Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 15 - Bird of Paradise

The Bird of Paradise uses four patches and what I call a Square Goose block also known as "Peaky and Spike". We will be using background and accent fabric plus 1 additional coordinating fabric for this block. Cut out templates below adding a ¼ inch seam allowance on all sides to use in cutting fabric.

Fabric instructions

• Background Fabric: Cut 4 rectangles 1½ by 3 inches. Cut 1 strip 2½ inches wide. Subcut 4 large template triangles, turning template up and down as needed.
• Accent Fabric: Cut 3 rectangles 1½ by 3 inches. Cut 1 strip 2½ inches wide. Subcut into 2 right and 2 left small template triangles turning templates up and down as needed and side to side for right and left.
• Coordinating Fabric: Cut 3 rectangles 1½ by 3 inches. Cut 1 strip 2½ inches wide. Subcut into 2 right and 2 left small template triangles turning templates up and down as needed and side to side for right and left.

Four Patch instructions

1. Right sides together, match 2 rectangles together and sew a ¼ inch seam on one side.
2. Press toward darker fabric.
3. Cut sewn piece in half (1½ inches) across seam line.
4. Match pieces right sides together with opposite fabrics on top of each other and sew ¼ inch seam.
5. Press seams to one side.

You'll need 3 types of fabric match ups - background/accent (2 Unit C), background/coordinating (2 Unit A), & accent/coordinating (1 Unit E).

Square Goose instructions

1. Unit B: Sew right coordinating fabric triangle to background triangle using ¼ inch seam, matching fabric edges and seam points. Press toward small triangle.
2. Sew left accent fabric triangle to other side of background triangle using ¼ inch seam, matching fabric edges and seam points. Press toward small triangle.
3. Made 2.
4. Unit D: Sew right accent fabric triangle to background triangle using ¼ inch seam, matching fabric edges and seam points. Press toward small triangle.
5. Sew left coordinating fabric triangle to other side of background triangle using ¼ inch seam, matching fabric edges and seam points. Press toward small triangle.
6. Make 2.

Finishing instructions

Layout units as show in diagram and chain piece first rows, then columns using a ¼ inch seam. Press seams to one side. Bird of Paradise block should measure 6½ inches including seam allowances.

To make this block in different sizes and larger quantities, visit the Bird of Paradise fabric instruction calculator.

Be sure to print templates at 100% size. They should measure 2.01 inches high when at 100%.

Have a great day!