Spool Quilt Block Tutorials. Block 3 ~ DIY Tutorial Ideas!

How to Make the Spool Quilt Block, Patchwork and Quilting Tutorial

Spool-Along block #3 is a quick and easy Courthouse Steps style spool block. This is a well-loved spool of thread. If you look closely, you’ll see this spool is starting to run out of thread. It might be time to go buy some more. 😉

To make one block:

Materials:

Light, neutral background fabric: (1) 6-1/2″ x 5″ rectangle and (2) 1″ x 6-1/2″ rectangles
Striped “thread” fabric: (1) 5-1/2″ square
Contrasting “spool” fabric: (2) 6-1/2″ x 1-1/4″ and (2) 5-1/2″ x 1″ rectangles

Instructions:
(all seams are 1/4″)

1). Sew a 5-1/2″ x 1″ spool fabric rectangle to the top and bottom of the 5-1/2″ square thread fabric. Make sure the stripes are going the correct direction as shown in pic #1. Press toward the thread fabric.

2). Sew a 1″ x 6-1/2″ background fabric rectangle to each side of the unit as shown in the block. Press toward the spool/thread fabric.

3). Sew a 6-1/2″ x 1-1/4″ spool fabric rectangle to the top and the bottom of the unit. Press toward the spool fabric strips you just sewed on.

4). Sew the 6-1/2″ x 5″ background rectangle to the top of the spool block unit and press toward the spool fabric. The block should be 6-1/2″ x 12-1/2″ (6″ x 12″ finished).

To make four blocks:

fourblock3(identical or with different “thread” centers. I’m making doubles so I can share the duplicates with a friend. :) )

Materials:

Light, neutral background fabric: (1) 5″ x 28″ and (2) 1″ x 28″ strips
Striped “thread” fabric: (4) 5-1/2″ squares
Contrasting “spool” fabric: (2) 1-1/4″ x 28″ and (2) 1″ x 24″ strips

Instructions:
(all seams are 1/4″)

1). Sew the four 5-1/2″ thread fabric squares to one of the 1″ x 24″ spool fabric strips, right sides together (RST). Stripes should be parallel to the strip. Place the strip right side up and line up the first square right side down along the edge and sew. When you come to the end of one square, stop sewing and place the next square with 1/4 to 1/2″ between it and the first square. Repeat until you have sewn all four squares to the strip.

2). Sew the remaining 1″ x 24″ spool fabric strip to the opposite side of the 5-1/2″ thread fabric squares the same way as in step #1, RST with 1/4″ to 1/2″ of space between squares.

3). Press seam allowances toward the thread fabric squares and trim excess strip fabric off to make four 5-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ thread-spool units.

4). Sew the four 5-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ thread-spool units to one of the 1″ x 28″ background fabric strips, RST, sewing along one of the 6-1/2″ sides and leaving 1/4″ to 1/2″ between units. Stripes are now perpendicular to the strip.

5). Sew the remaining 1″ x 28″ background fabric strip to the opposite 6-1/2″ side of the four thread-spool units as in step #4, RST, with 1/4″ to 1/2″ between units.

6). Press seam allowances toward the thread-spool units and trim excess strip fabric off to make four 6-1/2″ square thread-spool-background units.

7). Sew one of the 1-1/4″ x 28″ spool fabric strips to the 5″ x 28″ background fabric strip, RST. Press toward the spool fabric.

8). Sew the four 6-1/2″ thread-spool-background units to the spool side of the spool-background strip, RST, leaving 1/4″ to 1/2″ between units. This is the top of the spool block. Stripes are once again parallel to the strip.

9). Sew the remaining 1-1/4″ x 28″ spool fabric strip to the bottom of the four units, RST with 1/4″ to 1/2″ space between units.

10). Press seam allowances toward the spool strips and then trim excess strip fabric off to make four 6-1/2″ x 12-1/2″ blocks (finishes at 6″ x 12″).