FRUGAL QUILTING

The Shoofly Quilting Block

The Shoofly is a very easy and frugal 9 patch quilting block.  It is made with squares and half square triangles. 

This is a very old quilt block that you see a lot in vintage quilts.  You see this whole quilts made with nothing but this block.  You see it in sampler quilts also.

Use any one of the piecing methods of the half square triangle  page, and just lay them out per the picture.

If you use simple measurements,  and plan for each grid to finish at 2 inches, your block will finish at 6 1/2 inches.  (The squares would be cut at 2 1/2 inches, and the squares used for the half square triangles cut at 2 7/8 inches)

This is a great block for a beginner to practice half square triangles and piecing basics. 

Press the vertical seams on the top row towards the square to reduce bulk.  Do the same with the bottom row.  Press the vertical seams in the middle row the opposite way (away from the center).  The when you attach your rows, the seams will nest, and be turned away from each other.

This is a hard block to mess up, and looks very good when it is done.  If you are a beginning quilter, think about what you can do with this block.