Spool and Bobbin Quilt Block Pattern

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The spool and bobbin quilt block is a fun and simple design that is perfect for beginner quilters. To sew this block, you will need the following materials:

• Fabric for the spool and bobbin pieces
• Fabric for the background
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• Rotary cutter and mat
• Ruler
• Iron and ironing board

Here are the steps to sew a spool and bobbin quilt block:

1. Cut out the fabric pieces. For the spool, cut a rectangle that measures 3 inches by 5 inches. For the bobbin, cut a rectangle that measures 3 inches by 2.5 inches. For the background, cut a square that measures 6.5 inches by 6.5 inches.

2. Fold the spool fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew along the long edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Turn the fabric right side out and press flat.

3. Fold the bobbin fabric in half widthwise, right sides together, and sew along the short edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Turn the fabric right side out and press flat.

4. Place the spool and bobbin pieces on the background square as shown in the diagram below. The spool should be placed on the left side of the square and the bobbin on the right side.

5. Sew the spool and bobbin pieces to the background square using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press the seams flat.

6. Trim the block to 6 inches by 6 inches.

7. Repeat the process to create as many spool and bobbin blocks as you need for your quilt.

That's it! Once you have sewn all of your spool and bobbin blocks, you can arrange them in any pattern you like and sew them together to create your quilt top.

 

Sew the squares together.

Mark the wrong side of the unit with a pencil line aligning the corners of the squares and the intersection of the seams.

Line up the corner of the square or triangle you will add to the corner of the unit:

Sew a seam one thread's width from the marked / ironed line. This tiny allowance makes room for the fold of the fabric so that the point isn't cut off the triangle.

Then fold the triangle into position, using the squares to assist alignment then press.

Trim away excess fabric to reduce bulk. Leaving a 1/4" seam, and trim the ears.

 

The secret to the perfect four patch is all about ironing seams so that they butt together when the seams are joined. You may make the four patch by cutting individual squares if you want to make a scrappy quilt or only a few blocks to make with pre-joined strips. I'll take you through both methods.

 

Cut two A squares and two B squares in your required size. Chain piecing, join A square to a B square, right sides together, with a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press towards the dark fabric.

This is your result:

 

This is also the result of cutting across pre-joined strips to create two units.

To make a standard four patch, the width of the unit cut from pre-joined strips is the same as the width of the original strips. 

 

 

Wider Application:

You can apply this technique to all kinds of four patch blocks. As long as a block has a 4x4 grid, no matter how many pieces, the basic principles apply. It is repeated over and over again each four patch laying adjacent to the next. As long as you keep pressing seams in pairs of opposite directions, piecing will become easy.

All of the following blocks have 4x4 grids and can be pieaced as a four patch.

How to Resize Quilt Blocks:

The first step in modifying any quilt block is to decide on the size of your finished quilt block. You can come to a decision based on a number of factors: doubling a pattern, cutting your pattern in half, or choosing the size based on your available fabric.

NOTE: When working from a pattern’s cutting instructions, make sure you remove the seam allowance before doubling or tripling the size. For instance, if your pattern calls for 3-1/2″ squares, first you’ll subtract the sum of the seam allowances (1/2″), double the finished block size (from 3″ to 6″), and add the seam allowance back in (1/2″). So, when all is said and done, you will cut a 6-1/2″ piece of fabric.

Resizing Square Blocks:

Square blocks are the easiest to resize. Simply add to your finished block measurement. For example, if you’d like your finished block to be a 4″ square, you’ll need to cut a 4-1/2″ square of fabric.

Resizing Rectangular Blocks:

Similarly to the square, for rectangle blocks, you’ll add to the length and width measurements of your finished block. If you’re doubling block that measures 3″ x 4″ in your quilt, you’ll cut a 6-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ rectangle of fabric.

Resizing Half-Square Triangle Blocks:

When you want to change the size of a Half-Square Triangle block, add 7/8″ to the desired finished block size. To make a 4″ finished block, you’d cut 4-7/8″ squares.

Resizing Quarter Square Triangle:

Since there are two cut lines and two seam lines in a Quarter-Square Triangle block you’ll need to add 1-1/4″ to the desired finished block size. For a finished block that’s 4″, you’d cut your squares 5-1/4″.