🌸 Pink Magnolias Quilt Block: Blossom into a Piecing Pro! 🧵

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General Instructions

Several abbreviations are used on this page. They are:

• SA - seam allowance
• RST - right sides together
• HRT - Half Rectangle Triangle
• TiaS - Triangle in a Square

A 1/4" SA is used in this tutorial.

Highlighted in yellow, pressing instructions are easy to spot.

To press, first press the patches in the closed position as they came off your sewing machine. This sets the seam, melding the fibers of the threads into the fibers of the fabric.

Then press the SA to the dark unless otherwise noted.

Cutting patches for a Pink Magnolias quilt block

Pink Magnolias design

Sample Block Size:  12" finished / 12½" unfinished

Grid:  8x8

Attribution: Nancy Cabot

AKA: Magnolia Bud (Nancy Cabot)

Design Type:  Uneven 9-patch, small center  |  Paper piecing

Please label all your patches. We use their numbers throughout this tutorial.

To print a copy of the block design and cutting chart to use at your cutting table, click here.

			Cutting Chart for a Quilt Block ~ Paper & Traditional Piecing ~ (Patches shown Width x Height)
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size				Sub Cut
			8''	12''	16''	24''
A/B 1, Side, Side.R	Bac	8	2⅞'' x 3¼''	3⅜'' x 4¼''	3⅞'' x 5¼''	4⅞'' x 7¼''	yes
A/B 2	Light	4	2⅞'' x 3¼''	3⅜'' x 4¼''	3⅞'' x 5¼''	4⅞'' x 7¼''	yes
TiaS.1	Med	4	3" x 2¾''	4" x 3¾''	5" x 4¾''	7" x 6¾''	yes
3	Dark	4	1'' x 1''	1¼'' x 1¼''	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	---
4	Bac	4	1'' x 1''	1¼'' x 1¼''	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	---
5	Bac	4	1'' x 1½''	1¼'' x 2''	1½'' x 2½''	2'' x 3½''	---
6	Light	4	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''	4½'' x 4½''	6½'' 6½''	---
7	Bac	4	1½'' x 2½''	2" x 3½''	2½'' x 4½''	3½'' 6½''	---
8	Bac	1	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''	4½'' x 4½''	6½'' 6½''	---
Unfinished Block Size			8½''	12½''	16½''	24½''	na
Grid Size			1	1½"	2"	3"	na

Subcutting

Arrange your A/B2s in a stack of pairs, RST.

These must be in pairs of RST so that we get the mirror-image patches we need.

Align the edges.

Make a mark on the top edge 5/8" in from the left side and on the bottom edge 5/8" from the right side.

Stack your TiaS.1 rectangles. This time, it doesn't matter if they're right side up or back side up.

Cut out the Center template you printed. Position it on the stack of squares, top and bottom edge all even. (The top and bottom of the template match the top and bottom of the rectangles when they're positioned correctly on your mat.)

Cut away the excess fabric from both sides.

If the fabric moves on you as you cut, try taping it to your cutting mat. (I like Scotch Brand's Magic Tape for this.) Peel the tape off your mat when you finish.

After all that subcutting, these are your patches for your quilt block.

Do you see the pins through the neutral Grunge patches?

Some fabrics are difficult to tell the front from the back. Right after cutting, I stack each unique shape front side up and put a pin through the top.

That way I always know which side is up. 

Create the units for your Pink Magnolias quilt block

To make piecing easier, use the tiniest dot of Elmer's Washable Glue Stick to hold the first patch in position—the backside of the patch to the unprinted side of the pattern.

Those dashed lines make positioning virtually foolproof—and fast,

Position #1 on both HRT-A and HRT-B units

Position TiaS.1 on the TiaS pattern

The glue stick can be put away now, it's no longer needed.

We need to make a few adjustments to our sewing machine settings to paper piece.

• Reduce your stitch length to 16–20 stitches per inch (1.3-1.6 mm). This perforates the paper and stabilizes the seam when you remove the pattern. [Learn more about stitch length here.]

• Reduce your machine's speed or just plain slow down. Sew only as fast as you can and stay on the solid stitching line.

• Install an open toe appliqué foot (sometimes called an 'embroidery' or 'satin stitch' foot) if you have one (it's easier to see where you're stitching with one installed). 

• Use a larger needle (90/14) IF you have problems removing the pattern. Personally, I use an 80/12 Microtex Sharp for paper piecing without any problems.

Triangle in a Square (TiaS)

Make 4

With RST, match the long bias edge of one of the sides to the TiaS.1. It makes no difference which side you start on.

Sew this seam on the solid line, starting and ending past the outside dashed line.

Press.

Repeat the process for the second Side patch.

After all the seams are sewn, trim the TiaSs to size.

It's easiest if you lay the 1/4" line on your ruler with one of the solid lines at the edge of the TiaS. Trim away the excess with your rotary cutter, rotating a 1/4 turn and trimming for the four sides of the four TiaSs.

Here is the result. TiaS with its point 1/4" away from the edge, the angles on the sides hitting the 1/4" mark, and all the edges on straight of grain.

Voila!

HRTs - A & B

Make 4 ea   

HRTs from the fabric side (left) and from the pattern side (right)

With RST, position the #2 on the HRT-A or HRT-B.

Sew the seam on the solid line, starting and stopping past the outside dashed lines. (blue arrows)

Trim to size, just like you did the TiaSs.

Here are all the As and Bs.

Paper Begone!

All the paper piecing's finished. It's time to remove the paper.

All the outside edges are on straight of grain, so it's no different piecing with these units than ones that've been traditionally pieced.

Side Units

Make 4    

With RST, stitch a #4 rectangle to a trimmed TiaS.

📏Check for Accuracy

For this 12" finished sample, this Side measures 3½" x 5".

Bloom Center 

Make 4

You're about to create the heart of your flower.

With RST, sew #3 to #4. Press this seam open. (below left)

With RST, stitch #3/#4 to #5, pressing this SA toward #5. (above right)

📏Check for accuracy

For our 12" sample, our bloom center measures 2" x 2".

Bring your Flower unit to life

Make 4

Flower design

Arrange your stitched and cut patches into the Flower design.

Sew the pairs of units into rows. Pinning, of course, as needed to keep the edges and sides even.

These SAs are pressed away from the HRTs.

Join the two rows together. Pin as needed. The seam in the center nests to make matching easier.

This last SA is pressed away from the HRTs and toward #6.

Final Assembly of your Pink Magnolias quilt block

You're in the home stretch now—let's bring your beautiful block to life!

Arrange your patches:

• Flowers bloom from the center
• TiaS units point outward on all sides 
• Solid square sits pretty in the middle

Stitch the patches together into rows.

SAs are pressed toward the TiaSs in each row.

At last, stitch the rows together, matching SAs.

Let's check the backside to see how all our pressed SAs work to eliminate as much bulk as possible.

Easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy! Your Pink Magnolias quilt block is blossoming before your eyes. Stand back and admire your work,

You've earned it! 🌺

Craving a touch of spring in your quilts?📌

Pin this Petal-Perfect Magnolias tutorial and let your creativity flourish! Save now, sew a garden of quilts later. 🌸📌

For even MORE blocks to make...

...visit our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library, with over 230+ blocks to choose from in multiple sizes.

Free downloads are included in all sizes for any blocks require paper piecing patterns or templates.

This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com

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