We are so very excited to share Bess - block 8 in our Hand Pieced QAL. Bess, named after a character in Friendship Album 1933, joins her quilting bee friends Dorothy, Florence and Eula. (Emmeline will join them soon!)
(For more information about the QAL, links to all posts and tutorials, click here.)
Let's deconstruct the Bess block to better understand what units will need to be hand-pieced, namely Flying Geese blocks, Half-Square Triangles (HST) and a Square-in-Square in the center.
Today's tutorial will revisit the 'stitch and flip' method to create our center unit - the Square-in-Square (SinS) as well as the Flying Geese block. (Alternate cutting instructions will be given if you'd prefer to construct your center square from two flying geese.)
Align a single smaller square along one corner of the larger square and stitch along marked stitched lines. Trim away the excess, leaving a 1/4'' seam (see photo below), fold back corner and finger press. Align a second smaller square along one corner of the larger square and stitch along marked lines. Trim away the excess leaving a 1/4'' seam, fold back corner and finger press. Repeat to attach all corners.
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Pictured: Famore snips, OLFA rotary cutter, Clover clips |
As needed, refer back to our tutorials (including video) on each of the hand piecing skills and basic blocks:
- Marking stitching lines
- Running Stitch
- Dealing with Seams
- 4-patch
- Half-square triangle
- Flying Geese Constructed with Triangles or Constructed with Stitch & Flip method
- Quarter-square triangle
Now let's make our block!
Block size: 6’' finished (6 ½’’ unfinished)
Notes:
- All seam allowances are 1/4''.
- Stitching lines are drawn on wrong side of fabric and always start and end ¼ '' from the edge
- RST=Right sides together
- HST - Half Square Triangle
- SinS - Square in Square
Materials (for Stitch & Flip construction method)
For HSTs:
For HSTs:
- Print fabric: (2) 2 3/8 " squares, cut in half on the diagonal to yield (4) triangles
- Background fabric: (2) 2 3/8 " squares, cut in half on the diagonal to yield (4) triangles
For Stitch & Flip Flying Geese Construction Method*:
- Print fabric: (8) 2 " squares
- Background fabric: (4) 2 x 3 ½ '' rectangles
- Print fabric: (4) 2 " squares
- Background fabric: (1) 3 ½ '' square
Creating the Bess block
- Make (8) HST (follow this tutorial). HST unit should measure 2 x 2''.
- Make (4) Flying Geese using the stitch & flip method. (Tutorial available.) Flying Geese unit should measure 2 x 3 ½ ''.
- Make SinS unit using stitch & flip method (above). SinS unit should measure 3 ½ x 3 ½ ''.

- Background fabric: (3) 3″ squares, carefully cut each square in half on the diagonal (yielding 6 triangles total)
- Print fabric: (6) 2 3/8″ squares, carefully cut each square in half on the diagonal (yielding 12 triangles total)
Assemble the Block
- Lay the block out according to the diagram and stitch together in rows. The top and bottom row will each measure 2 x 6 ½ ''. The middle row measures 3 ½ x 6 ½ ''.
- Press.
Thanks to Fat Quarter Shop and Famore for sponsoring the block tutorials!
The link-up for the Bess block - block 8 in our QAL - opens on Thursday, March 14! Finished blocks can be shared in any weekly link-up, however, so don't worry if you get behind.

You can also join our Hand Pieced Quilt Along Facebook Group and / or subscribe to our newsletter so you'll be among the first to know about new block tutorials
Have a wonderful day! Patty
I thought this looked familiar LOL I just finished #7 last night. Hoping to finish earlier this week.
ReplyDeleteAnother pretty block! I love it in blues.
ReplyDelete