Classic Blocks: Fresh Fabric… a Butterfly Quilt Block Tutorial

I love butterflies. I can’t explain why… because they start out crawling and learn to fly? because they transform half-way through their life? or maybe just because they are beautiful. No matter why… I picked a butterfly for my Classic Blocks: Fresh Fabrics series! And it’s very easy.

The gorgeous fabrics I sewed my butterflies with are Season of Love by Ana Davis for Blend Fabrics. The colors are perfect for these blocks. For my background fabric, I used Boundless Porcelain (available at Craftsy).

So let’s get to it. This block is so fast and easy you won’t be able to stop at one. 🙂

Butterfly Quilt Block Tutorial… makes one 12” block.

Cutting:

From print fabric (one print or up to 4 different ones for a scrappy look), cut:

• 4 squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2” (for the butterfly wings)

• 1 strip 1 1/2” x 4 1/2”

From background fabric, cut:

• 6 tiny squares 1 1/2” x 1 1/2”

• 2 strips 3” x 6 1/2”

• 2 strips 3 1/2” x 12 1/2”

1. Use a pencil or fabric marker to draw a diagonal line across 4 of the 1 1/2” background squares. Place a square against the corner of a 3 1/2” print square, as shown.

2. Sew across the line.

3. Trim away the corner, leaving a 1/4” seam allowance. Open up the block and press the seam allowance toward the darker print.

Repeat for all four 3 1/2” print squares and set them aside.

4. Sew the last two 1 1/2” background squares to the ends of the 1 1/2” x 4 1/2” print strip. Press the seams toward the darker fabric.

5. Arrange the butterfly wings and body strip as shown above. Pay close attention to the direction of the background corners in the upper and lower wing pieces.

6. Sew the wings together, and then attach the wings to the body.

7. Next, add the 3” x 6 1/2” background strips to the sides.

8. And finally add the 3 1/2” x 12 1/2” background strips to the top and bottom.

How many butterflies will you be sewing up?

See more blocks in my Classic Blocks: Fresh Fabric series here.

Happy sewing,