block down to 4 1/2″.

img_0007

Use the intersection of the diagonal lines as cross hairs. Just like the crosshairs on a rifle, for all of you women and men that hunt, the center crosshairs should be right in the center of the block, where the point of the square meets the triangle. Trim to 4 1/2″.

Now you are ready to make a bunch more of these and put them into many different layouts. Here are some more. I have also included the black and white pictures so that you can see how important it is to use mediums and darks in this block.

img_9904

img_9891

img_0019

img_0022

The one above is a pinwheel configuration that I though would look nice with sashing in between or solid blocks in between.

Have fun and go nuts with it! Here is a Halloween quilt made by one of my employees that used this block.

img_0029

About Judy

Judy has been sewing for most of her life, starting at about age 9. She is the owner of Bungalow Quilting and Yarn, and the author of “Quilts for Scrap Lovers: 16 Projects Start with Simple Squares”. Her second book, "Rainbow Quilts for Scrap Lovers" is a best seller for C&T Publishing. She is also the author of Sew Cuddly, Tantalizing Table Toppers and Sensational Quilts for Scrap Lovers, all from C&T Publishing. She has also been published in many other publications, including Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine and American Quilter. She has created a line of fabric for Ink and Arrow Fabrics, and now designs for Studio e Fabrics.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Read More

Get our newsletter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent News

What do I need for the Blended Hexagon Quilt?

This quilt is beyond fabulous. The best part about it is that it is made simply with squares. It … Read More

Zippy Heart Class

Make this fun and functional zippy heart pouch. It's perfect for everyone. You can make it with or … Read More

Blitzen all the Way!

Wow did we have a great time at Blitzen. It was a full packed house and there was a lot of … Read More

Testimonials

  • Kim Van Berkum BatesKim Van Berkum Bates

    I always find the perfect coordinating fabric for my vintage tablecloth aprons, bags, and other projects too. Judy is soooo much fun!

  • Kelly RobbertKelly Robbert

    More than a quilt and yarn shop… It feels like being invited into Judy’s home. If you are wondering if stopping by should be on your list… Yes! Beautiful fabric, wonderfully kind and talented staff and a bathtub full of yarn! Treat yourself and drop on in.

Newsletter Subscription

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact us

920.748.2905
Email Us
920.517.1910
Shop Hours
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Tutorials
  • Contact
  • Shop

© 2023 · Built on the Genesis Framework Using Wordpress by Mat Bolwerk