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This fish is the perfect quilt block for beginners
This fish quilt block tutorial teaches you the Stitch and Flip (SNF) method of replacing corners of squares or rectangles the easy way! A great technique to learn if you want to learn more about quilting.
The fish block is used in the free Lake Fishing Panel Quilt featuring my Wake at the Lake fabric for Riley Blake Designs that was released in June 2024.
Fish Quilt Block Tutorial
? SHORTCUTS TO SPECIFIC TOPICS:
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Fabric pieces for Fish Quilt Block
01:04 Stitch and Flip Method Explained
01:27 Using directional fabric for Stitch and Flip quilting
04:02 Sewing Stitch and Flip corners
04:23 How to Daisy Chain fabric when quilting
05:08 Trim corners from stitch line
05:37 Quilter’s Cut n Press board
06:18 Why I like small irons for quilt blocks
06:31 How to use a Quilter’s Clapper
06:40 How and why to set a seam
07:25 Flip corners and press
08:25 Sew final corners on
08:40 Trimming corners with rotary cutter
09:08 Put fish tail and body together
09:25 Sew fish block together
09:56 Tips for pressing bulky block seams
11:00 Free Quilt Pattern with fish blocks
11:12 Ideas for making square fish blocks
Fabrics
Fabrics used in this tutorial are from my Wake at the Lake collection, names and Riley Blake codes listed below.
- Navy Fish Toss: (C-14891-NAVY)
- A: (1) 5 ¾” x 4”
- B: (1) 2 ½” x 4”
- Sky Herringbone: (C-14893-SKY)
- C: (4) 2 ¼” x 2 ¼”
- D: (2) 1 ½” x 1 ½”
Tools Used
Here are Amazon affiliate links to tools used in the video tutorial.
Stitch and Flip Method (SNF)
The Stitch & Flip method, or SNF for short, is the process of replacing the corner of a square or rectangle of fabric with another fabric. It is used in the Fish Quilt Block (6) times. Here is the method to follow when SNF is noted in the pattern.
- Draw a diagonal line, corner to corner, on the wrong side of a square that will flip to become the angled corner.
- Place the marked square on the base piece, RST, with the drawn line across the corner to be replaced. Note the orientation of the drawn line.
- Sew on the drawn diagonal line.
- Trim the excess ¼” away from the sewn line and press the seam open. The size of the larger, original base piece does not change.
Sewing the Fish Quilt Block
- Make the Fish Tail: Using the SNF method, attach (2) C squares to the right of the B rectangle.
- Make the Fish Body: Using the SNF method, attach (2) D squares to the right and (2) C squares to the left of the A rectangle.
- The C squares will overlap as shown above. There will be ¼” beyond the points created on the A and B rectangles; that will be the seam allowance when you sew the tail to the body.
- Sew the Fish Block: Sew the tail and body together as shown. Press seam open to reduce bulk.
If you want to use the fish for the Lake Fishing Panel Quilt you will need a total of 16 fish. Get the free Lake Fishing Panel Quilt Pattern from Riley Blake for full fabric requirements, cutting and sewing directions.
The fish can of course be used for anything! Add top, bottom and side borders if you want to create a block to use in a quilt or other project. In the image above I created blocks where the fish are swimming at different heights so they will look like a school of fish when put into a quilt. Get creative and have fun!
LOVE THIS IDEA?
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? Tara Reed
P.S. Is there a sewing tutorial you’d love to see? Leave me a comment and I’ll add it to my idea list!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
Free Lake Themed Quilt Patterns >
How to sew a Heart Quilt Block >
How to sew a Christmas Ornament Quilt Block >
More free Quilt Block Tutorials >
Find more projects and learn more about the Wake at the Lake fabric collection >
