Goin' Around the Block with Blockbuster #21 - part 3

Allison, MeadowRoseQuilts
Apr 24
3 min read

I signed up for the April 2025 Monthly Block Challenge with other Studio 180 Design Certified Instructors. The rules/guidelines:

Week 1: Fabric Pull - what fabrics I am planning to use for the block
Week 2: Sneak Peek - Show part of the block being put together or trimmed down.
Week 3: The Reveal - Show your completed block.

It's Week 3 and its the big REVEAL! This block has been a fun one to work on. I needed to make 3 different units for the block, Flying Geese Units, Non-Mirror Combo Units and Half Square Triangles. I started by playing with the block layout in my design software (EQ8) and found a layout I liked that used 2 different versions of the block.

Block #1 used Flying Geese with the same side triangles on all four units. I used the tool instructions that came with the Wing Clipper tool. Block #2 used the Geese of a Feather technique sheet to use different fabrics for the side triangles. I had to do a bit of colouring to make sure I was getting the right triangle on the correct side. But these came out perfect every time with oversize piecing and precision trimming.

The Half Square Triangles for both block layouts were straight forward and using the Eight at Once technique creating these small units was a breeze.

The 3rd unit I needed to make were the Combination Units using the Non Mirror Combo Units Technique sheet. The detailed and clear instructions on the technique sheet made these units a breeze.

I decided on an alternating layout for my two blocks. I inadvertently made 13 blocks instead of 12 blocks for Block #1, so instead of 13 blocks for Block #2, I made only 12. It changed the plan for the quilt layout, but I'm pleased with the result (sort of).

I finished all my blocks and put them up on a design wall. Everything looked great! But once I sewed the blocks together, I realized I had made a critical error! Look closely at the block on the left (below). I swapped the Blue and Yellow triangle units and now the lovely Diamonds on the left hand block, don't show as clearly as I had planned. Sheesh!

So, once the quilt was fully pieced with almost all of the fabric I had available to me, I had no choice but to think about making ANOTHER QUILT with the correct layout and fabric arrangement! Maybe I'll use a completely different fabric for the units that make the diamond pinwheel.

All in all, I really enjoyed making this quilt. Even though the finished blocks were only 4" and I worked with 1" units, they were quick to piece and trim to the precise sized I needed.

Would I make the AROUND THE BLOCK blockbuster again? Most definitely, but I'll probably use larger units and make a full-size quilt for myself.

In the meantime, I'll enjoy seeing this quilt every time in come in my front door.